DeSantis funneled $10 million in Medicaid funds to a charity run by his wife.

The $10 million that Gov. Ron DeSantis administration diverted to a state-created charity last year consisted of Medicaid dollars owed to state and federal taxpayers, contrary to what the governor and other officials have publicly asserted.

Three years ago, lawyers working with the state drew up a settlement agreement that said Floridas largest Medicaid contractor, Centene, overbilled taxpayers $67,048,611 for medications, according to a copy of a draft agreement obtained by the Herald/Times.

Thats the exact amount DeSantis officials settled on with Centene last year. But instead of returning all $67 million to state and federal coffers, they sent $10 million of it to the Hope Florida Foundation, a charity overseen by first lady Casey DeSantis.

The money was then sent to two nonprofit organizations that arent required to report how they spend their funds. Those dark money groups later gave $8.5 million to a political committee overseen by DeSantis chief of staff in a series of transactions that some Republican lawmakers believe was illegal. How Medicaid is allocated, which pays for healthcare services for the poor, is highly regulated.

The document contradicts statements by DeSantis and state officials that the $10 million was a charitable contribution by Centene separate from what it owed to the state.

The Florida Republican special.

Didn't Rick Scott do this too?

and their constituents who are all about finding and punishing people for fraud right now are going to, like clockwork, turn a blind eye to their guys doing it, like they have been, every single time actual fraud has been found.

Those dark money groups later gave $8.5 million to a political committee overseen by DeSantis chief of staff in a series of transactions that some Republican lawmakers believe was illegal

Only Republicans regularly defraud systems like this and then claim the system is the problem

Just yesterday Republicans were freaking out over Fauci doubling his net worth from $7.5 million to $15 million over the course of four years, so they'll for sure have a fit over this. /s

damn, I'm sure DOGE is right on that

Republican lawmakers have voiced concerns that taxpayer funds may have been used to prop up the first ladys key initiative, which could boost her resume in a potential campaign for governor in 2026. The current governor is in his second term and is term-limited.

House Speaker Daniel Perez on Wednesday defended lawmakers questions about the donation, saying they mostly want to know how the money was received, where it went, how it was used and why.

So far it looks as though it could be illegal, Perez said.

That $10 million was state money, Republican Rep. Alex Andrade said Wednesday during a tense hearing with a state agency head who oversaw Hope Florida. I still have no idea why this was justified. I have very strong beliefs that this was not legal.

An analysis by House legislative staff released last week delved deeper into the programs charity arm, noting that the Hope Florida Foundation appears to be out of compliance with multiple state laws.

According to the findings, the foundation has failed to submit an annual audit to the states auditor general and hasnt published legally required information, including a brief description of its mission, a three-year financial plan, its code of ethics and its tax forms. Hope Florida did not provide required documents when asked to do so by House staff, according to the analysis.

What did DeSantis do that has Florida Republicans explicitly calling his behavior illegal?

https://apnews.com/article/hope-florida-ron-casey-desantis-florida-republican-f998ab21342fd3bb5be3854d1a1fcb64

What did DeSantis do that has Florida Republicans explicitly calling his behavior illegal?