TALHASSEE, Fla. (WFLA) — Gov. Ron DeSantis gave a state speech Tuesday, providing his plans for the year. Members of the Congress, as well as past and present leaders, gathered in Tallahassee for a speech.
“We chose freedom over fear. We chose education over indoctrination. We chose law and order over riots and obstacles. We are proud of the achievements of the state, but we recognize the work that comes ahead,” DeSantis said.
Notable takeaways from the governor’s state speech include promoting DeSantis’ hopes to fully meet the state’s ongoing immigration efforts, insurance premiums and condominium needs, and sending a message to Capitol Hill leaders to take pages from Florida’s financial playbook.
“No states have done it earlier than Florida’s free state,” DeSantis said.
“We have an obligation to ensure that the government works for the people,” said House Speaker Daniel Perez (R-Miami).
“We’ll take advantage of the opportunity to build and modernize some of Florida’s long-standing accountability processes, and now is the time to do that,” said Senate Speaker Ben Albritton (R-Wauchula).
In addition to the economy, agriculture, education, gun rights and heathcare, government accountability was at the heart of the conversation.
“Members, don’t be afraid to shake government trees, don’t be afraid to pull out waste, fraud, abuse weeds. We are representative homes. We are taxpayer guardians. We have pushed back local governments correctly to promote spending.
“In my view, one of the reasons Doge has become so popular at the federal level is that it has the problem with the idea that Americans have very unchecked authority.”
Throughout the aisle, Democrats argue that Florida Republicans have been in charge for over 20 years and say waste and fraud must rest at their feet.
“If they’re going ahead and we need the nation’s dogs and I think there’s all these inefficiencies, they’ll help justify these cuts,” said minority leader Fentris Driskel. “I’m very worried, because it’s Florida people, we have to be smarter, smarter about it and pay attention to what they really do.
Lawmakers submitted nearly 2,000 bills to the 2025 legislative meeting, and perhaps the most important thing is the state budget. And how much financial responsibility is mentally responsible, as it reflects what Florida is doing at the federal level?
