Pro-Trump Florida lawmakers fear vindictive governor will slash their projects from budget
More than a dozen Florida lawmakers who favored Donald Trump over Gov. Ron DeSantis for president are fearful they're about to be hit by repercussions as their governor returns home from the trail.
Among their fears is that their hometown projects could get slashed from the state's annual budget, according to a report.
DeSantis, who is widely believed to be one of the most powerful governors in the country, is known for retaliating against his political opponents and strong-arming his policies through the legislature — all characteristics that make pro-Trump GOP Rep. Paula Stark concerned.
“I hope the concern is invalid,” she told Politico. “I would like to believe that the governor is going to do the best thing for the citizens of our state no matter what.”
One signal that's making some pro-Trump lawmakers nervous is DeSantis' comments saying there’s “a little trimming to be done” in regards to the state's higher-than-expected budget.
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As Politico points out, DeSantis enjoyed wide support from GOP lawmakers in Florida before he launched his presidential bid, but many of the 14 lawmakers who shifted to Trump only did so after it became clear that DeSantis was going to lose the Iowa caucuses.
“I chose a side very early on, very much knowing the risks, very much knowing what could have happened,” GOP Rep. Juan Carlos Porras told Politico.
“If the governor wants to play politics based on his losing presidential race and hurt a lot of our residents, I don’t think that’s the way you come back and make alliances,” he said.
Other lawmakers aren't as concerned about the consequences they might face for supporting Trump.
“I’m not too worried about it because his constituents are my constituents. So if he’s going to hurt anyone, he’s going to hurt his own constituents. He’s not really hurting me, per se,” GOP state Sen. Ana Maria Rodriguez said.
“There’s always that thought like, ‘Oh, will it hurt? Will he go after people who supported his opponent?’ I’m not worried about it. If that’s the approach he wants to take, that’s his decision.”
Read the full report over at Politico.