TALLAHASSEE – Today, Governor Ron DeSantis delivered his State of the State address to kick off Florida’s 2023 legislative session. In response, Progress Florida Executive Director Mark Ferrulo and Florida Watch Executive Director Josh Weierbach issued the following statements:

“Floridians are being crushed under an affordability crisis that Ron DeSantis refuses to address,” said Florida Watch Executive Director Josh Weierbach. “While workers and seniors are wondering how to keep a roof over their heads and food on the table, today Ron DeSantis made it clear his sole focus remains his political ambition to leave Florida behind with his anti-freedom agenda that makes all of us less healthy, prosperous, and safe. The people of our state deserve better than an absentee Governor whose entire agenda is based on appealing to far-right primary voters in Iowa and New Hampshire instead of the real issues facing Florida.”

“In Florida, the state of our state is one where real needs are neglected to serve the political ambitions of Ron DeSantis,” said Progress Florida Executive Director Mark Ferrulo. “Each day, parents from Pensacola to Key West wonder if their child will have a full-time teacher in the classroom, homeowners worry that their insurance company will cancel their policy or jack up their rates, and seniors on fixed incomes struggle to pay their utility bills, but those concerns went unaddressed in a speech that was directed not to Floridians, but to presidential primary voters in other states. While Ron DeSantis turns our state into a laboratory for extremist, far right policies, we will continue to fight for a people first agenda that calls for reproductive freedom, ending gun violence, strong neighborhood public schools, and a real shot at the American Dream for all Floridians.”

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