Florida budget vetoes unnecessarily cruel; will harm the most vulnerable

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Earlier today, Gov. Ron DeSantis signed the budget for the upcoming fiscal year. DeSantis used his veto power to reject $1.35 billion in federal funds for the American Rescue Act, $1 billion for the Emergency Preparedness and Response Fund and $350 million for budget stabilization.   

DeSantis also vetoed funding for LGBTQ youth and Pulse survivors’ mental health on the second day of Pride Month -- as well as $650,000 in funding that was vetoed for hardening the Fort Walton Beach Recreation Center, which is used as an emergency operations center. Funding also was slashed for the Clara White Mission in Jacksonville, which works to prevent and reduce homelessness.

The following is a statement from Carrie Boyd, policy counsel for the SPLC Action Fund.   

“These budget vetoes are cruel -- there’s really no other word for it. After a year of dealing with COVID, the people of this state need help. Instead, the governor is rejecting billions in funding for COVID relief and millions of dollars in mental health funding and hurricane preparedness. There is no reason to do this. Our most vulnerable citizens will suffer because of this, especially people of color and those that have struggled due to COVID.”