TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – When all eyes were on Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis touring the so-called “Alligator Alcatraz” facility, a letter was officially stamped back in Tallahassee.
It was DeSantis’ veto of House Bill 1445, which would limit his office from taking campaign cash.
The “anti-corruption” bill passed overwhelmingly in a Republican-led Legislature after some published reports accused officials in his administration of asking lobbyists for campaign donations on the clock.
Those are charges DeSantis’ camp vehemently denies.
State Rep. Juan Carlos Porras, a fellow Republican, said he feels the bill was fair.
“I’m sure it’s an uncomfortable topic for him, to say that he votes for something that affected him directly or his team directly,” said Porras. “We’re talking about having the same rules that apply to legislators, with their bans on fundraising and their ban on political activity and translating it to the governor and his staff, so I think vetoing that may come off as irresponsible.”
A veto override is also possible.
“There’s always the possibility,” said Porras. “I’m just one of 120 members of the Legislature. We would do the same thing if it were a Democratic governor.”
In the governor’s letter explaining his veto, he points to another provision in the bill that would have restricted his ability to appoint university trustees, but there was no mention of soliciting donations.