A.G. Gancarski
CFO Jimmy Patronis seems to believe Gov. Ron DeSantis wasn’t fully informed before his veto threat against legislation that would have slotted $5 million of state dollars to a former President’s much-needed legal defense.
To that end, Patronis seeks a “dialogue” about SB 1738 and SB 1740, proposals to provide up to $5 million from a fund that gives public money to qualified statewide candidates to a Florida resident who is “subject to political discrimination to pay for legal fees.”
“We are in a situation now where the Senator has withdrawn the bill and look, I think there was a problem where people just weren’t reading the legislation,” Patronis said on Newsmax Friday.
“These were not taxpayers’ dollars. The dollars that were being used were actually fees that were paid by candidates in qualifying. So we had a pretty elaborate formula there,” the CFO said.
The funds for the legal defense scheme come from fees paid by candidates for political office. The Department of Financial Services, which Patronis oversees, would have “the sole authority to determine if a person has been subject to political discrimination.”
That money would be replenished by voluntary donations made by residents when they renew their driver’s licenses. The “Defending Freedom Fighters Trust Fund” would be one of 22 options of nonprofit groups to donate to on the renewal form.
DeSantis denounced the Sen. Ileana Garcia bill earlier this week in a social media post from his political account rather than his official handle, saying that it wasn’t supported by “the Florida Republican who wields the veto pen.”
“Look, I think any state in the union would give the right arm to have a homegrown president in the White House. So this is exactly what we were thinking about,” Patronis said, before equating probes of the Governor’s official conduct with the actions Trump faces in four different venues, including a civil trial verdict Friday that he owed E. Jean Carroll more than $83 million after an adverse verdict in a defamation trial.
“Ron DeSantis has been targeted by the threats of investigation by the Justice Department over the migrant flights,” Patronis said. “So no two ways about it: I was trying to ensure that we change the White House and if it’s a Florida man, that’s good for Florida.”
26 comments
ScienceBLVR
January 27, 2024 at 10:51 am
The Department of Financial Services, which Patronis oversees, would have “the sole authority to determine if a person has been subject to political discrimination.”
What? Jimmy Patronis is king of Florida now?
Guess it’s good to be king and have your own way,
Get a feeling of peace at the end of the day,
And when your bulldog barks and your canary sings,
You’re out there with winners, it’s good to be king.
MH/Duuuval
January 28, 2024 at 12:36 pm
A lyric from Randy Newman?
ScienceBLVR
January 28, 2024 at 2:26 pm
Tom Petty.. comment didn’t make it through censor initially?
MH/Duuuval
January 28, 2024 at 7:21 pm
Reminded me of Newman’s song about the Kingfish of Louisiana, Huey Long.
Lee Rooks
January 29, 2024 at 4:34 am
Homegrown?? Petronis calls trump homegrown? He’s a refugee from New York who left there because he had screwed over so many innocent contractors. Let’s see this for what it is: a 1st salvo to enter the governor’s race in 2026.
Paul
January 27, 2024 at 11:02 am
Patronis is so full of shit.
“So we had a pretty elaborate formula there,” the CFO said. The Department of Financial Services, which Patronis oversees, would have “the sole authority to determine if a person has been subject to political discrimination.”
So full of shit.
Bwj
January 27, 2024 at 11:07 am
If this were to pass, it would be just another step to an authoritarian government. What if the candidate was a Democrat?
Impeach Biden
January 27, 2024 at 12:29 pm
And if the Florida Governor was a Democrat.😜
George
January 27, 2024 at 1:11 pm
There’s more chance a monkey will fly out of your arse…
MH/Duuuval
January 27, 2024 at 11:09 am
Patronis is making a jesuitical argument, a wink and a nod, which is not to be taken seriously by citizens.
Tom
January 27, 2024 at 11:13 am
Who, in their right mind, would seriously propose using taxpayer dollars for old lard ass’es legal bills? WTF is wrong with these people?
Rude Eye
January 27, 2024 at 11:21 am
It’s a disease called ‘Anal Neurology’ (head up the ass) and seems to mainly effect persons associated with the GOP.
Money for children
January 27, 2024 at 11:33 am
Public funds to defend a “billionaire “ charged with 91 felonies where we saw the stolen national security documents taken from merry ding largo, where he has been convicted of Rape and ordered to pay 83.3 million for defamation by JURIES, and convicted of FRAUD. Has Florida taxpayers lost their minds
JD
January 27, 2024 at 11:48 am
The NAZI Enabling Act of 1933 allowed Hitler to make any law he wanted for 4 years. We know how that turned out.
But prior to that BIG Business worked with the Nazi’s and funded Hitler’s Nazis when they were DEAD-ASS-BROKE (and were not in a majority). You know all those elevators you ride in with Thyssenkrupp logo? Yeah, that Krupp.
And had that not been done, the Enabling act would not have been done, and we would not have had WWII.
We all know how that turned out.
Piss-Off Jimmy. This is one thing I agree with DeSantis on, Never Back Down Ronnie.
University of North Florida
January 27, 2024 at 11:53 am
Ridiculous!!
JD
January 27, 2024 at 12:09 pm
And this kind of shows how the fair-haired lad has fallen. The vultures of the FLGOP aren’t afraid of him any more. And the voters shouldn’t be either. HOLD JIMMY ACCOUNTABLE TO FIX OUR INSURANCE.
Sammie girl
January 28, 2024 at 8:45 pm
Well said, or he can pay my taxes and insurance 🤦♀️
jean solomon
January 27, 2024 at 12:55 pm
TRUMPF is not a Florida grown person, he is a thug from NYC, and he can’t go back there,,they don’t want him, so, since thugs have done from as far back as i can remember; he came toFlorida..NY crooks have always come to Florida..mostly baecause it was close to CUBA..but Castro stopped that…
Andrew Finn
January 27, 2024 at 2:42 pm
Poor Ronnie DeSatan is having everybody push back against him after the voters in Iowa did too. All kinds of trouble at home, Ever since he arrived back home to Tallahassee, he’s been sitting out in front of the Governor’s Mansion — seems that somebody dressed it up to look like the White House — and he can’t get in !!!! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA !!!!!!
Larry Gillis, Libertarian (Cape Coral)
January 27, 2024 at 3:25 pm
IT’S STILL NOT YOUR MONEY, JIMMY, SO BACK OFF.
Exactly what part of “NO” don’t you understand? If you love this guy so much, give him YOUR money, nobody else’s.
Edward
January 27, 2024 at 10:50 pm
This guy says “any state in the union would give the right arm to have a homegrown president in the White House”
Trump isn’t a Floridian, not even close, he’s a born and bred New Yorker from Queens.
MH/Duuuval
January 28, 2024 at 12:41 pm
Put a hush puppy in Patronis’ cavernous mouth, please.
George
January 28, 2024 at 9:10 pm
Patronis is angling for a job with Trump if he wins.
Lori B
January 28, 2024 at 10:25 pm
Good grief! Patronis is a complete moron. We’ve got an insurance crisis that needs some money thrown at it. If NY billionaire trump can’t afford a lawyer maybe he should ask for a public defender.
Nope
January 29, 2024 at 7:16 am
Florida voters beware this guy is very likely the next governor. Or another high level appointee. Unbelievable how tone deaf and pandering. I don’t care what your personal politics are or what party you align with. These people need to be held accountable.
Paul
January 29, 2024 at 12:08 pm
I’m thinking Matt Gaetz will run for Governor. Or Blaise Ingoglia. God help us with either.
Comments are closed.