Gov. Ron DeSantis used his veto pen to target Democratic lawmakers with his state budget cuts, House Democratic Leader Fentrice Driskell said.
“It’s unfair to see the Governor punish Democrats. We also know that he was very vindictive with his veto pen and likely punished some Republicans who would have spoken out against him about different things,” Driskell told journalists. “It’s really icky and it’s the partisan underbelly of politics that people hate.”
Driskell held a press conference the same day that DeSantis signed the $117.6 billion budget and vetoed about $1.7 billion.
DeSantis has been open about how he uses his veto power to punish lawmakers who don’t support his agenda.
“If the members are supporting good policy, then, you know, I see their budget items, that’s just something you take into account,” DeSantis said last month.
Driskell said she was disappointed by what ended up on his veto list, saying Democrats “were disproportionately targeted in the vetoes by a rate of 2-to-1.”
“He’s cut projects to support veterans, children with autism, youth support programs, opioid and drug abuse prevention programs, seniors, and pregnant mothers,” the Tampa Democrat said. “This is a Governor who’s been so focused on his own ambition and he loves to govern by soundbites, but the reality is that people are struggling to pay their bills.”
Driskell argued DeSantis should have invested more heavily in affordable housing and job training because of the latest unemployed figures. Florida’s unemployment rate finally leveled out at 4.8% in May after increasing every other month this year, according to the latest numbers released last week.
DeSantis touted that the state’s spending plan has shrunk for four years in a row, although Driskell slammed his priorities.
“Under this administration, billions of taxpayer dollars have been squandered on schemes like Alligator Alcatraz, the Hope Florida scandal, debt prescription drug importation programs, and renaming airports,” Driskell said.
“None of these things help put food on the table or help people put gas in their tanks. And while this lame duck Governor is busy spinning out platitudes about responsible governing and accountability, the truth is we’ve seen very little responsible governing and accountability from his own office.”
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