Latest news with #CaseyDeSantis'
Yahoo
29-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Inside the Hope Florida controversy — and what it means for the DeSantises' future
TALLAHASSEE, Florida — Hope Florida was supposed to be the keystone of Ron and Casey DeSantis' efforts to cement the governor's conservative legacy and strengthen their future prospects. Instead, the community-based welfare initiative has become a flash point for a fiery intraparty battle that threatens to derail their political plans. Florida's top Republican lawmakers previously heralded the assistance project — spearheaded by first lady Casey DeSantis — as a semi-private replacement to costly federal- and state-funded welfare programs. But the state House and Senate are now reluctant to etch the project into state law amid controversy around a $10 million donation that has led to allegations of money laundering and fraud — driven primarily by Republican lawmakers. The uproar is quickly turning into major controversy for the DeSantises and is further isolating the Republican governor from GOP leaders who previously looked to him for direction. Here's a guide to the Hope Florida scandal and why it's dragging down the lame-duck governor and his wife. The program is designed to connect eligible residents with churches and other charities across Florida that offer alternative services meant to replace cash assistance programs, and also award cash grants to organizations supporting similar causes. The state Department of Children and Families oversees the logistics for the project, and the agency also created a nonprofit foundation to privately handle fundraising and grants. Republicans saw Hope Florida as a cost-efficient alternative to programs such as the federally regulated Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. But state House leaders grew concerned earlier this year after the project could not provide basic financial records. The Republican-dominated House then launched an inquiry, leading to the discovery of a controversial $10 million donation made to the Hope Florida Foundation in September as part of an unrelated settlement agreement between the state's Medicaid regulator and a Medicaid contractor over inflated prescription drug costs. The $10 million subsequently led to the discovery of two grants, each worth $5 million, which the Hope Florida Foundation awarded to groups campaigning against an adult recreational marijuana ballot measure that failed to pass in the November election. Now, state House leaders want Hope Florida to claw back the two $5 million grants and deposit the money in a state bank account, and Senate President Ben Albritton (R-Wauchula) wants the Hope Florida Foundation to adopt rules that will help prevent future issues. Questions about the project's finances first came up after House staffers published an analysis of a bill that sought to make Hope Florida permanent by adding it to state law. But with so much uncertainty over the $10 million, the measure has been placed on ice until next year's legislative session. 'The mission of Hope Florida is great,' Albritton said last week. 'If we can learn where there are some places where things could have been done better, more transparently, can we think about building processes around that so that we don't detract from the mission but hold them more accountable?' Albritton added the Senate will likely reconsider the Hope Florida bill next year, perhaps with language that would govern how the Hope Florida Foundation operates. Public outcry over Hope Florida and the $10 million donation has also worsened already uneasy relations between Ron DeSantis and House Speaker Daniel Perez (R-Miami), including claims made by the governor that the GOP-led chamber was colluding with Democrats to dismantle the project. The governor is term-limited out of office in less than two years, and has attempted to cement his conservative legacy before departing — and possibly pursuing a second run for the White House. Casey DeSantis is also widely thought to be preparing for her own gubernatorial campaign for next year, prompting Gov. DeSantis to accuse Perez and other House leaders of playing politics ahead of next year's election. 'That's just because people know this is effective — they are threatened by this model,' Ron DeSantis said of the recent criticism of Hope Florida during a news conference last week. 'And shouldn't we as Floridians put aside political agendas and embrace things that have offered people hope?' The inquiry into Hope Florida's finances is led by state Rep. Alex Andrade (R-Pensacola), the state House Health Care Budget Subcommittee chair, who believes the Hope Florida board accepted the $10 million donation on the advice of its lawyer, Jeff Aaron. Aaron also advised the board on a $5 million grant that was awarded to a rehabilitation and prevention organization called Save Our Society From Drugs, and another $5 million grant that went to Securing Florida's Future, which was used by the Florida Chamber of Commerce to campaign against Amendment 3. Andrade also believes the $10 million donation, which was part of a $67 million settlement between the state Agency for Health Care Administration and the Centene Corp., and the two $5 million grants that followed, were brokered by former DeSantis' chief of staff James Uthmeier before he was appointed by the governor to become state attorney general. Andrade's committee has heard testimony about Hope Florida from board members and state leaders over the past month, along with gathering hundreds of records. During the last committee meeting, Andrade accused Aaron and Uthmeier of money laundering and wire fraud, adding he would not make those allegations publicly unless he had the evidence to back them. 'It is readily apparent that a culture of neglect, incompetence and entitlement exists within the halls of the governor's office at this time,' Andrade said. 'When the executive exhibits no care or concern for the misuse of taxpayer dollars, we as the Legislature have an obligation to everyday Floridians to be even more vigilant.' The Hope Florida Foundation accepted a $10 million donation from the Centene Corp. as part of a $67 million settlement agreement the company made with the state Agency for Health Care Administration. Centene, which is the largest Medicaid managed care operator in the country, had agreed to settle claims made by Florida and several other states against the company's former pharmacy benefit manager, which was accused of inflating drug costs. Centene had agreed to give AHCA $57 million to recoup money from claims for which the state paid too much, and another $10 million to cover any additional costs, which the company sent directly to the Hope Florida Foundation at the end of September. In response, Centene has said the settlement was structured by the state attorney general's office before Uthmeier left the governor's office. The foundation decided to accept the donation during a meeting in October after consulting with Aaron, who had just been hired as counsel for the board on the same day. Even before the board meeting, Aaron told the CEO of the board, Joshua Hay, to use half of the Centene settlement donation to award a grant to the chamber's campaign against Amendment 3. 'It was Jeff Aaron, the board's attorney, who informed [Hay] before their Oct. 14 meeting that this grant was 'deemed beneficial to the Governor's office,' and who assured him that this should be done,' Andrade said during a meeting last week. Andrade also believes Aaron directed Hay to approve the second $5 million grant that went to the St. Petersburg-based Save our Society from Drugs without a full vote from the five-member board. Andrade's committee has collected hundreds of records, including text messages, between Uthmeier, Aaron, Florida Chamber of Commerce CEO Mark Wilson and Save our Society From Drugs Executive Director Amy Ronshausen. Andrade believes the chamber's anti-Amendment 3 campaign used the $5 million Hope Florida grant to contribute $3.75 million to another anti-pot committee, Keep Florida Clean, which is chaired by Uthmeier. Save Our Society from Drugs used its $5 million grant to also contribute an additional $4.7 million to Keep Florida Clean. 'These amounts far exceed the Hope Florida Foundation's permitted limits on expenditures for lobbying or campaign activities,' Andrade said. Uthmeier has denied taking part in the settlement between AHCA and Centene, and he also defended the two $5 million grants by saying they went toward campaigns that aimed to keep families safe. When asked for comment, Uthmeier's spokesperson pointed to tweets accusing Andrade of attacking Hope Florida on behalf of the state's largest medical marijuana company, which contributed most of the $150 million that went toward Amendment 3. Andrade, who is a lawyer, concluded his last committee meeting of this year's legislative session last week after Wilson, Ronshausen and Aaron declined invitations to testify. After the meeting, Aaron posted a message on X saying he was working on a defamation lawsuit and a Florida Bar complaint against Andrade. Aaron has not responded to emails and phone messages asking for comment. The Centene settlement with AHCA also spurred questions about whether the $67 million was actually state and federal Medicaid dollars. When asked about the settlement, a spokesperson with the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services referred questions to the U.S. Department of Justice, which has not yet provided responses to inquiries made last week. A spokesperson for Uthmeier has refuted claims that federal and state Medicaid dollars were involved in the grants. Even though Florida's 60-day legislative session is due to end in the next several days, Andrade said his inquiry of Hope Florida will continue next year. Committee meetings for next year's legislative session will begin in September. 'I wouldn't say these things publicly if they weren't true,' Andrade told reporters after last week's meeting. 'I'll come with policy changes and likely budget changes to prevent this type of public corruption from happening in the future.'
Politico
29-04-2025
- Politics
- Politico
Inside the Hope Florida controversy — and what it means for the DeSantises' future
TALLAHASSEE, Florida — Hope Florida was supposed to be the keystone of Ron and Casey DeSantis' efforts to cement the governor's conservative legacy and strengthen their future prospects. Instead, the community-based welfare initiative has become a flash point for a fiery intraparty battle that threatens to derail their political plans. Florida's top Republican lawmakers previously heralded the assistance project — spearheaded by first lady Casey DeSantis — as a semi-private replacement to costly federal- and state-funded welfare programs. But the state House and Senate are now reluctant to etch the project into state law amid controversy around a $10 million donation that has led to allegations of money laundering and fraud — driven primarily by Republican lawmakers. The uproar is quickly turning into major controversy for the DeSantises and is further isolating the Republican governor from GOP leaders who previously looked to him for direction. Here's a guide to the Hope Florida scandal and why it's dragging down the lame-duck governor and his wife. The program is designed to connect eligible residents with churches and other charities across Florida that offer alternative services meant to replace cash assistance programs, and also award cash grants to organizations supporting similar causes. The state Department of Children and Families oversees the logistics for the project, and the agency also created a nonprofit foundation to privately handle fundraising and grants. Republicans saw Hope Florida as a cost-efficient alternative to programs such as the federally regulated Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. But state House leaders grew concerned earlier this year after the project could not provide basic financial records. The Republican-dominated House then launched an inquiry, leading to the discovery of a controversial $10 million donation made to the Hope Florida Foundation in September as part of an unrelated settlement agreement between the state's Medicaid regulator and a Medicaid contractor over inflated prescription drug costs. The $10 million subsequently led to the discovery of two grants, each worth $5 million, which the Hope Florida Foundation awarded to groups campaigning against an adult recreational marijuana ballot measure that failed to pass in the November election. Now, state House leaders want Hope Florida to claw back the two $5 million grants and deposit the money in a state bank account, and Senate President Ben Albritton (R-Wauchula) wants the Hope Florida Foundation to adopt rules that will help prevent future issues. Questions about the project's finances first came up after House staffers published an analysis of a bill that sought to make Hope Florida permanent by adding it to state law. But with so much uncertainty over the $10 million, the measure has been placed on ice until next year's legislative session. 'The mission of Hope Florida is great,' Albritton said last week. 'If we can learn where there are some places where things could have been done better, more transparently, can we think about building processes around that so that we don't detract from the mission but hold them more accountable?' Albritton added the Senate will likely reconsider the Hope Florida bill next year, perhaps with language that would govern how the Hope Florida Foundation operates. Public outcry over Hope Florida and the $10 million donation has also worsened already uneasy relations between Ron DeSantis and House Speaker Daniel Perez (R-Miami), including claims made by the governor that the GOP-led chamber was colluding with Democrats to dismantle the project. The governor is term-limited out of office in less than two years, and has attempted to cement his conservative legacy before departing — and possibly pursuing a second run for the White House. Casey DeSantis is also widely thought to be preparing for her own gubernatorial campaign for next year, prompting Gov. DeSantis to accuse Perez and other House leaders of playing politics ahead of next year's election. 'That's just because people know this is effective — they are threatened by this model,' Ron DeSantis said of the recent criticism of Hope Florida during a news conference last week. 'And shouldn't we as Floridians put aside political agendas and embrace things that have offered people hope?' The inquiry into Hope Florida's finances is led by state Rep. Alex Andrade (R-Pensacola), the state House Health Care Budget Subcommittee chair, who believes the Hope Florida board accepted the $10 million donation on the advice of its lawyer, Jeff Aaron. Aaron also advised the board on a $5 million grant that was awarded to a rehabilitation and prevention organization called Save Our Society From Drugs, and another $5 million grant that went to Securing Florida's Future, which was used by the Florida Chamber of Commerce to campaign against Amendment 3. Andrade also believes the $10 million donation, which was part of a $67 million settlement between the state Agency for Health Care Administration and the Centene Corp., and the two $5 million grants that followed, were brokered by former DeSantis' chief of staff James Uthmeier before he was appointed by the governor to become state attorney general. Andrade's committee has heard testimony about Hope Florida from board members and state leaders over the past month, along with gathering hundreds of records. During the last committee meeting, Andrade accused Aaron and Uthmeier of money laundering and wire fraud, adding he would not make those allegations publicly unless he had the evidence to back them. 'It is readily apparent that a culture of neglect, incompetence and entitlement exists within the halls of the governor's office at this time,' Andrade said. 'When the executive exhibits no care or concern for the misuse of taxpayer dollars, we as the Legislature have an obligation to everyday Floridians to be even more vigilant.' The Hope Florida Foundation accepted a $10 million donation from the Centene Corp. as part of a $67 million settlement agreement the company made with the state Agency for Health Care Administration. Centene, which is the largest Medicaid managed care operator in the country, had agreed to settle claims made by Florida and several other states against the company's former pharmacy benefit manager, which was accused of inflating drug costs. Centene had agreed to give AHCA $57 million to recoup money from claims for which the state paid too much, and another $10 million to cover any additional costs, which the company sent directly to the Hope Florida Foundation at the end of September. In response, Centene has said the settlement was structured by the state attorney general's office before Uthmeier left the governor's office. The foundation decided to accept the donation during a meeting in October after consulting with Aaron, who had just been hired as counsel for the board on the same day. Even before the board meeting, Aaron told the CEO of the board, Joshua Hay, to use half of the Centene settlement donation to award a grant to the chamber's campaign against Amendment 3. 'It was Jeff Aaron, the board's attorney, who informed [Hay] before their Oct. 14 meeting that this grant was 'deemed beneficial to the Governor's office,' and who assured him that this should be done,' Andrade said during a meeting last week. Andrade also believes Aaron directed Hay to approve the second $5 million grant that went to the St. Petersburg-based Save our Society from Drugs without a full vote from the five-member board. Andrade's committee has collected hundreds of records, including text messages, between Uthmeier, Aaron, Florida Chamber of Commerce CEO Mark Wilson and Save our Society From Drugs Executive Director Amy Ronshausen. Andrade believes the chamber's anti-Amendment 3 campaign used the $5 million Hope Florida grant to contribute $3.75 million to another anti-pot committee, Keep Florida Clean, which is chaired by Uthmeier. Save Our Society from Drugs used its $5 million grant to also contribute an additional $4.7 million to Keep Florida Clean. 'These amounts far exceed the Hope Florida Foundation's permitted limits on expenditures for lobbying or campaign activities,' Andrade said. Uthmeier has denied taking part in the settlement between AHCA and Centene, and he also defended the two $5 million grants by saying they went toward campaigns that aimed to keep families safe. When asked for comment, Uthmeier's spokesperson pointed to tweets accusing Andrade of attacking Hope Florida on behalf of the state's largest medical marijuana company, which contributed most of the $150 million that went toward Amendment 3. Andrade, who is a lawyer, concluded his last committee meeting of this year's legislative session last week after Wilson, Ronshausen and Aaron declined invitations to testify. After the meeting, Aaron posted a message on X saying he was working on a defamation lawsuit and a Florida Bar complaint against Andrade. Aaron has not responded to emails and phone messages asking for comment. The Centene settlement with AHCA also spurred questions about whether the $67 million was actually state and federal Medicaid dollars. When asked about the settlement, a spokesperson with the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services referred questions to the U.S. Department of Justice, which has not yet provided responses to inquiries made last week. A spokesperson for Uthmeier has refuted claims that federal and state Medicaid dollars were involved in the grants. Even though Florida's 60-day legislative session is due to end in the next several days, Andrade said his inquiry of Hope Florida will continue next year. Committee meetings for next year's legislative session will begin in September. 'I wouldn't say these things publicly if they weren't true,' Andrade told reporters after last week's meeting. 'I'll come with policy changes and likely budget changes to prevent this type of public corruption from happening in the future.'
Yahoo
28-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
What is Hope Florida and is there a scandal around charity run by Casey DeSantis?
A program spearheaded by Florida first lady Casey DeSantis continues to see scrutiny from Democrats and Republicans over a $10 million "donation." Under state law, money from settlements must be deposited into the state's general revenue fund and reported to the Legislature for oversight. The $10 million, which was part of a $67 million legal settlement between AHCA and Centene, wasn't. Instead, the Miami Herald reported that "the Hope Florida Foundation turned around and gave $5 million a piece to organizations that in turn gave millions to a political committee waging an anti-marijuana amendment campaign championed by the governor." The use of the $10 million 'looks like criminal fraud by some of those involved,' Republican state Rep. Alex Andrade, one of DeSantis' main critics, told the newspaper. "... (W)ho on Earth thought this was legal, moral or ethical?' Political analysts believe this could undermine Casey DeSantis' potential bid for governor in 2026, with reports claiming the former journalist seeks to succeed her husband Gov. Ron DeSantis. Here's what to know about Hope Florida and the controversy surrounding its foundation. Hope Florida was started by Casey DeSantis in 2021. It seeks to help Floridians move off of government assistance by connecting them to a clearinghouse of other services from nonprofits and faith-based communities. According to its website, Hope Florida is funded by donations from individuals and private businesses and provides financial services to local nonprofit organizations. Hope Florida "Navigators" are state employees who work with people to find solutions from the private sector, faith-based communities, and nonprofits to help them use all the local community resources available and reduce the need for the government's help. According to DeSantis, Florida's goal is to help and then stay "out of the way." A website says Hope Florida has served over 100,000 Floridians since its beginning, specifically helping more than 25,500 participants to "reduce or eliminate reliance on public assistance." No, they are not. In 2023, Hope Florida administrators created a separate nonprofit called the Hope Florida Foundation. The Tampa Bay Times reported that Casey DeSantis' name does not appear on corporate records for the charity. The foundation has yet to release records about its donors or recipients or any state-mandated records about its structure, ethics and oversight. The question is whether the $10 million was improperly solicited and directed. The controversy surrounding the Hope Florida Foundation came to light after news outlets uncovered a $10 million 'donation' as part of a settlement between the state's Agency for Health Care Administration and Centene, a Medicaid-managed care vendor for the state. The entire settlement, to resolve alleged overpayments, was $67 million but $10 million was directed to the Hope Florida Foundation in October. The Hope Florida Foundation then gave two $5 million grants each to two nonprofit organizations: Securing Florida's Future, chaired by Mark Wilson, who is also the chairman of the Florida Chamber of Commerce, and Save Our Society from Drugs. Those groups in turn gave $8.5 million to Keep Florida Clean, a political committee chaired by James Uthmeier, then DeSantis' chief of staff and current attorney general. Keep Florida Clean was set up to oppose an amendment on the 2024 ballot to legalize recreational marijuana. The group has given $1.2 million to the Florida Freedom Fund, another political committee chaired by Uthmeier and used by DeSantis to fight both the marijuana amendment and an amendment that would've installed a right to an abortion into the state's constitution. Ron DeSantis has voiced his opinions over the controversy, claiming these reports are 'fabricated' and a "smear campaign." During a press conference on April 24 in St. Augustine, which occurred an hour after Andrade's panel met, he advised those not to believe what they've heard about Hope Florida. 'They got a $10 million private donation on top of that, which is what the agency said from the beginning,' Ron DeSantis said. 'This is an attempt to try to manufacture a narrative where there's really nothing there. Why are they doing it? It's all because they want to try to impugn our Hope Florida program. That's why they're doing it. It's all political.' He also alleged the media was pushing "phony narratives" and smearing both the foundation and his wife. Joined by his wife, he added Casey was being targeted because she "is a threat." 'Some of these left journalists don't like it. They don't like you working with the faith-based community. Some of these people view it as a way to attack the first lady and all the great things she's done and they view her as a threat,' he said. Casey DeSantis also addressed the critics and allegations, telling those to never "let politics get in the way of purpose." 'What we are doing is good. What we are doing is just. Sometimes you have to put on the full armor of God and you fight, because you know what you're doing is righteous,' Casey DeSantis said. Andrade announced on April 25 that the panel is halting its probe into Hope Florida. According to the News Service of Florida, Andrade's panel will continue to dig into the DeSantis administration's spending and other issues when lawmakers return to Tallahassee for committee meetings this fall. The 2025 legislative session is scheduled to end next week. 'I'm not a prosecutor or an FBI agent. I know now that I will never trust Gov. DeSantis again with taxpayer money, let alone Medicaid money. So that's going to frame my policymaking decisions until I'm done in public office,' he said. Ron DeSantis was first elected in 2018 and began his term in office on Jan. 8, 2019. He was re-elected by a landslide in 2022. According to the Florida Constitution, he will be ineligible to run again in the next Florida gubernatorial election in 2026 and will leave office in January 2027. Could another DeSantis have their turn at governor? According to polls, Casey DeSantis is among the top picks for candidates. A Mason-Dixon Polling & Strategy survey released in March showed her with a 53% approval rating, polling slightly ahead of candidate Rep. Bryon Donalds at 48%. However, The Hill reported the allegations surrounding Hope Florida and the intraparty divide "could preview what a contested Republican primary would look like should Casey DeSantis launch a gubernatorial bid." 'It's a sign of other things to come,' Ford O'Connell, a Florida Republican strategist told the outlet. 'She is getting a shot across the bow and a taste of the type of slime that will be thrown around should she choose to run for governor.' 'People do not realize what bareknuckle, brutal campaigns it is to become the Republican nominee, whether it's statewide or in certain small districts,' he continued. 'It is war.' Casey DeSantis has not confirmed or denied a run for governor. Back in March, she told the audience at the National Review Institute's Ideas Summit that "we'll see" when asked about a potential bid for the role. Contributing: Gray Rohrer, USA TODAY Network – Florida Capital Bureau This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Hope Florida controversy: What about Casey DeSantis' attempt for Gov?
CBS News
20-04-2025
- Health
- CBS News
Hope Florida controversy
Jim DeFede explores the growing controversy surrounding Hope Florida. The chairman of a foundation tied to Hope Florida — Florida First Lady Casey DeSantis' signature welfare-assistance program — said under oath last Tuesday that "mistakes were made" with the foundation's record-keeping, as a skirmish over the group's finances continued to escalate. Joshua Hay, chairman of the Hope Florida Foundation Inc., appeared before the House Health Care Budget Subcommittee amid a widening probe into the nonprofit's receipt of $10 million as part of a Medicaid managed-care company's $67 million settlement with the state Agency for Health Care Administration. After receiving the money from Centene — the state's largest Medicaid managed-care provider — last fall, the foundation made $5 million grants each to Secure Florida's Future, a nonprofit organization linked to the Florida Chamber of Commerce, and Save Our Society from Drugs. The groups received the grants while they were making contributions to Keep Florida Clean, a political committee headed by James Uthmeier, who was then Gov. Ron DeSantis ' chief of staff and is now state attorney general. Keep Florida Clean fought a proposed constitutional amendment in November that would have allowed recreational use of marijuana. Jim investigates what's next now that the organization's executive director resigns amid House scrutiny. Guest: Rep. Robert "Alex" Andrade/(R) FL-District 2
Yahoo
12-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Donors gave big to DeSantis' marijuana campaign after getting $10M from Hope Florida
Weeks after the DeSantis administration steered $10 million from a legal Medicaid settlement to a charity spearheaded by the first lady, the Hope Florida Foundation gave $5 million apiece to two separate organizations that gave millions to a political committee waging an anti-marijuana campaign championed by the governor. The payments, laid out in campaign finance records and documents released to the Herald/Times by the foundation on Friday, raise questions about whether the DeSantis administration diverted Medicaid dollars through Casey DeSantis' key initiative to a political campaign. The $10 million, deriving from a settlement with Centene, the state's largest Medicaid contractor, was split evenly between Secure Florida's Future, run by the Florida Chamber of Commerce, and Save Our Society from Drugs, a drug-prevention non-profit. The committees sent $8.5 million that October to Keep Florida Clean, a political committee controlled by Ron DeSantis' then-chief of staff, James Uthmeier. The committee was created to defeat Amendment 3, the failed ballot initiative that tried to legalize recreational marijuana. The settlement with Centene — which some Florida Republicans have said may have been illegal — was signed on Sept. 27. The grant proposals from Secure Florida's Future and Save Our Society from Drugs were submitted to the Hope Florida Foundation on Oct. 13 and Oct. 18, respectively. The $5 million payments from the foundation to those organizations were made that same month, according to an attorney representing the charity. Campaign finance records show that between October and December, Keep Florida Clean diverted $10.5 million to the Republican Party of Florida, which campaigned against Amendment 3. Another $1.1 million went from the committee to the Florida Freedom Fund, which is controlled by Ron DeSantis. Uthmeier is also chairperson of the Florida Freedom Fund. It's not clear how much of the $10 million Centene paid to the Hope Florida Foundation ended up in bank accounts for either the Republican Party of Florida or the Florida Freedom Fund. It is difficult, if not impossible, to track how dollars are spent as they move between political committees. The flow of money from the charity to big-dollar contributors to the governor's political causes is already stirring debate in Florida's Capitol, where House Republicans are digging into how the DeSantis administration is spending public money. Republicans have said that the administration may have broken the law by steering millions of dollars to the Hope Florida Foundation from Centene, which entered into talks with the Agency for Health Care Administration after it was overpaid for Medicaid services. DeSantis on Thursday said the $67 million settlement, of which $10 million went to the charity, was '100% appropriate' and part of a 'good deal' the state negotiated with Centene. State Rep. Alex Andrade, a Pensacola Republican who has been looking into the funding and operations of Hope Florida and its charity, said in a statement Friday that the use of the $10 million 'looks like criminal fraud by some of those involved.' 'The questions I now have are what did Governor DeSantis know, what did James Uthmeier know and who on earth thought this was legal, moral or ethical?' he said. Florida House Republicans on Friday sent letters to the DeSantis administration demanding text messages and other records about a variety of state programs, including Hope Florida and its foundation. Speaker Daniel Perez, a Miami Republican, said on former Republican U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz's show Friday night that the 'digging continues.' The foundation has not turned over records about its structure, ethics or oversight, documents that are required under state law. 'I think people are interested in knowing where the money went, how it got there, why it got there and how it was used,' Perez said. Jeff Aaron, who became a lawyer for the Hope Florida Foundation this month, said the money paid to the foundation by Centene was not sent to political committees. 'I remain confident nothing was illegal and it is not a political organization,' he said of Secure Florida's Future, the organization overseen by the Florida Chamber of Commerce. A spokesperson for DeSantis referred comment to his political committee. A spokesperson for DeSantis' Florida Freedom Fund said it was 'absolutely false' that any of the $10 million ended up in the governor's political committee or the effort to fight Amendment 3. A spokesperson for Centene said the company 'had no part in or knowledge of any decision by the Hope Florida Foundation regarding the subsequent use of any Foundation funds.' The spokesperson said its donation to the foundation was directed by the Agency for Health Care Administration and approved by the Attorney General's Office. A spokesperson for Uthemeier, whom DeSantis appointed attorney general this year, did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Hope Florida is the first lady's signature political initiative aiming to get Floridians off government assistance, including Medicaid, by connecting people receiving government benefits with churches and nonprofits. The Hope Florida Foundation is a charity created to financially help the Department of Children and Families carry out the program. The foundation sent the $5 million payments to the two dark-money 501(c)(4) organizations after they submitted grant proposals. The proposals, which were released by Aaron, do not detail how the money would be spent. 'These funds would be instrumental in developing and implementing strategies that directly address the substance use crisis facing our communities,' Amy Ronshausen, executive director of Save Our Society From Drugs, wrote in the Oct. 18 grant proposal. Read the Save Our Society from Drugs proposal The organization board chairperson didn't immediately respond to a request for comment. Mark Wilson, CEO of Florida Chamber of Commerce and its political committee, wrote in an Oct. 13 grant proposal that the money would 'raise awareness of Hope Florida's efforts within the private sector utilizing a data-centric approach and to recruit business community partners to advance this necessary cause.' Read the Secure Florida's Future, Inc. proposal A spokesperson for the Chamber did not address whether the money received from the Hope Florida Foundation was sent to Keep Florida Clean. 'The grant received from the Hope Florida Foundation is already making Florida better, safer, and more prosperous and will for years to come,' Wilson said in a statement. If the money did go to political causes, the contributions could jeopardize the Hope Florida Foundation's nonprofit status. The prohibition of nonprofit political contributions gained wide attention nine years ago when Donald Trump paid a $2,500 penalty to the IRS and refunded his nonprofit foundation the $25,000 it gave to Pam Bondi's reelection campaign for Florida attorney general. A charity such as the Hope Florida Foundation can make political contributions to fight a ballot initiative but it cannot be a 'substantial part' of the charity's 'activity,' said Shanna Ports, senior legal counsel for the campaign finance watchdog, Campaign Legal Center. If the charity violates those rules, it 'could lose' its tax-exempt status, Ports said.
