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DeSantis signs tax relief package, will put $1.2B toward easing economic impact of ‘Bidenflation’

May 7, 2022 | | Print Article

Governor Ron DeSantis signed a $1.2 billion tax relief package on Friday, offering Floridians a break on critical items from gas and diapers to clothes and disaster supplies as a means to combat “Bidenflation.”

“The bill provides for ten sales tax holidays for a variety of items commonly purchased by Florida families, including fuel, diapers, disaster supplies and, tools,” according to a news release on the Governor’s website.

“Florida’s economy has consistently outpaced the nation, but we are still fighting against inflationary policies imposed on us by the Biden administration,” Gov. DeSantis said. “In Florida, we are going to support our residents and help them afford the goods that they need. Florida has been fiscally responsible, so we are in a good position to provide meaningful relief for families, right now.”

Included among the ten tax holidays is a one-month Fuel Tax Holiday which, from October 1 through Halloween, will lower the price of gas by 25.3 cents per gallon and save Floridians $200 million.

For the three months between May 14 and August 14, children’s books will be on a sales tax vaycay, saving parents $3.3 million.

And parents of babies and toddlers can breathe a huge sigh of relief, as children’s clothes, shoes, and diapers take an extended, one-year sales tax break between July 1, 2022, and June 30, 2023, for a combined savings of $120.4 million.

Flashlights, radios, tarps, batteries, and fire extinguishers take two weeks off starting May 28, and Energy Star Appliances for washing machines, clothes dryers, water heaters, and refrigerators get a full year without sales tax starting on July 1.

DeSantis even provides for a 7-day “Freedom Week,” from July 1 to July 7, so families may receive a sales tax exemption “for specified admissions and items related to recreational activities” just in time for the Fourth of July.


“Additionally, permanent tax relief provided in the legislation consists of various sales tax exemptions, corporate income tax credit expansions, and ad valorem tax and exemption provisions that will generate an additional $190 million in tax savings over two years and $140 million annually after that,” according to the release.

“We have done more than any other state to step up against Bidenflation headwinds, to give relief to our citizens, and we are going to keep on doing that,” DeSantis said at a press conference following the signing.

Naturally, DeSantis detractors are searching for something to slam the nationally-popular governor, and apparently, his use of Federal COVID relief funds is the hammer they are going with.

“[A]t least one portion of the tax relief package is being paid for by congressional Democrats’ $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief measure, called the American Rescue Plan, that Biden signed into law last year,” reports the Insider. “Republicans and even some outside analysts frequently blame the spending package for contributing to inflation.”

In a statement, Florida Democratic Party Chair Manny Diaz criticized DeSantis for what he called his “blatant hypocrisy” for taking the credit for the tax relief, according to the Ocala StarBanner.

“Last year, Ron DeSantis strongly opposed the American Rescue Plan, calling it ‘pork barrel’ spending and ‘Washington at its worst.’ Now, he is turning around and trying to use American Rescue Plan money to boost his political career,” Diaz said. “As Floridians are struggling to cover rent and pay for gas, the best DeSantis can do is use funding provided by President Biden and Democrats to provide gas relief during the month before he is up for reelection.”

But if reactions on Twitter are any indication, the claim isn’t the “own” Dems may have been hoping for, as users appear to consider it money well spent.

“Ron DeSantis balanced the budget of Florida with no State income tax. That alone will make him the enemy of the ruling class!” said one user. “Let’s expect many more smear campaigns as he continues to run Florida effectively.”

“Desantis (sic). That man is on the ball constantly,” praised another. “He gets stuff done as opposed to other politicians.”

“I literally say ‘Thank God we moved to Florida’ everyday since I moved here 2 and a half years ago,” tweeted a third.

“Ron DeSantis, a man amongst sheep,” wrote still another. “With Biden’s policies & everything going up do to inflation, interest rates, taxes, This man shows his only concern are the people [of] the great state of Fla.”

And another, out-of-state user wonders, “If I identify as a Floridian, does that count? I can put it in my pronouns if you’d like…”

Melissa Fine
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