A.G. Gancarski
House Speaker Daniel Perez is having his say after days of attacks from Gov. Ron DeSantis.
After Wednesday’s floor session, Perez responded to “lies and stories that never happened” and “temper tantrums” from the Chief Executive, in the latest indication that the bad blood flows both ways.
“It seems that we’re getting into this regularity where he has a temper tantrum. He gets in front of a camera and he starts to do one of two things,” Perez said. “Willingly choosing to lie about what he is telling the people in front of a camera, or he is choosing not to read the bills or look at our budget.”
Perez took issue with DeSantis claiming that the House refused to meet with Amanda Gerhardt and Kat Turner, two wives of cops who were upset by the House’s budget proposals.
Perez said they in fact did meet and had a “great conversation” about what the House has done for cops, which “ended cordially.”
“The meeting request was made by the two women that I met with, and we had a phenomenal meeting together. And I’m thankful that they took the time to come to Tallahassee and to meet with members of the House,” Perez said, before going back on the attack against DeSantis.
“But what you have is a Governor that is speaking one way and acting in a completely different way. And I’m okay, I’ll play the part. You can go on TV and do what he does. It’s OK. We’re big boys, we’re big girls. We have thick skin. But I’m not going to allow him to lie.”
The Speaker also discussed First Lady Casey DeSantis’ charity, Hope Florida, suggesting the unfolding scandal about the $10 million that Centene gave the charity — that ultimately ended up in a political committee helmed by DeSantis’ former Chief of Staff and current Attorney General James Uthmeier — was the tip of the reform iceberg.
“The House is definitely trying to restructure and rewrite the way that Tallahassee functions today. Just because it’s functioned a certain way for the last several decades doesn’t mean that it’s been functioning in the proper posture,” Perez explained.
“We are looking to change the House, of course. That is the No. 1 priority. But there is more that is involved with this process that doesn’t involve the House. But whatever we control, whatever comes through the legislative process, we are considering change on — not for the sake of changing something, but for the sake of making something better, more transparent and more accountable.”
Perez suggested there could be “a way to claw back the money and give it back to its intended purpose,” though it’s not clear how, given that it was programmed during the 2024 campaign cycle.
Regardless, he expects “more of that information when we start to receive responses from the agencies that we’ve requested documents from.”
DeSantis has called the House probe into the charity a “total flop,” a “hoax” and a “manufactured fraud.” But it’s clear the bully pulpit tactics have not intimidated Perez and his colleagues, who seem intent on reversing six years of legislative passiveness and reasserting the prerogatives of their branch of government.
22 comments
EARL PITTS AMERICAN
April 16, 2025 at 6:16 pm
Good evening Florida,
House Speaker Daniel Perez is a “Dook 4 Brains Leftist” disguised as a “Dook 4 Brains RINO”, absloutly one of “The Worst Persons On The Planet”.
I, EARL PITTS AMERICAN, just hope the “Constituants” who elected House Speaker Daniel Perez & Senate President “Back Stabbin Ben AlBritton” are ready for a “WHOLE LOT OF VETOS”.
Cheaters never win & winners never cheat,
EARL PITTS AMERICAN
Waylon Smithers
April 16, 2025 at 6:20 pm
Thanks for this late session update Earl to bring us up to speed on Ben and Dan’s treason to Floridians,
Waylon
Skeptic
April 16, 2025 at 7:16 pm
Earl, you do know that Donald J. Trump is President, don’t you? Winners may never cheat, but cheaters certainly can win. Too bad you are on the side of cheaters (like our lame duck governor), not winners. But, bless your heart, in this season of Easter, Jesus my forgive you.
George
April 16, 2025 at 7:24 pm
Wipe your chin, Earl. Still a bit of DeSantis dripping off.
SuzyQ
April 16, 2025 at 7:24 pm
Shame on the term-limited Florida House Speaker for this manufactured controversy.
MH/Duuuval
April 17, 2025 at 7:11 pm
The record of Hope is not a manufactured object, but rather, in this case, an indictment of Dee’s relaxed ideas of who and how money is spent in Florida.
Along for the Ride
April 16, 2025 at 7:24 pm
Good for these men to have a backbone and stand up to DeSantis. For far too long he has taken advantage of the government and wasted our tax dollars. And now people are fighting back
SuzyQ
April 16, 2025 at 7:31 pm
This Florida House Speaker is also term-limited.
MH/Duuuval
April 17, 2025 at 7:12 pm
Many of us can’t wait until Dee leaves office. Or, like Trump, will he try to stay on?
ScienceBLVR
April 16, 2025 at 7:34 pm
Wow! So much to unpack here.. John Oliver, The Daily Show, OMG. Do they know what’s happening here? Love to see this Mines bigger than Yours playbill on either of those venues. Middle road Democrat, here, but… Holy Smokes! Perez almost sounds like a “Normal” Republican. Like my parents- not MAGA, but reasonable in a sense. Maybe it’s a just a mirage to distract us from…renaming Gulfs or something. Uh oh..
Michael K
April 16, 2025 at 8:18 pm
Poor Widdle Ron – not getting his way. Wah wah wah. His petulant manner and personality deficit were key to his embarrassing quixotic presidential performance where he blew through $160 million and carried not a single county in Iowa. Wah, wah, wah.
tom palmer
April 16, 2025 at 11:49 pm
It is long past time for legislative leaders to call out Gov. DeSantis’ dishonesty and thin-skinned personality. This is refreshing.
MH/Duuuval
April 17, 2025 at 7:13 pm
Exactly, and what can raise his hackles more than his better half being found incompetent?
Mitch Schmendrick Katz
April 17, 2025 at 7:14 am
Everyone knows that Ron D is a little B. Remember that pudding story from when he was foolishly trying to run for Prez? He’s such a brat that he would stoop to doing something as disgusting as scooping pudding with 3 fingers just to get what he wants when he wants it. Perez is a nasty little wannabe dictator too. I guess his affair with that lobbyist must not be distracting him enough at the moment. Maybe he should try men.
MH/Duuuval
April 17, 2025 at 7:22 pm
Looks like a salacious Peachy libel. They are always claiming their opponents are up to no good in their private lives.
How is Peachy feeling about the Piccolo story and the direct ties to Richard Corcoran, as a mentor, enabler, and perhaps co-conspirator?
LexT
April 17, 2025 at 9:16 am
Who is Daniel Perez? Seems to me to be everything bad about the Republican Party. Florida has Ron Desantis situated to be the number 1 presidential candidate in 2028 and Perez seems to be trying to screw that up. Why? Generally having a president elected is good for the state. Donald Trump is like half from Florida, but mostly from New York. I’m not asking for politicians to get along 100%, but you guys are in the same party. Act like it. Resolve stuff.
Michael K
April 17, 2025 at 9:31 am
No, they are not in the same party. The Republican Party is all but dead. The MAGA cult is Trump – nothing more – and never the twain shall meet.
Along for the Ride
April 17, 2025 at 12:53 pm
True. The old republican party was for less gov. more freedom. This new party is all government
FLPatriot
April 17, 2025 at 12:44 pm
DeSantis will not be the nominee. After this stint in Florida, He can hang up his public service.
Elmo
April 17, 2025 at 10:30 am
Ron DeSantis is a grifter and a con man. Some might even say he is a punk-ass b*tch.
Along for the Ride
April 17, 2025 at 10:43 am
Thank you Elmo well said.
FLPatriot
April 17, 2025 at 12:43 pm
Ronnie is no better than lil Trumpy. Both throw tantrums and whine to the media. Both are corrupt and should be removed from all public service.