A.G. Gancarski
State Sen. Jay Collins is defending the Ron DeSantis administration as a “vocal advocate” for the Hope Florida program, saying a controversial eight-figure spend on political advertising was entirely legit.
The Tampa Republican says the “civil settlement” agreement with Centene had included a $10 million “donation” to the Hope Florida Foundation.
Regarding “grants” of $5 million to Secure Florida’s Future and Save Our Society from Drugs, $8.5 million of which was structured and routed to the anti-marijuana amendment Keep Florida Clean committee helmed by current Attorney General James Uthmeier (DeSantis’ Chief of Staff at the time), Collins says it’s aboveboard.
“What about the two $5 million grants? The fact is, those went to nonprofits under the missions of Hope, Florida, very specifically, and they went through a very focused approach,” Collins told radio host Jenna Ellis. “These weren’t just given willy-nilly. There’s a step process that was done to make sure the money was being appropriated and used for the right reasons.”
Money to Secure Florida’s Future was earmarked explicitly for a “long-term, targeted business partner recruitment strategy and public awareness campaign.”
The funds to Save Our Society From Drugs were intended for “developing and implementing strategies that directly address the substance use crisis facing our communities.”
Whether political advertising and consultant fees are part of those purposes is a matter of subjective interpretation.
Collins’ comments continue the ongoing defense of what Collins calls the DeSantis “brand” ahead of “’26” and “the future of the state.”
Speaking in Winter Haven last week, DeSantis said First Lady Casey DeSantis didn’t get “one red cent” from the $10 million routed toward political advertising last year. That money came from what he called the “cherry on top” from a Medicaid settlement with provider Centene.
For his part, Uthmeier has called the money a “sweetener.”
DeSantis has offered more legalistic defenses of the unusual transactions, saying the foundation “acted totally appropriately.”
Uthmeier has said, “The media misunderstands the difference between issue committees and political candidate committees under the IRS code.”
Meanwhile, the First Lady called the accusations “slanderous” and “false.”
11 comments
Ron Lockhart
May 27, 2025 at 11:22 am
Senator Collins knows what he is saying is false. There is no doubt about what the Governor was up to with carving out $10MM of the Centene settlement and secretly channeling it to two non-profits, who then went on to underwrite the anti-marijuana ballot referendum.
Thank heavens that DeSantis is term-limited. He is much too full of himself and needs to be knocked down a notch.
William G Pigman
May 27, 2025 at 11:30 am
There is nothing new here. Medicaid money was stolen from the people of Florida , and we don’t know where it is . We want details.
Along for the Ride
May 27, 2025 at 12:55 pm
It went to PAC’s to fight citizen lead ballot initiatives that failed because of our own tax dollars.
Along for the Ride
May 27, 2025 at 12:28 pm
He lies
Concerned Parent
May 27, 2025 at 1:24 pm
He is just trying to climb the political ladder. He knows it was shady AF, but he has aligned himself with the DeSantis regime and must now carry the water. One day the full depth of the DeSantis grift w/ taxpayer money will be laid bare …
Whether he has been a ‘good’ Governor or if Florida is better off with him at the helm isn’t at issue here, whether his regime misused, misappropriated, and obfuscated the use of taxpayer money both in the settlement and in agency positions needs to be cleared up.
SuzyQ
May 27, 2025 at 1:31 pm
Bravo, Senator Collins, for calling a spade a spade. This manufactured controversy has been propagated for purely political purposes. The only prevarications here are the ones peddled by the political enemies of America’s Governor.
Along for the Ride
May 27, 2025 at 2:14 pm
Suzy quit with the BS. We all know they are lying about the $10,000,000.00 that was stolen. America’s gov. got booed because he sucks balls
SuzyQ
May 27, 2025 at 3:20 pm
Nothing was stolen. Stop prevaricating. Of course, for the likes of you, it’s like asking someone to stop breathing. America’s Governor will continue to exercise bold leadership.
Along for the Ride
May 27, 2025 at 4:41 pm
Bold leadership? HA! Good one. Nothing was stolen? If nothing was stolen and everything was done according to the law or laws then DeSantis and his wife along with pur appointed AG James Uthmeier should say go ahead and investigate. We have nothing to hide because there is nothing illegal going on that prosecutors will find. Instead DeSantis attacks other elected representatives and says that this is a smear campaign against his wife. Nope, it’s our elected officials doing their jobs and looking out for our tax dollars
ScienceBLVR
May 27, 2025 at 4:06 pm
The new political gospel: public office is private graft – Mark Twain
Trump, Jay and the DeSantis’s – keeping up the tradition..
Bill
May 27, 2025 at 4:20 pm
My God Representative, you are poorly informed.