If DeSantis thinks this has a happy ending for him, he hasn’t been paying attention.
In 2013, freshman congressman Ron DeSantis opposed a federal bailout for the New York region following Hurricane Sandy, calling it an irresponsible waste of funds. However, as Florida faces the destruction caused by Hurricane Ian, DeSantis, now the state’s governor, is requesting full federal reimbursement and urging the Biden administration to help.
The change in DeSantis’s stance reflects his transition from a Tea Party-era House Republican to a governor responsible for a state that frequently relies on federal assistance for hurricane recovery. Despite previously using his executive position to gain prominence as a potential 2024 presidential candidate, DeSantis now finds himself needing President Biden’s support more than ever.
Former Florida Republican Congressman David Jolly notes the irony in DeSantis, who prides himself on being unwavering in his principles, now advocating for storm relief measures that contradict his stated ideology. DeSantis’s critics have accused him of applying his principles selectively, as he voted in support of a 2017 aid package for hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria while running for governor.
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