'Least productive' ever: DeSantis unleashes no-holds-barred attack on GOP-held legislature

With just nine days left in the 2025 legislative session, Gov. Ron DeSantis on Wednesday upped his criticism of the Florida House of Representatives and continued to defend First Lady Casey DeSantis and her flagship Hope Florida Foundation amid growing controversy.

DeSantis spent the first half of a news conference he called in Fort Pierce extolling the state’s economy during his governorship and repeated recent complaints about the House, which has sparred with the governor on matters including Highway Patrol funding, Everglades restoration funding, university presidential searches, and access to the courts — all coming after dueling special sessions in January and February on immigration laws.

“They are the least productive Florida House of Representatives that we have seen in modern Florida history, and I can tell you they are the least productive since I’ve been governor by a country mile. I mean it’s not even close in terms of what they’re doing,” DeSantis said.

He hammered away against the House for its proposal to reduce the state sales tax rather than property taxes, as the governor would prefer. DeSantis said the sales tax plan would benefit tourists, even though data show most sales taxes are paid by Florida residents.

DeSantis made the remarks at Indian River College, where he announced a round of aviation- and manufacturing-related infrastructure grants.

House Speaker Daniel Perez has dismissed DeSantis’s displeasure, saying he is “emotional.”

Each insists he is more conservative than the other.

Hope Florida

DeSantis used the opportunity to play down the Hope Florida Foundation controversy, reiterating his assertion that it’s nothing more than a political attack against his wife and her initiative.

“I think a lot of people are threatened by the success of the program. It upends some of their ideological commitments. It shows that she’s actually made a difference. I know there’s people that are threatened by that, so I think the Hope Florida program has been something that’s been a tremendous success for the state.”

Health care giant Centene “donated” $10 million to the foundation as part of a $67 million Medicaid settlement involving pharmacy cost overpayments. The governor denied the money was Medicaid-related but documents obtained by the Miami Herald and Tampa Bay Times suggest otherwise.

The DeSantis administration has tried to explain the money in a letter to House Health Care Budget Committee chair Alex Andrade, who has been leading the investigation into the donation.

Two of the governor’s top health care secretaries aligned with the Hope Florida program, with the foundation supports, won’t be confirmed by the Senate this session.

Christine Sexton contributed to this report.