Florida Governor Ron DeSantis took the stage Monday at the Forum Club of Southwest Florida, and he didn’t hold back on why he thinks Florida is currently the “it” state.
Speaking to a packed room in Naples, the Governor used the opportunity to run through what he calls a “promises made, promises kept” checklist, covering everything from the state’s wallet to its classroom rules.
DeSantis kicked things off with a bit of humor about the recent cold snap, joking that he’s working on an executive order to overrule Punxsutawney Phil after the furry critter saw his shadow and bring back the heat. But the tone quickly shifted to business.
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He leaned heavily into Florida’s economic stats, pointing out that despite having four million more residents than New York, Florida operates on a budget less than half the size. He credited this to a “conservative footprint,” highlighting his move to pay down over half of the state’s total debt during his time in office.
On the safety front, the Governor touted a 50-year low in the state’s crime rate. He made a point to mention his controversial removal of “Soros-backed” district attorneys, arguing that strict law enforcement is the reason people “party in Florida but steal in New York.”
He also touched on immigration, noting that state and local authorities have helped relocate or remove nearly 20,000 undocumented immigrants in the last nine months.
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The speech wasn’t just about old wins, though. DeSantis looked ahead to two major goals: property tax relief and “AI protection.” He expressed frustration that local property tax revenues have nearly doubled since he took office in 2019, calling on local governments to do more for taxpayers.
He also warned about the “peril” of artificial intelligence, stating that Florida needs a “Bill of Rights” to ensure technology supports human values rather than replacing them.
Wrapping up his remarks, DeSantis reflected on his leadership style, telling the crowd he has never taken a poll as Governor.
He argued that true leadership isn’t about following the news cycle but about “knowing where north is” and sticking to it, even when it’s unpopular. As he nears the later stages of his tenure, his message was clear: he intends to leave “no meat on the bone” when it comes to his policy agenda.
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