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Gov. Ron DeSantis told reporters precisely how he feels every member of the House and Senate who voted for the so-called Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 should be dealt with.
During a speaking event Tuesday in Fort Pierce, Florida, DeSantis took particular issue with the aspect of the bill that included an $80 billion funding boost for the IRS and would enable the agency to hire over 80,000 new personnel who will be largely focused on tax enforcement.
“If they go after you, a lot of times they’re going to be able to find something, especially if you don’t have an account or you don’t have lawyers,” he said. “So, I thought it was really, really reprehensible that they’d be mobilizing 87,000 IRS agents.”
“I think every member of Congress that voted for that bill should be required to be audited every year by the IRS,” DeSantis said, as those in attendance responded with laughter and applause.
The bill was entirely on Democratic votes. Not a single Republican vote in either the House or the Senate supported it. (As Fox News reported, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said they voted against “Mother Earth.”)
Biden administration officials claim the money for the IRS will go “improve taxpayer service, modernize outdated technological infrastructure, and increase equity in the tax system by enforcing the tax laws against those high-earners, large corporations, and complex partnerships who today do not pay what they owe.”
DeSantis isn’t buying it. On Aug. 17, the day after President Joe Biden signed the bill into law, he called the passage of the bill a “a middle finger” to the American people.
“I think of all the things that have come out of Washington that have been outrageous, this has got to be pretty close to the top,” he said.
Ft. Pierce Receives Grant for Infrastructure Improvements
Governor Ron DeSantis awarded more than $2.7 million to the City of Fort Pierce through the Florida Job Growth Grant Fund. The City of Fort Pierce will facilitate infrastructure improvements and the redevelopment of the City’s historic downtown area to spur economic growth and bring jobs closer to home for the City’s residents. These projects will support an estimated 1,353 total jobs in the Fort Pierce area.
“In Florida, we are dedicated to making strategic investments in our communities that support economic growth and enhance the lives of hard-working Floridians,” said Governor Ron DeSantis. “This project will strengthen the local economy and bring job opportunities closer to home for families in Fort Pierce.”
According to United States Census Bureau data, 81.2 percent of residents who live in the City of Fort Pierce are employed outside of the community boundary. 27.8 percent of commuters travel more than 10 miles each day and another 27.6 percent travel greater than 50 miles each day. For residents of Fort Pierce, revitalization efforts in the city’s historic downtown waterfront area will bring more job opportunities to the area. The project is anticipated to create jobs as well as drive economic development by encouraging new business and stimulating the economy.
The project will also support the reconstruction of Indian River Drive from Marina Way to Seaway Drive, modernization of aging utilities, enhancement of pedestrian safety along A.E. Backus Avenue, and facilitation of engineering, permitting, demolition, and utility relocation for Moore’s Creek Bridge.
The Florida Job Growth Grant Fund is an economic development program designed to promote public infrastructure and workforce training across the state. Proposals are reviewed by DEO and Enterprise Florida, Inc. (EFI) and are chosen by Governor DeSantis to meet the demands for workforce training or infrastructure needs in communities around the state.
Gov. DeSantis Promises Major Tax Cuts Coming to the State
Gov. Ron DeSantis vowed Tuesday that Florida is about to see the biggest tax cuts in the history of the state.
"We are going to roll out our tax package for next year, probably in the next couple of weeks, and that is going to be by far the biggest tax cuts in the history of the state of Florida, so stay tuned for that," DeSantis said at a press event in Live Oak, Florida, focused on infrastructure.
DeSantis hasn’t yet provided details about which tax cuts were ahead. Florida is one of nine states that doesn't have a state income tax, and it has a 6% sales tax, with some exceptions.
Governors typically roll out tax and spending plans just before the legislative session, which starts in Tallahassee in March 2023. But DeSantis' remarks indicated his proposal would come far sooner.
In May, DeSantis signed a tax holiday bill into law that included $1.2 billion in tax breaks on a slew of items from diapers to mobile homes. The governor also unveiled a commuter discount last week for drivers who regularly use tolls.
Florida has wiggle room on spending because it finished the most recent fiscal year, in June, with a $22 billion surplus. But in general, states all over the country have been awash with cash from President Joe Biden's COVID stimulus, called American Rescue Plan, and after they took in far more revenue than they expected during the pandemic.
Florida received different pockets of federal relief funding for its state budget, for cities and counties, and for schools, totaling an estimated $17.6 billion. It's not yet clear whether the governor plans to dip into some of those funds for the tax cuts.
The Republican-controlled legislature and DeSantis did tap into $200 million-worth of Biden's COVID stimulus to fund a 25-cents-per-gallon gas tax holiday in Florida that starts in October.
Florida Files Lawsuit Against the FDA
Governor Ron DeSantis announced a lawsuit against the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in response to their unreasonable delay of more than 630 days in approving Florida’s proposal for its Canadian Prescription Drug Importation Program. The Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA) submitted the first of its kind plan to safely import cheaper drugs from Canada to the FDA nearly 21 months ago, and the last hurdle they are facing is approval from the federal government. Click the video above to watch the full press conference.
“Florida has been ready to deliver cheaper prescription drugs to those that need them for nearly two years,” said Governor Ron DeSantis. “The lack of transparency by the Biden administration during the approval process, and failure to provide records on the importation proposal, is costing Floridians who are facing rising prices across the board due to inflation. Florida is confident in our importation model, and we continue to look for more ways to lower drug costs for Floridians while the FDA delays approval of this importation proposal.”
“Governor DeSantis and I are fighting to lower prescription drug costs, but Washington bureaucrats are blocking our efforts,” said Attorney General Ashley Moody. “Today, we filed litigation to force the FDA to accept our medication importation proposal. This action will save Florida $150 million a year.”
“Governor DeSantis continues to push for action on every front from the Biden Administration,” said Surgeon General Dr. Joseph Ladapo. “The reality is that people cannot wait upwards of two years to improve access to essential prescriptions. Instead, the federal government is dragging their feet when Americans need affordable prescriptions, now more than ever.”
“Thanks to the decisive leadership of Governor DeSantis and his commitment to empowering patients, we will continue to fight for Floridians and the ability to import high-quality prescription drugs from Canada at a significantly lower price,” said Agency for Health Care Administration Secretary Simone Marstiller. “With each passing day, the complacency of the federal government continues to appear to be a ruse to protect the pharmaceutical industry’s ‘power’ over patients.”
AHCA continues to face bureaucratic roadblocks and filed this lawsuit to compel the FDA to act on Florida’s proposal. In July, Governor DeSantis announced that AHCA filed a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request to gain insight into the status of their proposal to lower drug costs for Floridians. To date, the FDA has failed to respond to this FOIA request, resulting in AHCA filing suit earlier this week. The FDA must provide transparency on their review process, and Florida will hold them accountable to ensure they are not putting politics over patients.
In response to federal government inaction, Governor DeSantis granted AHCA authority to negotiate prices for drugs ineligible for importation, such as insulin and epinephrine. This will reinforce the demand for Florida’s Canadian Prescription Drug Importation Program and provide another avenue to impact the price Floridians pay for prescription drugs.
Governor and First Lady Host Special Olympians
Last week, Governor Ron DeSantis and First Lady Casey DeSantis welcomed Special Olympians to the Governor’s Mansion for an event which included medal winners from the Special Olympics 2022 USA Games and athletes and teams that were not able to compete due to the vaccine mandate that was imposed until the state intervened the week of the games.
Representatives from Special Olympics Florida were in attendance and will host an All-Star Champions Showcase for Floridians and athletes nationwide who missed out on the games. Click here for a video.
“In Florida we ensured all Special Olympians could compete, and today we are celebrating a job well done in the 2022 USA Games,” said Governor Ron DeSantis. “We saw many Floridians with special abilities win medals, but most importantly they used their God-given abilities to play sports together and have fun.”
“These athletes deserve to be celebrated for their accomplishments,” said First Lady Casey DeSantis. “I am proud of the effort they put forward at the games and excited for them to have the opportunity to participate in the All-Star Showcase. In Florida, we will always fight for Floridians with unique abilities, including our inspirational athletes.”
Hope Florida-A Pathway to Purpose Expanded to Seniors
Lady Casey DeSantis announced the expansion of her Hope Florida initiative to the Florida Department of Elder Affairs. This expansion, called Hope Florida – A Pathway to Purpose, will provide support for Florida’s elders by increasing assistance for seniors in need while helping to facilitate opportunities for seniors looking to serve.
This announcement comes on the heels of the First Lady’s Hope Florida – A Pathway to Prosperity initiative, which she launched in 2021 to break down traditional community silos to unite the private sector, faith-based institutions, non-profits, and government entities to maximize resources and uncover opportunities for Floridians in need. Implemented by the Florida Department of Children and Families, Hope Florida – A Pathway to Prosperity has served nearly 50,000 individuals, helping them find an individualized path to prosperity, economic self-sufficiency, and hope.
With the expansion, the Department of Elder Affairs and the state’s eleven Area Agencies on Aging established their own Hope Navigators, who will further break down traditional community silos by uniting seniors and caregivers with community partners, giving seniors direct access to help locating immediate needs. In addition, the Hope Navigators will help identify ways for these seniors to find purpose, which could take the form of volunteering or mentoring. To be paired with a Hope Navigator, call 850-300-HOPE.
For seniors who wish to give back to society, Hope Florida – A Pathway to Purpose is simplifying opportunities for seniors to help meet the needs of their communities. One way to serve is with Elder Affairs’ newly established “Hope Heroes Program,” through which retirees can learn how to support seniors in need. To become a Hope Hero or to learn about additional volunteer opportunities, call 800-96-ELDER or visit helpcreatehope.com.
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