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https://reason.com/2024/01/24/desantis-rightly-rejects-gop-bill-to-help-fund-trumps-legal-defense/
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* Latest * Magazine * Current Issue * Archives * Subscribe * Crossword * Video * Podcasts * All Shows * The Reason Roundtable * The Reason Interview With Nick Gillespie * The Soho Forum Debates * Just Asking Questions * The Best of Reason Magazine * Why We Can't Have Nice Things * Volokh * Newsletters * Donate * Donate Online * Donate Crypto * Ways To Give To Reason Foundation * Torchbearer Society * Planned Giving * Subscribe * Print/Digital Subscriptions * Gift Subscriptions Search for: LOGIN FORM Username(Required) Password(Required) Remember Me Login Create new account Forgot password Government Spending DESANTIS RIGHTLY REJECTS GOP BILL TO HELP FUND TRUMP'S LEGAL DEFENSE IT IS NOT THE JOB OF FLORIDA TAXPAYERS TO SUPPORT STATE OFFICIALS' PREFERRED PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES. Varad Raigaonkar | 1.24.2024 5:00 PM Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare on RedditShare by emailPrint friendly versionCopy page URL Media Contact & Reprint Requests Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis speaks at a January town hall in Derry, New Hampshire (Matias J. Ocner/TNS/Newscom) A recent Florida bill would have required taxpayers to partially fund former President Donald Trump's mounting legal fees, reinvigorating a niche debate within the state's Republican party over how and if the government should funnel public funds toward politicians. Senate Bill 1740, introduced by State Sen. Ileana Garcia (R–District 36), proposed to create the "Defending Freedom Fighters Trust Fund," extending up to $5 million in "grants for victims of political discrimination." How would the government decide who qualified? Florida's Department of Financial Services, according to the legislation, would have "the sole authority to determine if a person has been subject" to such prejudice, concentrating that power in the hands of Jimmy Patronis, the state's chief financial officer. "We need this Freedom Fighters Fund because as the Free State of Florida, we're facing an onslaught of attacks from the federal government against the Sunshine State," Patronis said in a press release. "If we can help and support a Florida candidate for the White House, that's just good from a dollars and cents perspective." Powered By 00:00/00:39 10 Sec Senate passes $95.3 billion aid package for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan Next Stay When considering that Patronis' job is to be a responsible steward of public funds, the "dollars and cents perspective" should indeed be his lodestar. But that's also why he should have reached the opposite conclusion, as it is not the job of Florida taxpayers to support Patronis' preferred candidates. It is also not their job to pay a portion of a former president's legal fees, particularly when that person has a reported net worth of $2.6 billion. S.B. 1740 proposed extracting money from the state's controversial campaign matching funds program, which offers taxpayer dollars to candidates running for statewide office. It was created to give more opportunities to insufficiently funded hopefuls and reduce the sway of wealthy donors. Perhaps ironically, lawmakers recently voted to advance a constitutional amendment that would dissolve that very program. "I believe we should put the question back to the voters to see if they would like us to spend general revenue on things other than advertising for statewide office," said State Sen. Travis Hutson, a Republican representing St. Augustine. Whether or not that program is fulfilling its original mission is a matter of debate. Gov. Ron DeSantis was the top recipient when he ran for governor in 2018, pocketing $3.2 million in public funds. He received even more in 2022, taking $3.35 million, while Charlie Crist and Nikki Fried, who vied for the Democratic nomination in that election, received $964,646 and $634,092, respectively. One wonders if taxpayers really need to be giving millions of dollars to an incumbent governor, who is not exactly an underdog in Florida. But DeSantis did not support extending those dollars toward Trump, who is neither a candidate for statewide office, nor is he insufficiently funded. Should the bill reach DeSantis' desk, he said, he would veto it. Garcia responded by withdrawing the bill. "My concern was the political weaponization against conservative candidates," she wrote. She is certainly entitled to that opinion. But she is not entitled to make her constituents pay for it. Start your day with Reason. Get a daily brief of the most important stories and trends every weekday morning when you subscribe to Reason Roundup. Email(Required) Phone This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. Submit Δ NEXT: Independents Hate the Trump-Biden Rematch Varad Raigaonkar is the spring Burton C. Gray Memorial journalism intern at Reason. Government SpendingFloridaDonald TrumpRon DeSantisCampaigns/ElectionsElectionsElection 2022Election 2018State Governments Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare on RedditShare by emailPrint friendly versionCopy page URL Media Contact & Reprint Requests Show Comments (35) LATEST THIS 70-YEAR-OLD WOMAN MIGHT LOSE HER $377,000 HOME OVER A SMALL TAX DEBT Grady J. Block | 2.13.2024 1:20 PM BUFFALO COPS DENIED QUALIFIED IMMUNITY FOR ARRESTING MAN WHO CALLED OFFICER AN 'ASSHOLE' Emma Camp | 2.13.2024 12:13 PM JON STEWART'S RETURN TO THE DAILY SHOW WAS ACTUALLY PRETTY GREAT Eric Boehm | 2.13.2024 11:45 AM NEW YORK, NEW YORK Christian Britschgi | 2.13.2024 10:15 AM TUCKER DREAMS OF MOSCOW Liz Wolfe | 2.13.2024 9:30 AM * About * Browse Topics * Events * Staff * Jobs * Donate * Advertise * Subscribe * Contact * Media * Shop * Amazon Reason FacebookReason TwitterReason InstagramReason TikTokReason YoutubeReason ItunesReason on FlipboardReason RSS © 2024 Reason Foundation | Accessibility | Privacy Policy | Terms Of Use This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Notifications