Tallahassee, FL (WFLA) -Gov. RonDesantis called for state legislators on Monday as he continues to investigate “Hope Florida.”
House lawmakers are taking a closer look at the money trail between nonprofits and political groups that campaigned against recreational marijuana corrections last year.
At the start of the 2025 legislative meeting, House Speaker Daniel Perez (R-Miami) challenged lawmakers with an opening greeting to bring about big discussion before the committee and messy and controversial ideas.
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“We have an obligation to make sure the government is working for the people and is not a playground for insider groups,” Speaker Perez said. “We are the watchdogs of the people. We will never hesitate to curb government excess, eliminate programs that do more harm than good, and hold staff accountable for abuse of power.
Now, a few months later, the House of Representatives said they are seeking accountability and transparency from the Hope Florida Foundation after receiving $10 million from a $67 million settlement with the Center.
“Centene was fined $67 million for Medicaid overbilling. Payments like this go to general revenue in law. But somehow the company was instructed to give the Hope Florida Foundation, a charity overseen by First Lady Casey Desantis, $10 million.”
Prime Minister Driskell said on Monday that hopes Florida had been caught up in a settlement were sent to two political groups, giving millions of dollars to a political committee fighting the Third Amendment, a legalization of marijuana.
So, if lawmakers are chasing money correctly, the problem remains. Was taxpayer dollars used to serve public or political campaigns? Was this legal?
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“At best, this was an inappropriate use of the settlement. At worst, this was a scam. It looks like an illegally coordinated scheme that uses taxes to fund political action by Ron DeSantis, and smells, smells, smells, smells, smells, smells, smells.”
House Speaker Daniel Perez said lawmakers simply wanted accountability.
“Even if Florida is needed, and the money they are using, the only thing we asked, we told the members of this body of Chair Andredo’s committee, “How did you receive the money? Where did you go?”
But Gov. DeSantis argued that Congress was stabbing voters in the back.
“None of these Republican leaders were elected on the platform of launching unfounded attacks on the governor and the first lady,” DeSantis said.
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In a controversy, Florida’s newly appointed Attorney General James Usmierer is currently being monitored by lawmakers as he highlights his relationship with the political committee established to defeat Amendment 3.
“This political committee was controlled by James Usmeer, the governor’s chief of staff at the time,” Prime Minister Dorisuke said. “The committee then sent millions of people to the Florida Republicans, opposed amendments 3 and 4, and sent $1,000,000 to the political committee’s Desantis Controls.”
When asked what his response to the investigation was, Uthmeier said it was “absolutely great” for an independent foundation to give generous support to other nonprofits on the same mission.
“I hope Florida didn’t do anything wrong. I’m proud of the work they’re doing. These other nonprofits should thank them all for their efforts in Amendment 3,” Uthmeier says.
Governor Desantis and his cabinet believe this is a political attack, but House lawmakers continue to seek answers from Hope Florida, the governor’s office, the Attorney General and relevant state agencies.
