TALHASSEE, Fla. (WFLA) – With a mysterious $10 million donation to “Hope Florida,” state lawmakers are further investigating the program itself, citing legal issues surrounding money transfers.
The program “Hope Florida,” led by Florida’s First Lady Casey DeSantis, is at the heart of a fiery debate. House representatives are looking deeper for the transfer of the $10 million settlement. But Gov. Ron DeSantis says this has nothing to do with Florida or its mission.
DeSantis shared with Floridians and Floridians at a press conference in Miami, Florida, where members of the Florida Legislature had a political agenda and warned people not to fall into “political nonsense.”
“The AHCA settlement is completely different from Hope in Florida, but the AHCA settlement was 100% right, negotiated so many negotiations and worked very well with the state,” Desantis said.
On the path to seeking answers about what $10 million was spent, we hope that Florida is facing scrutiny about its relationship with the state’s health care management agency, AHCA.
This week, House members share that AHCA wanted $57 million of that in a $67 million settlement last year, and hopes Florida has earned the rest of the $10 million.
Lawmakers argue that this is a creative way for Congress to transfer funds unknowingly.
State Sen. Alex Andrade (R-Pensacola) planted a grilled Shevaun L. Harris for the settlement, trying to reach the bottom of how “Florida Hope” is receiving and using funds.
“What do all people do with $10 million?” Rep. Andredo said.
“That’s a question for the foundation,” replied Secretary Harris.
Andredo fought back, “That was a question for the AHCA and they ordered the payment.”
“The payment was made by Centnae to the Foundation, where the money went is a question to the Foundation,” Harris said.
“It’s a policy decision that the AHCA thinks is illegal, it’s a policy decision that was made, and what I’m hearing from the AHCA secretary is that we don’t know what the money should be spent on, and we don’t know why we did it.
“Chairman, I think it’s a shame that we are succumbing to some of these unfortunate attacks,” replied Harris.
Secretary Harris added that this is a pre-law settlement and that Congress does not need to know this information.
After a two-hour, intense time round and over, Harris took him to X and called the committee meetings embarrassing and shameful.
“Once we got there, it was clear that it was an ambush and attack on Hope Florida,” Harris said.
But state lawmakers argue that they aren’t, as they continue to search for answers on how the $10 million was spent.
“Obviously there’s more work to do,” Rep. Andredo said.
When asked about the House of Representatives’ investigation, House Speaker Danny Perez (R-Miami) says lawmakers are seeking accountability and transparency from nonprofits that have laws that will take state funds and move the session around the Capitol.
The reporter followed up and asked speaker Perez whether the $100 million transfer was legal.
“It looks like it’s illegal so far, because we haven’t been notified of these $10 million,” Speaker Perez said.
There is a Senate bill that is currently floating on the Capitol to make hope Florida a permanent part of the state government. SB 1144 raises questions about the settlement, and the program is funding to pass through Congress.
