In the News
Florida Democratic Party Chair Nikki Fried Slams DeSantis for Cruel, Political Budget Vetoes
Florida Democratic Party Chair Nikki Fried issued the following statement slamming Governor DeSantis after a chaotic legislative session ended with nearly $600 million in vetoes that gutted critical community programs across the state:
“What was supposed to be a 60-day session ballooned into 105 days of Republican infighting, dysfunction, and gridlock. And when the dust settled, Ron DeSantis took a red pen to nearly $600 million in community investments—cutting everything from after-school programs and special needs services to mental health care and support for caregivers.
This budget wasn’t about fiscal responsibility, it was about political theater. Floridians deserve better than a headline-chasing executive who treats the budget like a personal vendetta list. He even vetoed a bipartisan bill that passed nearly unanimously that would have curbed his ability to use public office for political gain and stopped his staff from soliciting campaign contributions.
Floridians are facing an affordability crisis, but instead of solving real problems, DeSantis focused on punishing his critics and dodging accountability in the HOPE Florida scandal.”
