May 1, 2025 • 14 mins
We knew Jimmy Patronis as Florida Chief Financial Officer. Now he is a member of Congress and the always outspoken Patronis talked about the beginning of his tenure.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:01):
And here we go the third and final hour at
least for the day of the morning show with Preston's Guy.
That's osay. I'm Preston Show five and sixty nine, not
wasting a moment of his time. He is newly minted
US congressman from Florida's first congressional district. Jimmy patronis, Hello, Congressman,
(00:21):
how are.
Speaker 2 (00:22):
You hey, buddy? Thanks for having me.
Speaker 1 (00:25):
Okay, let's start here. Was this ever on your radar
of something you wanted, you felt like you were to
do to run for Congress or was this just circumstances
led to it.
Speaker 2 (00:42):
Yeah, I never dreamed about being in Washington, DC a
living Really. I figure I've finished my career in tellahassee.
But back in November of twenty four, you know, Matt
leaves the congressional seat to go be Attorney General and
my phone started ringing And the next thing, you know,
President calls me in November, the day before my anniversary
(01:05):
and says, look, he says, if you'll run on Doorshof,
we want you in DC. And so I mean, one,
how can you say no? But two, I mean my
boys are going to get an experience because they're still
young enough to want to be under the roof with us.
They're going to get an experience on life that they
never would have ever been able to have access to.
(01:26):
So you know, it's if the family wasn't so supportive,
I wouldn't be doing this. But this is this is
an opportunity to save our country at the same time
do something right for my kids.
Speaker 1 (01:37):
Congressman, I know that we will have the opportunity to
talk fairly frequently because I just know you to be
that type of person. You're going to make yourself available.
But for those that may not know what the demand
demands are, give us just a quick snapshot of what
your general broad schedule is. Not so much day to day,
(01:58):
but how much time up there, how much uch time
back in district and back and forth.
Speaker 2 (02:03):
So we are in d C at a minimum of
three weeks of every month. So what this week the
plan was. I got I got out of home early
Monday morning, got up here. We we start with meetings
and briefings. Yesterday was was really one of my first
(02:27):
committee meetings since I've been up here. Uh, and then
and then last time, you got to think about everybody
similar to talent assid during the legislaation. Everybody wants to
come to d C. Their issues are important to them.
So it's a lot of folks that come from all
over the country, and we like in my case and
the other number two, we prioritize those folks that come
(02:47):
from the district. When you come from the district in
my case, and you come from from the state of
Florida for that matter, because I've got a lot of
a lot of people that I love. You know, we're
we're going to move having and earth to sit down
and hear what your concerns are. I got to bed
last night about midnight. I'll wrap up sometime Thursday afternoon evening,
(03:09):
and then I'm going to be in Fort Walton on
Friday morning at seven am for Walton Chamber Breakfast, make
the rounds, visit with people, and and just continue to
hear what's important to them. As we're debating the big
beautiful bill. As Congress is in session, we need to
hear input from from our constituents.
Speaker 1 (03:29):
What specifically do you want to hear from them about?
Speaker 2 (03:34):
You know, I think you know, we I don't want
to stir the pot too much. I know there was
a story that popped on Politico last night. As we're
trying to bring some of this stuff in for landing,
there was a there was potentially of things that could
be interpreted as attacks, and so a number of us
(03:56):
started really digging in our heels, you know, because we
didn't we didn't go to Congress to do things like that,
and so you start to work those issues. And even
though in this case, the members did our job as
we started engaging the process, but it's just a matter
of time before we would have heard about it from
(04:17):
our constituents as stories start breaking about potential ways to
try to fill you know, budget needs. I mean, and
here's kind of at the challenge. The President wants no
tax on tests, no tax on Social Security, no tax
on overtime, and all those costs. Something the Congress, especially
the House of Representatives, we want one point five trillion
(04:37):
dollars in new cuts. So those issues end up draining
reserves and draining dollars that we're having. So I mean,
it's about bringing this thing in for landing. And Trump
has got everything he's negotiating globally with tariffs and other
ways to try to onboard cash to our country. So
(05:00):
it's it's a full day.
Speaker 1 (05:04):
What is the best thing that you've experienced in terms
of that surprised you in a good way? And what's
been the worst?
Speaker 2 (05:14):
You know, I think the best thing was just being
an all I get to walk to work. Okay, so
my wife found me a basement apartment and I get
to walk to work. As soon as I step out
in front of my place I'm living, the United States
Capital hits me in the face and it's just, you know,
it's an awe. I mean, it's the single greatest capital
(05:36):
in the world, and we've got to work to keep
it that way. So that's the best thing. But you know,
probably the worst thing is how nasty some of the
partisanship can be. You know, I've been to the restaurant
business for thirty years. Everybody's a customer, you know. I'm
always a big believer in taking care of the customer.
(05:58):
I Mean, there's some just people that are just just
damn right disagreeable, you know, and and the hateful things
that they say, and the and the things that they do.
You know, it's just, you know, everybody needs to just
used to go take a reality check. People did send
us up here to be nasty, okay, And so that's
that's something that will will you know, hopefully change at
(06:22):
some point. For right now, it is the status quo.
Speaker 1 (06:26):
Is it too soon for you to render a verdict
on whether or not the Republicans in the House and
the Senate will get the job done and deliver some
of the things that President Trump is done by executive
order and codify those into law.
Speaker 2 (06:43):
Yeah, I don't think. I don't think we have a choice. So,
you know, a lot of people say, why aren't you
condifying the executive orders? Here's the deal. There is so
much bandwidth being spent on the financial side of things
right now. And if there was any problems that Hunger
has had, because we have both chambers, if there was
any problems that Congress had on what the President was doing,
(07:06):
we would go and convenient working with specific issues. Okay,
But right now President's doing what he's doing. We like
what he's doing. President, continue to do what you're doing.
We're going to focus on bringing in your campaign promises
every single day when we meet those campaign issues, those
things that he campaigned on, as we had a breakfast
(07:28):
meeting yesterday, is reinforced to the members. So again, those
are well and strong, and there's a lot of communications.
The Speaker talks to the President multiple times a day,
so we're all on the same page. And I feel
like all those issues will get you brought in for
our landing in due time. Because we do have the
debt ceiling and continue resolution that it's got to take
(07:50):
the priority.
Speaker 1 (07:51):
When you say all on the same page. You know,
we read about some infighting, some things between the House
Speaker and Presentative Elise Stephanic of New York, who may
be a candidate for governor. I mean, I don't I
don't want to hear names or anything, but I'm just
curious how much division exists in the party.
Speaker 2 (08:13):
Now. Look, here's the deal with the lease. Elise is
an amazing member of Congress, but she's also somewhat of
a unicorn. That particular seat in New York. It is
it is a It is a Republican seat. Is it
a strong Republican seat? No, but Elise can win that
seat all day long. Okay, So we have got some
(08:36):
issues that we've got to get across. The finish one
right now, the Save Act, that that that creates voter integrity.
The only reason why it passed is because Raindy Fine
and I got elected. That's how tight the margins are here.
So the plan was that the lease was going to leave
when Raindy Fine and I got the Congress. Well, we
can't afford for her to leave. And plus, you know,
(08:57):
you've got a Democratic governor who is not our friend
in New York State, so she's gonna do everything possible
to flip that seat, to allow the Democrats to create
chaos in Congress and derail everything that November was about.
Speaker 1 (09:09):
Jimmy, I would say that unless someone was elected, from
the world of being a certified public accountant, you were
as prepared to look at the financial issues of this
country as anybody ever by virtue of being the CFO
in the state of Florida. How prepared were you, if
for no other reason, because of that experience.
Speaker 2 (09:33):
Yeah, I mean the acronym, the money, the cash flows.
I did not think I would pick up on it
as quick as I could, So that has been a plus.
And you know, and then it's kind of funny. You know,
we watched the news, but now when I try on
the news and saying, hell, they're talking about us all
(09:53):
day long. So it's kind of interesting how many different
ways were consuming our news in order to hear what
the public's seeing in order to just stay on top
of it. So, I mean, it's constantly information on board
from all over the place in order to make sure
we can do our job. But yeah, the experience in
(10:13):
Florida was a game changer.
Speaker 1 (10:16):
You and I've known each other a little while, and
you know that I call things as I see them.
I see right now Republicans inside the state of Florida
destroying themselves, which will eventually kill them and their super majority,
and eventually majority, it will hurt them not getting certain
things across the finish line, not addressing certain issues. One
(10:36):
of the issues I've raised is the issue of employing
illegal immigrants. It's the dirty little secret, Jimmy, that Republicans
talk tough on immigration, but they don't want to deal
with the employment of them. And Florida Republicans are no different.
Can you tell me of federally this focus on immigration
and dealing with illegal immigration specifically? Are we going to
(10:58):
eventually deal with the employment of illegal immigrants?
Speaker 2 (11:02):
Yeah, you know what, we we we We looked some
numbers yesterday and this one thing that is that has
started to grow is sentiment across the board, Democrats, Independence, Republicans.
They want illegals out of this country. I mean overwhelmingly,
that is something that everybody wants. So this is why
you know, the programs at the two fifty seven program,
(11:23):
all these different things in order to empower the states
to do their job. Okay, and and because this issue
polls so well, you know, our our state legislators, our governor,
our sheriffs, all these elected Now they're hearing more and more.
I mean, they would do the job, but now they
have got an administration that wants them to do the job.
(11:46):
With the Biden administration, uh, you know, it was like,
you know, hands off. With the Obama administration, it was
hands off, you know. And I know they talk about,
oh there was more uh uh illegals sent back under
the Obama administration. The Trump administration, well, whether they're not
telling you is the Obama administration was turning them away
at the border. Okay, So this is exactly what's happened
(12:07):
now with Trump Trumps. This stuff has come to a
grinding hault at the border, which I think is important
that happens. But now we've got to start going there
and leveraging those tools like e Verify, and you know,
and we got to get the bad guys out here.
And but Trump deporting all those guys El Salvador, that
sends shock waves through the organized crime industry and gain
(12:29):
grain elements of our country because those guys don't want
to go they know what else Salvador's like, They don't
want to go there. So I mean, you know, I
just and it drives me crazy. Where we have a
lot of weaponized court system just to screw with the
president at every turn.
Speaker 1 (12:43):
But we're watching big sugar and big agriculture and the
trades donate huge sums of money to Republicans, so they
kind of water things down and look the other way.
And the reality is the people that are committing these crimes,
they are not all just running people and running drugs.
They they're working jobs to support themselves while they commit
(13:05):
these crimes.
Speaker 2 (13:06):
Sure, I mean, look, there's I was talking to a
fellow member of Congress last night. She said she there
was a constituent her she was talking to who's who, Well,
I guess constituent. They weren't here legally, but self deported
themselves to to Columbia. They had they had had a
(13:29):
traffic infraction. They felt like, I'm here illegally. I'm gonna
get out here. I don't know what this means now
that I've got traffic tickets. They took off one back
to Columbia. So, I mean, you've got those that are
here that you know, they have blended into society. You know,
they've landed a job that they're paying taxes. I don't
(13:49):
know whose Social Security number they're using. It's an amazing
amount of solid security dollars that are being collected from
people that give us false numbers.
Speaker 1 (13:56):
Yep.
Speaker 2 (13:56):
So I mean there's just all types of games that
are out up there, and that's why I hated that.
You know, Elon just got really is his teeth kicked
in from just society when the guy was trying to
just bring some damn transparency to a place that has none.
Speaker 1 (14:12):
Yeah, fair enough, Congressman, thanks for the time this morning.
I appreciate it, and we're here for you anytime we
can help.
Speaker 2 (14:19):
Thanks Preston. Hey, and this wean't give a shout out
to Susan Miller. I know she's listening.
Speaker 1 (14:23):
Take care, thank you, sir. Congressman. Jimmy patronis with us
this morning. Florida's first congressional district. Newly elected, he's the
best expression of a good old boy, and he understands
(14:44):
what he's fighting, what he's got to do. Glad he's
on our side. Twenty seven past the hour
And here we go the third and final hour at
least for the day of the morning show with Preston's Guy.
That's osay. I'm Preston Show five and sixty nine, not
wasting a moment of his time. He is newly minted
US congressman from Florida's first congressional district. Jimmy patronis, Hello, Congressman,
(00:21):
how are.
Speaker 2 (00:22):
You hey, buddy? Thanks for having me.
Speaker 1 (00:25):
Okay, let's start here. Was this ever on your radar
of something you wanted, you felt like you were to
do to run for Congress or was this just circumstances
led to it.
Speaker 2 (00:42):
Yeah, I never dreamed about being in Washington, DC a
living Really. I figure I've finished my career in tellahassee.
But back in November of twenty four, you know, Matt
leaves the congressional seat to go be Attorney General and
my phone started ringing And the next thing, you know,
President calls me in November, the day before my anniversary
(01:05):
and says, look, he says, if you'll run on Doorshof,
we want you in DC. And so I mean, one,
how can you say no? But two, I mean my
boys are going to get an experience because they're still
young enough to want to be under the roof with us.
They're going to get an experience on life that they
never would have ever been able to have access to.
(01:26):
So you know, it's if the family wasn't so supportive,
I wouldn't be doing this. But this is this is
an opportunity to save our country at the same time
do something right for my kids.
Speaker 1 (01:37):
Congressman, I know that we will have the opportunity to
talk fairly frequently because I just know you to be
that type of person. You're going to make yourself available.
But for those that may not know what the demand
demands are, give us just a quick snapshot of what
your general broad schedule is. Not so much day to day,
(01:58):
but how much time up there, how much uch time
back in district and back and forth.
Speaker 2 (02:03):
So we are in d C at a minimum of
three weeks of every month. So what this week the
plan was. I got I got out of home early
Monday morning, got up here. We we start with meetings
and briefings. Yesterday was was really one of my first
(02:27):
committee meetings since I've been up here. Uh, and then
and then last time, you got to think about everybody
similar to talent assid during the legislaation. Everybody wants to
come to d C. Their issues are important to them.
So it's a lot of folks that come from all
over the country, and we like in my case and
the other number two, we prioritize those folks that come
(02:47):
from the district. When you come from the district in
my case, and you come from from the state of
Florida for that matter, because I've got a lot of
a lot of people that I love. You know, we're
we're going to move having and earth to sit down
and hear what your concerns are. I got to bed
last night about midnight. I'll wrap up sometime Thursday afternoon evening,
(03:09):
and then I'm going to be in Fort Walton on
Friday morning at seven am for Walton Chamber Breakfast, make
the rounds, visit with people, and and just continue to
hear what's important to them. As we're debating the big
beautiful bill. As Congress is in session, we need to
hear input from from our constituents.
Speaker 1 (03:29):
What specifically do you want to hear from them about?
Speaker 2 (03:34):
You know, I think you know, we I don't want
to stir the pot too much. I know there was
a story that popped on Politico last night. As we're
trying to bring some of this stuff in for landing,
there was a there was potentially of things that could
be interpreted as attacks, and so a number of us
(03:56):
started really digging in our heels, you know, because we
didn't we didn't go to Congress to do things like that,
and so you start to work those issues. And even
though in this case, the members did our job as
we started engaging the process, but it's just a matter
of time before we would have heard about it from
(04:17):
our constituents as stories start breaking about potential ways to
try to fill you know, budget needs. I mean, and
here's kind of at the challenge. The President wants no
tax on tests, no tax on Social Security, no tax
on overtime, and all those costs. Something the Congress, especially
the House of Representatives, we want one point five trillion
(04:37):
dollars in new cuts. So those issues end up draining
reserves and draining dollars that we're having. So I mean,
it's about bringing this thing in for landing. And Trump
has got everything he's negotiating globally with tariffs and other
ways to try to onboard cash to our country. So
(05:00):
it's it's a full day.
Speaker 1 (05:04):
What is the best thing that you've experienced in terms
of that surprised you in a good way? And what's
been the worst?
Speaker 2 (05:14):
You know, I think the best thing was just being
an all I get to walk to work. Okay, so
my wife found me a basement apartment and I get
to walk to work. As soon as I step out
in front of my place I'm living, the United States
Capital hits me in the face and it's just, you know,
it's an awe. I mean, it's the single greatest capital
(05:36):
in the world, and we've got to work to keep
it that way. So that's the best thing. But you know,
probably the worst thing is how nasty some of the
partisanship can be. You know, I've been to the restaurant
business for thirty years. Everybody's a customer, you know. I'm
always a big believer in taking care of the customer.
(05:58):
I Mean, there's some just people that are just just
damn right disagreeable, you know, and and the hateful things
that they say, and the and the things that they do.
You know, it's just, you know, everybody needs to just
used to go take a reality check. People did send
us up here to be nasty, okay, And so that's
that's something that will will you know, hopefully change at
(06:22):
some point. For right now, it is the status quo.
Speaker 1 (06:26):
Is it too soon for you to render a verdict
on whether or not the Republicans in the House and
the Senate will get the job done and deliver some
of the things that President Trump is done by executive
order and codify those into law.
Speaker 2 (06:43):
Yeah, I don't think. I don't think we have a choice. So,
you know, a lot of people say, why aren't you
condifying the executive orders? Here's the deal. There is so
much bandwidth being spent on the financial side of things
right now. And if there was any problems that Hunger
has had, because we have both chambers, if there was
any problems that Congress had on what the President was doing,
(07:06):
we would go and convenient working with specific issues. Okay,
But right now President's doing what he's doing. We like
what he's doing. President, continue to do what you're doing.
We're going to focus on bringing in your campaign promises
every single day when we meet those campaign issues, those
things that he campaigned on, as we had a breakfast
(07:28):
meeting yesterday, is reinforced to the members. So again, those
are well and strong, and there's a lot of communications.
The Speaker talks to the President multiple times a day,
so we're all on the same page. And I feel
like all those issues will get you brought in for
our landing in due time. Because we do have the
debt ceiling and continue resolution that it's got to take
(07:50):
the priority.
Speaker 1 (07:51):
When you say all on the same page. You know,
we read about some infighting, some things between the House
Speaker and Presentative Elise Stephanic of New York, who may
be a candidate for governor. I mean, I don't I
don't want to hear names or anything, but I'm just
curious how much division exists in the party.
Speaker 2 (08:13):
Now. Look, here's the deal with the lease. Elise is
an amazing member of Congress, but she's also somewhat of
a unicorn. That particular seat in New York. It is
it is a It is a Republican seat. Is it
a strong Republican seat? No, but Elise can win that
seat all day long. Okay, So we have got some
(08:36):
issues that we've got to get across. The finish one
right now, the Save Act, that that that creates voter integrity.
The only reason why it passed is because Raindy Fine
and I got elected. That's how tight the margins are here.
So the plan was that the lease was going to leave
when Raindy Fine and I got the Congress. Well, we
can't afford for her to leave. And plus, you know,
(08:57):
you've got a Democratic governor who is not our friend
in New York State, so she's gonna do everything possible
to flip that seat, to allow the Democrats to create
chaos in Congress and derail everything that November was about.
Speaker 1 (09:09):
Jimmy, I would say that unless someone was elected, from
the world of being a certified public accountant, you were
as prepared to look at the financial issues of this
country as anybody ever by virtue of being the CFO
in the state of Florida. How prepared were you, if
for no other reason, because of that experience.
Speaker 2 (09:33):
Yeah, I mean the acronym, the money, the cash flows.
I did not think I would pick up on it
as quick as I could, So that has been a plus.
And you know, and then it's kind of funny. You know,
we watched the news, but now when I try on
the news and saying, hell, they're talking about us all
(09:53):
day long. So it's kind of interesting how many different
ways were consuming our news in order to hear what
the public's seeing in order to just stay on top
of it. So, I mean, it's constantly information on board
from all over the place in order to make sure
we can do our job. But yeah, the experience in
(10:13):
Florida was a game changer.
Speaker 1 (10:16):
You and I've known each other a little while, and
you know that I call things as I see them.
I see right now Republicans inside the state of Florida
destroying themselves, which will eventually kill them and their super majority,
and eventually majority, it will hurt them not getting certain
things across the finish line, not addressing certain issues. One
(10:36):
of the issues I've raised is the issue of employing
illegal immigrants. It's the dirty little secret, Jimmy, that Republicans
talk tough on immigration, but they don't want to deal
with the employment of them. And Florida Republicans are no different.
Can you tell me of federally this focus on immigration
and dealing with illegal immigration specifically? Are we going to
(10:58):
eventually deal with the employment of illegal immigrants?
Speaker 2 (11:02):
Yeah, you know what, we we we We looked some
numbers yesterday and this one thing that is that has
started to grow is sentiment across the board, Democrats, Independence, Republicans.
They want illegals out of this country. I mean overwhelmingly,
that is something that everybody wants. So this is why
you know, the programs at the two fifty seven program,
(11:23):
all these different things in order to empower the states
to do their job. Okay, and and because this issue
polls so well, you know, our our state legislators, our governor,
our sheriffs, all these elected Now they're hearing more and more.
I mean, they would do the job, but now they
have got an administration that wants them to do the job.
(11:46):
With the Biden administration, uh, you know, it was like,
you know, hands off. With the Obama administration, it was
hands off, you know. And I know they talk about,
oh there was more uh uh illegals sent back under
the Obama administration. The Trump administration, well, whether they're not
telling you is the Obama administration was turning them away
at the border. Okay, So this is exactly what's happened
(12:07):
now with Trump Trumps. This stuff has come to a
grinding hault at the border, which I think is important
that happens. But now we've got to start going there
and leveraging those tools like e Verify, and you know,
and we got to get the bad guys out here.
And but Trump deporting all those guys El Salvador, that
sends shock waves through the organized crime industry and gain
(12:29):
grain elements of our country because those guys don't want
to go they know what else Salvador's like, They don't
want to go there. So I mean, you know, I
just and it drives me crazy. Where we have a
lot of weaponized court system just to screw with the
president at every turn.
Speaker 1 (12:43):
But we're watching big sugar and big agriculture and the
trades donate huge sums of money to Republicans, so they
kind of water things down and look the other way.
And the reality is the people that are committing these crimes,
they are not all just running people and running drugs.
They they're working jobs to support themselves while they commit
(13:05):
these crimes.
Speaker 2 (13:06):
Sure, I mean, look, there's I was talking to a
fellow member of Congress last night. She said she there
was a constituent her she was talking to who's who, Well,
I guess constituent. They weren't here legally, but self deported
themselves to to Columbia. They had they had had a
(13:29):
traffic infraction. They felt like, I'm here illegally. I'm gonna
get out here. I don't know what this means now
that I've got traffic tickets. They took off one back
to Columbia. So, I mean, you've got those that are
here that you know, they have blended into society. You know,
they've landed a job that they're paying taxes. I don't
(13:49):
know whose Social Security number they're using. It's an amazing
amount of solid security dollars that are being collected from
people that give us false numbers.
Speaker 1 (13:56):
Yep.
Speaker 2 (13:56):
So I mean there's just all types of games that
are out up there, and that's why I hated that.
You know, Elon just got really is his teeth kicked
in from just society when the guy was trying to
just bring some damn transparency to a place that has none.
Speaker 1 (14:12):
Yeah, fair enough, Congressman, thanks for the time this morning.
I appreciate it, and we're here for you anytime we
can help.
Speaker 2 (14:19):
Thanks Preston. Hey, and this wean't give a shout out
to Susan Miller. I know she's listening.
Speaker 1 (14:23):
Take care, thank you, sir. Congressman. Jimmy patronis with us
this morning. Florida's first congressional district. Newly elected, he's the
best expression of a good old boy, and he understands
(14:44):
what he's fighting, what he's got to do. Glad he's
on our side. Twenty seven past the hour
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If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
On Purpose with Jay Shetty
I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!