Gray Rohrer
Any member of the public wanting to know a full accounting of how much Gov. Ron DeSantis has spent on travel, or where he has traveled and by what means, is out of luck.
DeSantis signed SB 1616, exempting all travel records from Florida’s public records laws. And not just going forward — the new law applies immediately and applies retroactively. Any media outlet or member of the public with a pending record request is likely to be denied.
The bill passed along party lines in each chamber, 84-31 in the House and 28-12 in the Senate, with Republicans in favor and Democrats opposed.
The new law also exempts travel records for Lt. Gov. Jeanette Nuñez, House Speaker Paul Renner, Senate President Kathleen Passidomo and Florida Supreme Court Chief Justice Carlos Muñiz.
But the travel records for DeSantis, who is preparing for a bid for President in 2024, are likely to be the most coveted by media outlets and the public.
DeSantis has been hopscotching around the country in recent weeks, ostensibly on a book tour for his newly released tome, “The Courage to Be Free.” But that tour has also acted as a soft opening for his presumed bid for the GOP nomination for President.
DeSantis has made the rust belt tour, hitting Michigan, Wisconsin and Ohio. Then he went on an official trade mission to Japan, South Korea, Israel and the United Kingdom. The latter trip was organized by Enterprise Florida, a public-private group that must release travel records — until now.
The records have been used in the past to reveal questionable travel habits of politicians, including former CFO Alex Sink, former Lt. Gov. Jeff Kottkamp and former Attorney General Bill McCollum.
Former Gov. Rick Scott, now a U.S. Senator, highlighted the travel scandals in his 2010 bid for Governor, upending establishment favorite McCollum in the GOP Primary and then edging out Sink in the General Election.
Scott made good on a campaign promise to sell the state planes and used his private jet while in office to save the state money. But once he left, the Legislature approved the purchase of new planes to serve DeSantis.
15 comments
Michael K
May 11, 2023 at 8:09 pm
Governor DeathSentence gets to retroactively do whatever he pleases? I want the same. I want the rights taken away from women, teachers, and LGBTQ people retroactively restored. Pronto.
Ron DeSantis wears High Heels
May 11, 2023 at 8:29 pm
Extremely suspicious.
If you have nothing to hid Governor Sh*thead, why are you doing this?
Impeach Biden
May 11, 2023 at 9:33 pm
Just think about all those illegal aliens getting more frequent flyer miles than you. Now if you were a taxpayer you would be upset. I’m not convinced that you do pay taxes.
Impeach Biden
May 11, 2023 at 9:51 pm
Oh, and I do pay taxes on all the feet pics I sell OnlyFans by the way.
If anybody wants to buy some feet pics, let me know!
I have some sexy feet.
Earl Pitts American
May 11, 2023 at 9:02 pm
Good evening America,
I, Earl Pitts American, have been exempt from public records for more years than most people would believe.
Mainly due to the nature of the services I have provided to various organizations which I am not at liberty to discuss.
Thank you America,
Earl Pitts “Everyone Wishes They Were Me” American
Elliott Offen
May 11, 2023 at 11:51 pm
“Tropical 3 ocean tornado 🤡” – Superior intelligence
Jojo
May 12, 2023 at 7:03 am
It’s “Superior Inteligence”. That’s how a “genious” spells it.
Tom Palmer
May 11, 2023 at 9:45 pm
This a major betrayal of public trust and accountability. Maybe someday Florida will again be governed by honest public servants. It cannot come too soon.
Aggie
May 11, 2023 at 10:00 pm
He’s done everything but govern since he’s been in office. His main focus has been grandstanding and “not” running for president. How much of his “book tour” has been paid for by taxpayers? How much have they spent on all the lawsuits from his culture wars? Now his constituents cannot access his travel records. Florida has truly gotten the government it deserves.
Mercury Shampoo Ed 👍
May 11, 2023 at 11:53 pm
Now he can go on vacation on the taxpayer dime, eat fine food on the taxpayers dime, and even divert flight to Amsterdam for bunga bunga party.
Ron DeSantis is a Pedophile
May 12, 2023 at 11:53 am
If he’s blotting out his travel records I can only assume he’s flying to some new equivalent of Epstein Island where he’s doing unspeakable things to children.
It wouldn’t surprise me at all. DeSantis is a disgusting individual.
Remember, this is the same person who wanted the menstrual history of underage girls to become state record.
Ron DeSantis has this weird fascination with children’s genitals, so he’s most likely flying around on the taxpayer dime so he can diddle kids.
Bill Pollard
May 12, 2023 at 3:01 pm
This law is simply unconstitutional and at some point it will be ruled as such. Public travel records are public records. Also, public record laws such as this cannot be made retroactive.
Tom
May 12, 2023 at 3:24 pm
Is he worried that we’ll see him swanning around Israel sucking up to Miriam Adelson under the guise of increasing trade between Israel and Florida ’cause Israelis need more oranges and we need more sand? Ooops … we already saw that one. This dude seems terrified by the thought of transparency. Maybe he thinks trump supporters want to kill him.
Tjb
May 12, 2023 at 5:46 pm
Desantis won’t disclose his travel expenses for his campaign to be president; travel being paid for by Floridians. Now he want local officials to disclose their personal income and assets. Hypocrite Ron.
Mary
May 13, 2023 at 10:24 am
People, do your own research and think for yourself. The. bill protects the records of law enforcement agencies that provide transportation and protection for government officials and visiting dignitaries. It protects the means and methods used to provide protection.
https://m.flsenate.gov/session/bill/2023/1616/billtext/er/html
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