The Florida Senate is already considering how to protect Governor Ron DeSantis after he finishes his term in office, possibly using public funds to provide security for up to a year after he leaves office. The idea was controversial among Florida voters, as many were not happy about using taxpayers’ money to pay for the governor’s safety.
As reported by Florida Politics, a recent Senate budget proposal includes provisions that would set aside funds to establish and maintain a security detail to protect the governor for twelve months after he leaves office.
DeSantis said he is uncertain about these security measures and is leaving the decision in the hands of the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. The proposal is also reportedly defended by Senate President Ben Albritton, who said that DeSantis has received “an unprecedented amount of threats,” and that it is therefore important to ensure his safety.
Florida Taxpayers Are Not Happy to Pay for DeSantis’ Protection
Florida residents did not react well to the Senate’s budget proposal, as many believed that Ron DeSantis would not need special protection and that it would be costly if implemented: “With all the taxpayer dollars he and his wife have already appropriated, surely they can afford their own security services.”
Some people were seemingly irritated that DeSantis’ actions led him to receive multiple threats, and that taxpayers would still be expected to pay for his protection in the future: “I like how these politicians have pushed a divisive agenda for decades, then clutch their pearls when they feel their lives are in danger.” Others seemed especially outraged at the idea, saying, “He still wants to have us take care of him.”
Some Florida residents reacted with sarcasm to the proposal: “I mean, in the free state of Florida, with all the gun-toting rednecks, he should feel very safe. Right?” Someone responded: “More guns mean more safety. They’ve said it for decades. He should be fine.”
Others argued that it was efficient to spend the money this way because the governor would not be in office much longer and would soon fade from public attention: “I remember just 4 years ago I saw people wearing ‘DeSantis for President 2024’ stuff, and all of those MAGAts talking about how awesome he was and what a great successor to Trump he’d be. Now they’ve abandoned him since Trump has basically abandoned him.”
Ron DeSantis will leave office in January 2027, so taxpayers will likely continue debating issues such as this until the end of his term.
