Ron DeSantis' pals are earning millions off taxpayers: report

Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis (FL) might be campaigning for higher office, but as the governor, he's helping ensure his friends are making top salaries in government.

CNN.com reported Sunday that as DeSantis works to remake the state in his far-right image, he's firing people and appointing his friends and allies to the jobs instead.

“So I appointed seven conservatives to the board of trustees,” DeSantis bragged to a group in Iowa. “They fired the president, hired a conservative president.”

In fact, DeSantis' new president of New College president, Richard Corcoran, will make up to $1.3 million a year in the post. The school he will oversee has about 700 students. That's nearly $2,000 per student each year.

"Corcoran will earn a $699,000 base salary plus several hundred thousand dollars in perks and incentives and an additional $200,000-a-year in retention payments that will be paid out if he stays at the university through Feb. 21, 2026," said CNN. "His base pay is double that of his predecessor."

The COVID conspiracy theorist, Dr. Joseph Ladapo, makes about $447,000 a year while also being paid from the University of Florida College of Medicine. His predecessor made half that, according to the report, and that included his work at the university as well.

The appointed Florida secretary of state, Cord Byrd, makes 32 percent more than the previous person in his position, at $188,000 annually.

Manny Diaz Jr., who serves as DeSantis' public education commissioner, known for fighting with the only Black Republican lawmaker in Congress, makes $314,000 a year. That's nearly $40,000 more than the previous two people who held the position. Ironically, Corcoran had the job previously.

The report goes on to say that there are 59 people in the governor's office who make more than $100,000 annually.

"DeSantis was once a stickler for keeping executive branch pay in check," recalled CNN. "He entered politics as a tea party conservative, and his first bill after getting sworn into the US House of Representatives in 2013 sought to freeze the pay of federal employees and halt raises for senior Obama administration staff. It passed the House and died in the Senate."

Now, it seems DeSantis is eager to use taxpayer dollars to compensate those most loyal to him. His chief of staff makes about $30,000 more than the last chief of staff Rick Scott had when governor.

Read the full report at CNN.com.