Instead of Helping Families, Ron DeSantis Abuses Office to Punish Anyone Who Disagrees With Him

Ron DeSantis is taking on the issues that matter — to Ron DeSantis, that is. He’s completely ignored Florida’s escalating housing crisis, refuses Medicaid expansion, and won’t address rising costs for families.

So what is DeSantis prioritizing? He’s abusing his office to punish and censor people, organizations, and businesses in Florida that disagree with him.

• Threatening the Special Olympics: DeSantis threatened to fine the Special Olympics a whopping $27.5 million for requiring athletes to be vaccinated against COVD-19, a move sports columnist Mike Freeman calls a “disgraceful new low” — even for DeSantis.
• Harpooning the Tampa Bay Rays: DeSantis vetoed funding because the Rays used their social media channels to offer facts about gun violence following the mass shootings in Uvalde and Buffalo. For his part, DeSantis supports making it easier for dangerous people to carry hidden guns, despite opposition from law enforcement.
• Political revenge against Disney: Estimates suggest DeSantis’ vendetta against Disney after they spoke out against his “Don’t Say Gay” bill could raise property taxes by as much as 25% at a time when Floridians are already struggling with skyrocketing housing costs.
• Silencing Black Voters: DeSantis pushed and signed into law a gerrymandered congressional map that silences Black-majority communities who did not vote for him.

“Ron DeSantis is abusing his office to punish anyone in Florida who disagrees with his own self-serving politics,” said DGA Deputy Communications Director Sam Newton. “He’s attacking businesses that are key economic drivers in Florida and making taxpayers pay the price of his revenge scheme. Floridians want a governor who will take on issues like skyrocketing housing costs and improving health care access — not a politician who uses his office to divide and attack Floridians.”