BRANDON, Fla. (WFLA) — On Wednesday, Gov. Ron DeSantis and First Lady Casey DeSantis conducted a roundtable in Brandon to promote Hope Florida. This initiative, led by the first lady, aims to guide Floridians toward private and faith-based organizations instead of relying on government financial support.
Hope Florida Foundation, which oversees the funds donated to the program to distribute as grants, was at the center of a Florida House investigation.
“We are not going to be dissuaded by the critics who have been captivated by willful ignorance,” Casey DeSantis said.
This gathering follows the closure of an investigation concerning allegations that $10 million, sourced from Medicaid settlement funds, was given to the Hope Florida Foundation. State legislators involved in the investigation mentioned that those funds reportedly made their way to political action committees operated by Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier, who was previously the chief-of-staff.
“We will not allow any petty politics to drown out the voices of families who have told us, for the first time, they actually feel a sense of hope,” stated Casey DeSantis.
One of the critics is a Tampa Bay republican lawmaker who, the governor said, distributed material that was critical of the alleged $10 million money trail.
“All this stuff that gets put out there, so much of it is intentionally fraudulent,” the governor said.
Rep. Karen Gonzalez Pittman is a republican who represents South Tampa.
“Karen Gonzalez Pittman took propaganda that was done by far-left democrats, she re-branded it and was passing it out. That is a fraud,” the governor said.
The republican lawmaker’s office didn’t respond to a request for comment on Wednesday.
“I think Karen Gonzalez Pittman has done a poor job as the representative from South Tampa,” the governor said.
DeSantis then applauded the work of former Rep. Jackie Toledo who once represented that district. The governor has suggested he will use his political action committee to help fund challengers to defeat republican political opponents. He didn’t confirm whether he would do that in South Tampa.
Since Hope Florida is a signature program for First Lady DeSantis, many have speculated she may run for governor.
“It’s more than a year away from qualifying,” Casey DeSantis said.
First Lady DeSantis then went on to talk about her husband’s work as governor and saying the focus right now should be on the budget.
“Whoever he (governor) ultimately decides should be following after him, should be somebody that I think, obviously it’s up to the people of the state of Florida, but it should be somebody in the mold of a DeSantis who is willing to get out there and fight,” the first lady said.
The well-known politicians who have announced a run for governor are Rep. Byron Donalds, who has President Trump’s endorsement, and Sen. Jason Pizzo, who is under No Party Affiliation.
For those who would like to be connected to Hope Florida, the number is 833-GET-HOPE.
