As Governor Ron DeSantis continues to criss-cross the country promoting his new book and his nascent campaign for president, costs continue to skyrocket for his constituents in Florida.
In order to educate Floridians about why their costs are rising, DeSantis Watch has released a new digital video, “We Can’t Afford Ron,” highlighting how increases in property insurance premiums, rents, and utility rates are tied to the millions in campaign contributions the Governor has received from those same special interest corporate elites.
Following Ron’s $3 billion in handouts to the insurance industry last year, property insurance premiums in Florida are poised to rise by another 40%-50% this summer. Additionally, Ron’s Rubber Stamps in the Republican-led legislature are prepared to pass laws that will make it harder for policyholders to sue their insurance companies when claims aren’t paid at the same time insurers are trying to slash or withhold payments in the wake of Hurricane Ian. These giveaways to the insurance industry are drawing condemnation across the partisan spectrum.
While rents in Florida have increased almost 20% over the last year, the highest year-over-year rise in the country, Ron DeSantis has continued to do the bidding of the large real estate developers and construction corporations that finance his campaigns by working with the legislature to ban rent control statewide.
To top it off, utility rates for Floridians are set to increase three times in the next year with costs expected to rise by an average of 10%-20% thanks to approvals from Ron DeSantis’ handpicked members of the Public Service Commission.
All of this is happening as millions in campaign contributions have poured into Friends of Ron DeSantis and the Republican Party of Florida from the industries whose profits are rising while Floridians struggle.
“While Ron DeSantis play-acts as a populist, the truth is his brand of corporate authoritarianism is crushing everyday Floridians,” said DeSantis Watch Constituencies Director Natasha Sutherland. “Instead of doing anything at all to combat Florida’s housing affordability crisis, insurance companies ripping off their consumers, or monopoly utility corporations jacking up our rates, Ron DeSantis is busy campaigning for president using cash from the same corporate elites price-gouging the rest of us. Floridians deserve a governor focused on lowering our costs and improving our ability to achieve the American Dream, but Ron DeSantis is only focused on increasing profits for his billionaire and corporate donors between FOX News appearances to care about us at all.”