Florida’s governor highlights Hope Florida as critics push for better state safety nets

For another week, the governor’s office has highlighted Hope Florida as a way to help more Floridians without a heavy taxpayer burden. In Panama City Beach Thursday morning, Gov. Ron DeSantis and First Lady Casey DeSantis touted new state data about the program while offering about $140,000 to area charities from the Hope Florida fund. “This is just the right thing to do,” said Gov. DeSantis (R-FL). “But it's also beneficial for taxpayers because as you get people off this government assistance, we are able to save taxpayers almost $100 million per year.”