Senator Says DeSantis’ Veto of Flood, Other Projects is Political Retaliation

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has vetoed flood-control and other measures in central and west Florida and at least one Republican claims that it was retaliation for his support for the governor’s rival in the 2024 presidential race.

State Sen. Joe Gruters, R-Sarasota, said DeSantis “took it out on Sarasota County” after Gruters endorsed former President Donald Trump for the Republican nomination next year, according to the Orlando Sentinel and other news sites. “Mean-spirited” acts like that have defined DeSantis in the eyes of the public, Gruters told the newspaper and Politico news site.

DeSantis said the line-item veto of $15 million in projects was being fiscally responsible, and the state’s $117 billion budget includes other investments in infrastructure, public safety and environmental needs. His veto list was smaller than in years past, news outlets have reported, but includes projects all across the state.

The list of projects nixed by the governor’s pen include flood abatement in Orange County, Seminole County, Kissimmee, Winter Park and in Osceola County, along with water, drainage and other projects in Sarasota and other counties, the veto list shows.

Democratic Sen. Linda Stewart, of Orlando, said she, too, was disappointed that more funding wasn’t available for flooding work.

The veto comes as some studies predict more rainfall and more storm flooding for parts of Florida in coming years, after extensive flooding hit the state during Hurricane Ian last fall. Flood insurance rates have soared for many residents but have dropped for others after the Federal Emergency Management Agency rolled out a controversial new risk rating system last year.

Florida is one of 10 states that this month filed suit against FEMA to halt the use of the Risk Rating 2.0 in National Flood Insurance Program policies.