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Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has vetoed flood control and other measures in central and western Florida and at least one Republican says it was in retaliation for his support of the governor’s rival in the 2024 presidential race.
State Sen. Joe Gruters, R-Sarasota, said DeSantis “did it in Sarasota County” after Gruters endorsed former President Donald Trump for the Republican nomination next year. in accordance with the Orlando Sentinel and other news sites. “Evil” acts like this have defined DeSantis in the public eye, Gruters told the newspaper and news site Politico.
DeSantis said the line item veto of $15 million in projects was fiscally responsible and that the state’s $117 billion budget includes other investments in infrastructure, public safety and environmental needs. His veto list was smaller than in years past, media reports said, but it included projects across the state.
Grutters
The list of projects rejected by the governor’s pen includes flood mitigation in Orange County, Seminole County, Kissimmee, Winter Park and Osceola County, along with water, drainage and other projects in Sarasota and other counties, the veto list shows.
Sen. Linda Stewart, D-Orlando, said she, too, was disappointed that more funding was not available for the flood works.
The veto comes as some studies predict more rain and more storm flooding in parts of Florida in the coming years, after major flooding hit the state during Hurricane Ian last fall. Flood insurance rates have skyrocketed for many residents but dropped for others after the Federal Emergency Management Agency launched a controversial new risk rating system last year.
Florida is one of 10 states that this month filed a lawsuit against FEMA to stop the use of the 2.0 risk rating on National Flood Insurance Program policies.
Themes
Florida flood
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