A.G. Gancarski
House Speaker Daniel Perez is responding to reporting that $10 million steered to a charity linked to First Lady Casey DeSantis was funneled into political advocacy advertising via a political committee associated with Gov. Ron DeSantis.
“There were $10 million that should have gone back to the State Treasury in a settlement agreement between Centene and AHCA, which is an agency of the state of Florida, and instead it went to Hope Florida and it did so in the dark of night. And that’s really where the frustration comes from,” the Miami Republican told Matt Gaetz on OANN Friday.
DeSantis called the $10 million to Hope Florida the “cherry on top” and a “voluntary contribution” as part of the $67 million settlement agreement as he dismissed concerns as “drivel” and “political nonsense.”
But the House Speaker sees it differently.
“How much of this money should have gone to the federal government? This is a Medicaid program. These are Medicaid dollars and how is that question is going to be answered by the Governor’s Office. I don’t have that answer and all we’re asking for here is transparency and accountability and and it’s shocking to me that DeSantis, who I’ve considered a friend and who I’ve endorsed for president in years past, is trying to shy away from transparency and accountability. All we’re asking for is the answers that have been asked by members of the Florida House, in their right, and we haven’t gotten those answers,” Perez said.
A House Health Care Budget Subcommittee meeting on Wednesday, which AHCA called a “complete ambush,” didn’t clarify the matter.
Chair Alex Andrade, a fellow Republican who has lately been at odds with the Governor on many issues, said the “$10 million transfer of funds … was probably illegal” and questioned the assertion from Agency for Healthcare Administration (AHCA) Secretary Shevaun Harris that the settlement wasn’t “taxpayer funds.”
“All options are on the table, including subpoenas,” Perez said when asked how far the House would go to get answers.
$8.5 million of the money allegedly was moved and programmed ultimately to mobilize against constitutional amendments through former DeSantis Chief of Staff and current Attorney General James Uthmeier’s “Keep Florida Clean” political committee, much of it coming via the Florida Chamber of Commerce’s “Secure Florida’s Future” account.
Perez said there was a “possibility” that happened and that he sought “transparency on how that money got to the final point.” He said there were “breadcrumbs” suggesting the Florida Chamber was involved in that process, and he hoped next week’s meeting of the Andrade committee would reveal fact patterns.
Gaetz, who may run for AG against Uthmeier next year, went on to ask Perez a leading question.
“You’ve got the financial records from Keep Florida Clean and look at this millions of dollars, millions of dollars coming into that from Secure Florida’s Future. So Secure Florida’s Future is getting money from Hope Florida and then in turn providing that money to a political committee run by the now Attorney General,” Gaetz said. “What confidence can Floridians have that the current administration can get to the bottom of whether or not this money was used for political ads?”
“I think all of this can be put to bed if the answers were actually given. The problem is we’re not getting any answers,” Perez said.
11 comments
FlipCash
April 12, 2025 at 2:53 pm
I’ve gotten 2 checks for a total of $9,200…this is the best decision I made in a long time! This extra cash has changed my life in so many ways, thank you!”.
Go ON my ProFILE
Earl Pitts American
April 12, 2025 at 9:45 pm
I, Earl Pitts American, have seen some of you peoples porn, Flip, and some of it is very inspiring.
Keep up the good work, Flip,
Earl Pitts American
FL Guy
April 12, 2025 at 3:23 pm
Where does Jason Weida fit into this scandal? He was the AHCA Secretary when this occurred. Now he’s failed upward to be Chief of Staff for the Governor. In this administration, the less integrity you have the higher you will rise.
MH/Duuuval
April 12, 2025 at 4:24 pm
More stuff coming out about the $10 million. Perhaps the protective sheen Is coming off the Gov. and his spouse, who a late radio ham called smarter than Dee.
Skeptic
April 12, 2025 at 3:27 pm
I doubt that AGs Bondi or Uthmeier are going to come down against Juan and Eva Peron’s corruption. Medicaid fraud is a way of life in Florida — ask Senator Scott. Whether Evita’s gubernatorial ambitions survive remains to be seen, but Medicaid fraud did not slow the campaign of Juan’s predecessor.
PeterH
April 12, 2025 at 7:35 pm
Florida residents can see a grift …… Republicans are the USA masters at the art of grifting!
Along for the Ride
April 13, 2025 at 10:24 am
The DeSantis administration for years has been trying to pull a fast one on Floridians. People need to pay attention and care
TJC
April 13, 2025 at 12:13 pm
DeSantis is right out of Rudyard Kipling’s “The Man Who Would Be King,” a vain and smiling and smug fellow who seeks and gains power, only to succumb to it.
Victoria Olson
April 13, 2025 at 2:27 pm
If they have Nothing to hide, why aren’t they showing them the financial records? It’s about time someone had the initiative to stand up to DeSantis Corruption and demand answers. Too bad they didn’t start doing this on every questionable spending. It’s a start which I’m happy to see.
Earl Pitts American
April 13, 2025 at 7:10 pm
Good evening Florida,
Both House Speaker Daniel Perez, and Senate President, Ben Albritton, have been “Rude @ssWholes” to Ron & The Beautiful Casey since the “Special Session”.
Now, unfortunatly, for House Speaker Daniel Perez, and Senate President, Ben Albritton’s CONSTITUANTS they are going to have to suffer some “Very Painfull VETOS”.
You voters in House Speaker Daniel Perez, and Senate President, Ben Albritton’s districts are sadly “The Guilty Parties” in this Very Real Political Equation”… HELLO YOU ELECTED THESE TWO @SS CLOWNS.
THEREFORE:
It’s gonna be you voters within their districts who feel the “PAINFULL BURN” [By Way Of VETOS].
EARL WILL PREACH ON:
“If You Play … You Pay … Thats What They Say”.
If you voters think for one minute that you can elect two @sswholes like Dan & Ben and not pay a “Very Dear Price” then I, Earl Pitts American, am hereby calling you voters out for the “FOOLS THAT YOU ARE”.
I, Earl Pitts American, Pitty The Fools that Whizz’ed-Off Ron & Casey by electing Dan & Ben.
Say Your Prayers, Constituants of Dan & Ben because in the Real Real Political World of THE GREAT FREE STATE OF FLORIDA; you, the Constituants, are The Fools who must Pay & Pay Dearly for what you did.
Sorry, Constituants of Dan & Ben but that’s how Politics works …. All I can say is vote better next time … as your Pain & Suffering is comeing “@sswhole Voters”.
Oh & BTW Dan & Ben knew from the special session going forward that it was you, their Constituants, that they were “Throwing Under The Bus”.
IN CLOSING:
TOO BAD … SO SAD … YOU, “THE CITIZENS OF DAN & BEN’S Districts” Must Suffer,
Earl Pitts American
Victoria Olson
April 17, 2025 at 10:22 am
Earl tell us what is FREE in Florida? in the THE GREAT FREE STATE OF FLORIDA ? what is FREE? I think people who read these comments would like to know your answer to this question.
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