Jacob Ogles
By Gov. Ron DeSantis’ telling, Congress today will punish Florida for getting coronavirus response right and help New York for doing it wrong.
“They are rewarding states with highest unemployment rates,” DeSantis told Fox and Friends. “So if you locked down, if you destroyed your own economy through your own policies, you are getting a windfall. And the states like Florida, who worked to put people back to work, that have saved our economies, we end up getting the short end of the stick.”
That was a reference to a coronavirus relief package expected to come up for a vote in Congress Friday.
DeSantis spoke to the right-leaning cable network ahead of a speech at the Conservative Political Action Conference, which kicks off in Orlando today. CPAC takes place in the Sunshine State this year in part because the state no longer has any lockdowns in place forbidding high attendance events.
That’s something the Governor also addressed. He alluded to a weather report earlier in the hour that showed how a cold snap has struck most of the nation but not Florida. While that’s better ascribed to meteorology, the Republican Governor was happy to highlight both Florida’s ecological and political environment.
“I’ll take 65 (degrees) with a whiff of freedom over 35 under the yoke of lockdown any day of the week and twice on Sunday,” DeSantis.
He did not mention that Florida indeed did go under lockdown early in the pandemic, hence the reopening in subsequent months.
But he said the state feels excited to have a large gathering like CPAC take place in Florida again.
“They were predicting economic doom, particularly for Florida, because we are tourism based,” he said. “Our tourism isn’t back by any stretch, and yet, we’re getting huge revenue into the state with no tax increases, we’re going to have a budget surplus, and we’re clicking on all cylinders.”
That’s a somewhat surprising assessment of the budget. As the Florida Legislature prepared to go into session, appropriations chiefs are warning Florida to expect significant budget cuts.
13 comments
GD
February 26, 2021 at 12:01 pm
Didn’t mention we have one of the worse death, infection rates in the country, world because of his, Trumps stupid polices like not mandating masks and reopening 2 wks too fast.
The only reason things are not much worse is people ignored DeSantis and wore masks, etc because they were not stupid.
Except the young which will pay the price in long haul problems 10% get and maybe infecting, killing family members.
Elections re coming and Floridians won’t forget and repubs should be worried after screwing up unemployment on purpose, covid, vaccines, keeping people from voting, not doing what we tell them to by voting for things is coming due.
Working mon
February 27, 2021 at 1:44 pm
You are lying of course, as of yesterday floor is 27 of 52in death rate. Florida
Elections are coming and the conservatives will kick out every sorry Democrat, too lazy to go to work wanting to live off the backs on the rest of us!
Nicole Bradberry
February 27, 2021 at 5:09 pm
Actually 37th out of 50th not normalized for the oldest population. We did great!
Valerie
February 28, 2021 at 11:31 pm
If that is true it’s because Florida is a retirement state
Sonja Fitch
February 26, 2021 at 3:50 pm
Duffus Desantis is lying cause
Duffus Desantis is telling Fox News. Duffus Desantis can’t bs main stream media. Vote Democrat up and down ballot for the elections in 2022!
Working mom
February 27, 2021 at 1:37 pm
As always Sonja spewing her ridiculous garbage without a single FACT to back it up!!
Beth
February 27, 2021 at 12:17 pm
Has the trumpian sociopath once mentioned the death toll in Florida? DeSantis does not give a damn about FL or the United States. He supported the big lie and the murderous coup attempt. He cares about one thing and one thing only, lining his own pockets. Can’t wait until he is voted out and sent to the trash heap of history with his creepy master.
Working Mom
February 27, 2021 at 1:47 pm
Of course people have died because that was the intention of China & the globalists! Kill off the old people make room for the illegal cheap labor!
Tjb
February 28, 2021 at 10:34 am
Working Mom, you accuse Sonja for not using facts. I would do serious fact checking on your statement about China and the globalists.
Real Facts
February 27, 2021 at 5:10 pm
Math doesn’t lie. 37th out of 50th not normalized for oldest population which makes us almost the best.
cornelius cosentino
February 27, 2021 at 7:54 pm
FOX GOP RON Lies Kill stop lying
Loretta
February 28, 2021 at 7:54 am
The Gov says we have a surplus of TAX MONEY so why not buy vaccines for RESIDENTS OVER 65?
Sonja Fitch
February 28, 2021 at 3:51 pm
Working Mom. It is your problem
With the facts! Duffus Desantis has willingly slaughtered Floridians to be the cool guy for the goptrump death cult and the GOPQ cult! Vote Democrat up and down ballot for the elections in 2022
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