DeSantis Can Claim High Ground with Budget Plan That Puts Floridians First

Orlando: So, Governor Ron DeSantis is about to drop his budget recommendations for the next fiscal year. In the past, lawmakers have treated his financial plans like they were orders from above. But that didn’t stop them from feeling a bit embarrassed when he vetoed some of their priorities after their annual session.

This time, things might be different. Recently, House Speaker Daniel Perez and Senate President Ben Albritton didn’t seem too impressed with DeSantis’ call for a special session. His upcoming budget proposals could face the same kind of skepticism.

But here’s the thing: if DeSantis wants to win this round, he should team up with the people. A budget that focuses on helping Floridians and boosting the economy, instead of wasting money on political stunts, would leave little room for criticism from Albritton and Perez.

And for those who think DeSantis won’t prioritize Floridians, remember: wild turkeys can fly, even if they don’t often choose to. The governor has the ability to craft a solid budget that focuses on real needs, rather than just handing out cash to big corporations or wasting it on flashy projects.

He’s got a good amount of money to work with this year. Recent revenue estimates show that Florida’s budget is looking pretty good, with nearly $1.1 billion more than expected. Sure, there will be some losses from federal COVID relief funds, but this is the perfect time to reset priorities and focus on helping struggling Floridians.

There are many pressing needs, especially for those with disabilities who have waited years for assistance. Funding these programs could save the state a ton of money in nursing home care. Plus, there are federal benefits to capture, like summer food programs for over 2 million kids and Medicaid expansion for nearly 570,000 low-income Floridians. DeSantis could also push for fixing the broken unemployment system that struggled during COVID. These ideas make sense and would be hard for legislative leaders to argue against.

Another area to save money is the public-school voucher program, which is becoming a bit of a giveaway for wealthy families. Redirecting some of that funding could help kids from low-income families and expand vocational training programs for high schoolers.

DeSantis should also keep pushing for affordable housing investments and ensure that funds go to the areas that need it most. Local governments need support too, especially with the challenges from the state’s homeless camping ban.

Florida spends less on mental health and substance abuse than most states, while criminal justice costs keep rising. There are plenty of smart ideas that prioritize Floridians and fiscal responsibility. If DeSantis focuses on these, he and the legislative leaders can find common ground and create a budget that benefits everyone, especially the people of Florida.