Gov. Ron DeSantis recently released a $99.7 billion budget blueprint for the 2022 legislative session and has touted a series of other proposals. Here are 10 of DeSantis’ priorities — big and small — for the session, which will start Jan. 11:
— CRYPTOCURRENCY: DeSantis has requested $700,000 for cryptocurrency projects at the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, the Agency for Health Care Administration and the Department of Financial Services. For example, a pilot program would allow people to pay for motor-vehicle title certificates through Blockchain technology at the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles.
— ELECTIONS ENFORCEMENT: DeSantis is seeking $5.7 million for a 52-person Office of Election Crimes and Security within the Department of State to investigate and prosecute election-related crimes.
— FLORIDA STATE GUARD: DeSantis has requested $5.4 million to re-establish a 200-member Florida State Guard, which was a defense force set up during World War II to replace Florida National Guard members who were deployed abroad. It would be used to assist the National Guard during emergencies.
— FREEDOM TOWER: DeSantis has requested $25 million to restore Miami’s Freedom Tower, which was used in the past to process Cuban refugees. Legislative proposals have already been filed for the work on the nearly 100-year-old building.
— GAS TAX CUT: DeSantis wants to suspend the state’s 25-cent-a-gallon tax on gasoline for five months, starting July 1. The state would use $1 billion in federal stimulus money to make up for the lost money, as gas taxes go toward transportation projects.
— HIRING AND KEEPING COPS: DeSantis wants increase pay for officers at the Florida Highway Patrol, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, provide a second round of $1,000 bonuses for first responders and provide $5,000 bonuses to help recruit law-enforcement officers to Florida.
— IMMIGRATION CRACKDOWN: DeSantis has requested $8 million to transport undocumented immigrants out of state, while calling on legislators to expand a 2019 law targeting so-called “sanctuary cities” and a 2020 law that requires all government employers and some contractors to use a federal electronic system known as E-Verify to check the immigration status of new workers.
— SNAKE HUNT: DeSantis wants $3 million as part of the state’s efforts to remove invasive Burmese pythons, which threaten wildlife and ecosystems in the Everglades.
— TEACHER BONUSES: DeSantis wants to use $238 million in federal stimulus money to give a second round of $1,000 bonuses to teachers and principals in an effort to retain educators amid an ongoing teacher shortage.
— TESTING OVERHAUL: DeSantis wants to spend $15.5 million to carry out a plan that would replace the statewide standardized tests known as the Florida Standards Assessments with a progress-monitoring system.
–News Service of Florida
A.j says
We will c what happens. As long g as anything he gets help all the people I’m o.k. Time will tell what happens.
Deborah Coffey says
Laughing. “ELECTIONS ENFORCEMENT: DeSantis is seeking $5.7 million for a 52-person Office of Election Crimes and Security within the Department of State to investigate and prosecute election-related crimes. DeSantis really wants to catch his own voters and lock them up? And he needs $5.7 million to do it? Gosh, there must be a ton of cheating Republicans!
pattyj says
And 2 tons of cheating democrats!
Deborah Coffey says
80 courts later that said there was NO fraud in the states Trump wanted to steal. But EVERY single person arrested in Florida for election fraud is a Republican. I don’t know where you guys get your news, but the Republicans here are in jail…at least the ones that have been caught. Three of them were arrested last week. It’s an easy Google. Find a Democrat and prove your point. But, I bet you can’t in all 50 states.
T says
Hey Karen just only fraud that’s been bought forward has been republicans and deb not all republicans are bad some are true and want good but not these ones these day’s
joe says
And your evidence for this is……???
Bill C. says
When your response is “I know I am one, but what about you” we can accept that as your admission of guilt. Election Enforcement is more a right-wing tactic to suppress votes. You see it and you know it and so does Governor DeSantis.
Ed says
5.7M for 52 inspector Clouseau’s = 110K per each political drone. I’m confused, our fearless leader stated the 2020 election was the most secure in Fl history so why the drone patrol? If approved station them in the Villages where the cheating exists.
Timothy Patrick Welch says
CRYPTOCURRENCY… bad idea waste of money, exchange your crypto and pay your bills with taxable US currency.
FLORIDA STATE GUARD… bad idea waste of money, the guard will serve their leader, for the good or the bad.
HIRING AND KEEPING COPS & TEACHER BONUSES… bad ideas waste of money, bonuses are awarded on merit, you must increase wages (or reduce the cost of living) to attract talent.
The other ideas seem acceptable
Pogo says
@To Whom It May Concern
“…— ELECTIONS ENFORCEMENT: DeSantis is seeking $5.7 million for a 52-person Office of Election Crimes and Security within the Department of State to investigate and prosecute election-related crimes…”
A modest proposal (thank you Mr. Swift):
When the legislature is in session, all the politicians, all the lobbyists who bribe them (the politicians), all the hookers who comfort the aforementioned, shall wear GPS tracking devices (my personal preference would be some sort of collar.) The aforementioned politicians would oblige the public by submitting a daily UA. And last, but certainly not least, whenever those characters cast a vote — they first submit to an alcohol breathalyzer test.
The reports, of course, would be published daily to We The People. We would still be respecting the politicians, at the least, just as well as they respect the rest of us.
Seen this before says
A paramilitary state guard and election secret police? Sounds like the Sturmabteilung, literally “Storm Detachment”) was the Nazi Party’s original paramilitary wing. It played a significant role in Adolf Hitler’s rise to power in the 1920s and 1930s. Its primary purposes were providing protection for Nazi rallies and assemblies, disrupting the meetings of opposing parties…
Flatsflyer says
DeathSantis has to be the most stupid person ever elected to any office in the entire country. The USNA and Harvard should demand the return of the Sheepskins they granted him. He is too dumb and illiterate to even breath on his own. A master criminal just like his father, Donald Trump. I say check the DNA because genes will prove that they are related and suffer the same from mental illness.
Ella G says
Mental illness is contagious – unless we vax and wear masks. Pass it on.
Chevy says
You owe me gas money
marlee says
Where is DeathSantis?
Covid???