"The administration of Florida Governor Ron DeSantis was already embroiled in scandal about diverted funds as of this spring, when it was revealed that $10 million in taxpayer money had been diverted from a Medicaid settlement from healthcare provider Centene to a non-profit founded by none other than DeSantis' wife Casey, and ultimately used to pay for anti-cannabis TV advertising."
"Now, however, The Miami Herald and Tampa Bay Times have seemingly blown the lid off an even wider misappropriation scheme in a deep investigation, in which a total of more than $35 million was funneled from child welfare and medical funds directly toward falsehood-riddled television advertising to defeat-what else?-Florida's abortion and cannabis amendments (Amendment 4 and Amendment 3, respectively) in the 2024 general election."
More than $35 million in Florida funds was funneled from child welfare and medical accounts into falsehood-riddled television advertising opposing two 2024 constitutional amendments. An earlier diversion of $10 million from a Centene Medicaid settlement was routed to Hope Florida, a nonprofit founded by Casey DeSantis, and ultimately used to finance anti-cannabis ads. Much of that money passed through dark-money political action groups before reaching committees campaigning against Amendment 4. Florida Republican lawmakers called the transactions illegal, and one specific case is under grand jury investigation. Both targeted amendments were narrowly defeated with 56–57% support, below the 60% threshold.
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