4In the latest craziness from Tallahassee, Governor DeSantis has had to warn voters that the House wants to defund the police by cutting the Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) budget. Additionally, they want to slash almost half a billion dollars from Everglades restoration.
”Stop playing your petty games. Stand up and do what’s right.” That was Governor DeSantis’ latest message to Florida House leadership, whom he says are “sick of seeing him get his way.”
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Meanwhile, the legislature created statutes in 2021,(HB 1), that made it illegal for counties and municipalities to defund the police, holding commissioners and city officials personally responsible should their citizens incur damages from riots, yet the one police force that the state is responsible for and has control over is now facing defunding by the Florida House. The state itself is doing this. DeSantis says, ”They don’t want to see me have any more wins.” The result of all of this is a budget that may not pass.
The House budget proposal “defunds 84 state trooper positions,” eliminates funding for ballistic armor, and removes the raises promised to our law enforcement officers. As DeSantis put it, “This is a donkey in an elephant suit when they’re going after law enforcement. This is not what they campaigned on when they sought your vote. You elected this House under false pretenses”. He called the move a “betrayal of both voters and the men and women in uniform,” warning that these cuts put troopers and the communities they protect in danger.
The Florida House Budget defunds critical resources and pay for the Florida Highway Patrol. pic.twitter.com/TOG16LO4RC
— FLHSMV (@FLHSMV) April 16, 2025
The House claims these positions are vacant, but the real story is that troopers aren’t being paid enough to stay, and now the House wants to make it even harder to recruit and retain them. Meanwhile, troopers are being asked to do more, especially with immigration enforcement. “Why are you cutting positions?” DeSantis demanded to know.
Governor DeSantis has been holding press conferences around the state to inform Floridians about what the House is doing, while praising the State Senate and Senate President Ben Albritton for exceeding his funding request. He said House leadership is cutting back in a petty move to oppose something simply because he wants it.
The Florida House has proposed a budget that slashes Everglades funding by almost half a billion dollars. They didn’t campaign on that. They’re doing it because the leadership in the House of Representatives has taken a position that if I’m for something, it’s their view to just oppose us. It’s a knee-jerk reaction.
Shouldn’t you be doing what’s right for the people of Florida? Stop playing your petty games. Stand up and do what’s right.
Do what the people have asked us to do. Stop with this silliness. They defunded body armor for our Florida Highway Patrol. They did things that will make Florida less safe.
~Governor Ron DeSantis
Law & Order is more than a slogan in Florida. It’s fundamental to our way of life. The House budget defunds police by cutting state trooper positions and bonuses. That is NOT what Floridians voted for. Such a travesty. pic.twitter.com/2hJMPh1PPk
— Christina Pushaw 🐊 🇺🇸 (@ChristinaPushaw) April 16, 2025
And it’s not just law enforcement that is under attack. The House wants to cut Everglades restoration funding to $357.1 million, less than half of the $805 million Governor DeSantis requested for next year. DeSantis has consistently touted record investments in the Everglades, saying Florida has made record investments in protecting our natural resources and conserving the Florida way of life.
We need to fully fund Everglades restoration. Florida has invested more in Everglades restoration over the last 5 years than the previous 12 years combined. We’ve made historic progress in restoring water flow and quality because we have committed the necessary funding.
We… pic.twitter.com/wvld8X8Qq8
— Ron DeSantis (@GovRonDeSantis) April 22, 2025
Let’s be clear: these budget cuts are not what Floridians voted for. DeSantis summed it up: “I just think it’s disgraceful that they’re targeting highway patrol and law enforcement the way they are”. If the House thinks Floridians won’t notice, they’re in for a rude awakening.
The people of Florida expect their leaders to protect public safety and the environment, not defund them.
Other stories you may want to read:
Leaders Warn: New House Bills Could Drag Florida Back to ‘Judicial Hellhole’
Dem. Rep. Skidmore Takes Florida House to Task for Not Being Conservative Enough
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