Gov. DeSantis grabs spotlight by signing into law $109 billion state budget

Greetings, Florida Politics newsletter readers.

This week, I’m filling in for Palm Beach Post Politics Editor Antonio Fins.

My name is Sergio Bustos. In mid-March, I joined the USA Today Network—Florida as the new state Enterprise/Politics editor.

I’ve been around since 2005 as an editor in Florida. I did stints at The Miami Herald and POLITICO Florida. In between, I covered the 2016 presidential campaign for The Associated Press.

When asked about Florida politics, I’ve always said that Florida is not really a state but a nation unto itself. Twenty-one million people and counting. An economy ranking as the nation’s fourth-largest. If it were a country, it would rank as the world’s 16th largest, according to the International Monetary Fund.

Whatever happens around the world or U.S., there’s usually a Florida angle. It’s because the state is made up of so many parts. The Panhandle is part of the deep South. South Florida is an extension of Latin America, Israel and New York City. In between, it’s got folks from all over the country.

So let’s get to this week’s political news in the Sunshine State.

The Memorial Day holiday made for a short week, but there was no shortage of Florida political news.

Taking the spotlight, of course, was Gov. Ron DeSantis.

Late Thursday, he officially signed into law a $109.9 billion state budget after vetoing $3.1 billion in programs and projects sought by some of his fellow Republican legislators. DeSantis defended his veto sword by bashing President Joe Biden and his failure to manage the economy.

Inflation and soaring gas prices have sent Biden’s approval ratings as low as that of former President Trump’s.

“We would be better off if (President Biden) had simply gotten into office and did nothing, than what he has done so far,” DeSantis told reporters on Thursday at The Villages during his signing of the budget press conference. The fiscal year begins July 1.

Who pays corporate income tax?

Lost in the budget signing was a revealing report by the Florida Policy Institute, which found that one in five of the state’s wealthiest corporations paid zero corporate income tax in 2020. It was released hours after DeSantis signed off on Florida's "Freedom First Budget," which Democratic lawmakers decried Thursday as a gift to corporations.

Polls continue to show DeSantis enjoying strong approval ratings statewide. And in his re-election bid, he’s comfortably ahead of the leading Democratic candidates — former governor and current U.S. Rep. Charlie Crist, Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried and state. Sen. Annette Taddeo.

DeSantis' legal battles continue

DeSantis continues, however, to face court challenges over his policies. The latest is abortion.

Florida’s ban on most abortions after 15 weeks of pregnancy was challenged as unconstitutional on Wednesday by Planned Parenthood affiliates and allied organizations, which claim the new limit violates the state’s right to privacy.

DeSantis signed the bill into law in April. It goes into effect July 1. Those suing are asking Leon County Circuit Court to block the measure to “prevent the violation of Floridians’ constitutional rights.”

The court fight comes the same month the U.S. Supreme Court is expected to undo the 1973 landmark Roe v. Wade decision, which made abortion legal nationwide. A high court ruling against it would kick the contentious issue back to the states.

Florida mayors fight gun violence

A large number of mayors from Florida, 16 in all, joined more than 200 mayors across the country to plead with U.S. Senate leaders to pass two bills already passed by the House. The mayors are hoping the Senate will act following the mass shootings at a Buffalo, New York supermarket and elementary school in Uvalde, Texas. But there are few signs coming out of Capitol Hill in Washington that federal lawmakers can find any compromise.

Florida's army? Meet the Florida State Guard

The DeSantis administration is looking for a few good men and women. This week, the governor announced his administration was recruiting Floridians to join join its 400-man volunteer force and someone to lead it.

“If you love the state of Florida, have a desire to help your community, and have skills beneficial to protect the state from a disaster, we encourage you to apply to join the FLSG,” according to a news release.

The plan to rebuild the force was sharply criticized by the state's leading Democrats.

Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried — a Democratic gubernatorial contender — blasted DeSantis as a "authoritarian dictator" and described the effort as "alarming" and "scary."

That's all for this week. Keep reading for this week's top headlines in politics.

And finally, thank you for reading. We appreciate you trusting our statewide journalists to keep you informed. If you are encouraged by our work and want to support your local journalists, please consider subscribing. Know someone who would benefit from this newsletter? Forward this email so they can sign up here.

Sergio Bustos is Enterprise/Politics Editor for Florida's Gannett/USA Today Network. He's based in South Florida. Email: floridapolitics@gannett.com 

This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Gov. Ron DeSantis inks Florida state budget, topping $109 billion