Floridians Footing $12 Million Bill for Ron DeSantis’s Political Games
Charlie Crist, candidate for governor, sent a Sunshine Law request demanding that the DeSantis Administration come clean about its most recent political stunt – luring 50 Venezuelan and Colombian migrants onto a plane in Texas with false promises of jobs, and shipping them to Massachusetts. A heartless ploy that is costing Florida taxpayers $12 million.
Crist is specifically requesting all emails, texts, and other forms of internal communication within the Governor’s office related to the relocation program.
“Ron DeSantis decided to traffic human beings on Florida taxpayers dime to score political points. It was cruel, it was probably illegal, and he owes the people of our state answers,” said Charlie Crist. “Floridians have been forced to foot the bill for this governor to play his heartless political games, but we’re holding him accountable.”
A PDF of the letter can be found here, with text appearing below:
September 15th , 2022
Executive Office of Governor Ron DeSantis
Attn: Office of Open Government
400 S Monroe St.
Suite 209
Tallahassee, FL 32399
To Whom It May Concern:
On September 15th, 2022, Governor Ron DeSantis sent two planes full of migrants from Venezuela to Martha’s Vineyard. According to a statement from the governor’s office:
“Florida can confirm the two planes with illegal immigrants that arrived in Martha’s Vineyard today were part of the state’s relocation program to transport illegal immigrants to sanctuary destinations.”
Pursuant to the Public Records Act, Chapter 119 of the Florida Statutes, I am requesting the following information from the Governor’s Office related to Florida’s relocation program to send migrants out of state:
- All requests for proposals and contracts associated with the state relocation program to transport migrants.
- All emails, texts, other forms of internal communications within the Governor’s office related to the relocation program.
- All emails, texts, and other forms of internal communications between the Governor’s office and the Florida Department of Transportation related to the relocation program.
I am also requesting any and all documents pertaining to the state’s relocation program to transfer migrants.
Finally, I am requesting all communication between Governor DeSantis’ office and the office of Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker related to the relocation program.
Should you deny my request, or any part of the request, please state in writing the basis for the denial, including the exact statutory citation authorizing the denial as required by s. 119.07(1)(d), F.S.
Original source can be found here.
