In the sunshine state, lower and middle-class families face an array of economic challenges under Governor Ron DeSantis and his legislature. Voters are quick to blame the President when they feel the squeeze. But do they understand how their own state leaders have passed legislation that harms them the most? Here's a concise overview of the issues:
Public Education Attacks and Vouchers: DeSantis' support for school vouchers has been criticized for benefiting the wealthy at the expense of public education, hitting lower and middle-class families the hardest.
Homeowners Insurance Costs and Consumer Protections: Florida's soaring homeowners insurance rates burden families, with DeSantis drawing criticism for his inaction and rollback of consumer protections.
Rent and Housing Costs: Lower and middle-class families struggle with rising housing costs, aggravated by DeSantis' focus on building luxury housing over affordable options.
Attack on Climate: DeSantis' policies are faulted for favoring big business over environmental concerns, disproportionately impacting lower and middle-class families vulnerable to the effects of climate change.
Women’s Choice: DeSantis' stance on reproductive rights, including support for anti-abortion legislation, is seen as disproportionately affecting lower and middle-class women's access to healthcare options.
Healthcare: DeSantis faces criticism for opposing Medicaid expansion, leaving many lower and middle-class Floridians without affordable healthcare options.
Minimum Wage: The governor's resistance to raising the minimum wage exacerbates financial struggles for lower and middle-class workers stuck at $8.65 an hour.
Unemployment Benefits: Florida's limited unemployment benefits, criticized as some of the country's least generous, place an additional burden on families during economic challenges.
Environmental Protection: DeSantis' opposition to environmental regulations disproportionately affects lower and middle-class Floridians, who lack resources to shield themselves from environmental hazards.
Criminal Justice Reform: Critics argue that DeSantis' lack of action on criminal justice reform perpetuates mass incarceration and racial disparities, disproportionately impacting lower and middle-class Floridians.
These economic challenges, ranging from education to criminal justice, point to a broader narrative of economic strain felt by lower and middle-class Floridians under the leadership of Governor Ron DeSantis and his legislature.
Conversely, the Biden Administration has worked tirelessly to lift people out of poverty. President Biden has achieved several milestones in his first years in office that have helped the impoverished in the US. Here are some of them:
The American Rescue Plan: This $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief package was passed in March 2021 and has been instrumental in providing direct payments of up to $1,400 to many struggling US citizens, temporarily extending unemployment support by $300 per week, channeling approximately $20 billion into the COVID vaccination program, as well as providing $25 billion in rental support and a further $350 billion into state, tribal, and local relief efforts. The legislation was also designed to tackle child poverty and nutritional issues across the country. The bill invested almost $30 billion in restaurants and hospitality and raised the maximum Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program support by 15 percent .
The Inflation Reduction Act: This act capped prescription drug prices at $2,000 per year for seniors on Medicare, which has helped many elderly Americans who are struggling to make ends meet .
The $1.2 Trillion Bipartisan Infrastructure Package: This package drastically increased investment in the national network of bridges and roads, airports, public transport, national broadband internet, as well as waterways and energy systems. The bipartisan bill was passed by the House in November 2021 by 228 votes to 206, with 13 Republicans breaking ranks to join the Democrats in support of the bill .
The Biden-Harris Administration’s Equity and Opportunity Initiative: This initiative recognizes that the Federal government spends more than $650 billion each year on purchasing goods and services. President Biden has directed agencies to use federal purchasing power to grow federal contracting with small disadvantaged businesses, including Black-owned businesses, by 50%, translating to an additional $100 billion over five years, and helping more Americans realize their entrepreneurial dreams .
Record Firsts in President Biden’s First Year: Experts estimate the lowest child poverty rate ever in 2021. Nearly 5 million Americans have newly gained health insurance coverage. The number of households reporting that they sometimes or often did not have enough food to eat dropped by 32% .
Floridians may not feel any of this relief that many experience in other parts of the country have because OUR GOVERNOR, has engaged in culture war attacks to obscure his legislative agenda. It's time to give Democrats the opportunity to lead in Tallahassee and correct the course for average Floridians. Join us in setting the record straight. Let's do the work to Flip the State House and Senate!
Sources: time.com, cnn.com, usatoday.com, abcnews.go.com, detroitnews.com, whitehouse.gov, upworthy.com, newsweek.com, theweek.com.