Defiant DeSantis blasts Biden administration amid report of travel boundaries

Any styles of travel limits could derail Florida’s overall economy, which relies intensely on tourists. The first wave of lockdowns previous spring sent the state’s tax collections into a spiral. Florida would have been strike with a significant price range deficit if not for the nearly $5 billion in coronavirus reduction it been given from Congress.

DeSantis’ responses mark an escalation in the tensions concerning the Biden administration and Florida. DeSantis was a leading ally of former President Donald Trump, who now life in Florida, and employed that romantic relationship to provide federal help and to attain help for some of the governor’s important initiatives during his 1st two yrs in workplace.

Last thirty day period, DeSantis took swipes at some of the preliminary vaccine distribution plans reviewed by the White Home and pushed for extra doses — which resulted in White Dwelling push secretary Jen Psaki faulting Florida for not using its entire allotment of vaccines. DeSantis responded by pointing out that some of the doses ended up remaining saved to make sure there was more than enough to present a next shot.

But DeSantis issuing a defiant response to the plan is a turnabout from past 12 months when he enacted restrictions on site visitors coming to Florida from other states these types of as New York, New Jersey and Louisiana. At the get started of the pandemic, the governor needed that any person coming to Florida from a number of coronavirus warm places to self-quarantine for 14 days. At one position, DeSantis even experienced the Florida Highway Patrol set up checkpoints on Interstate 10, the most important freeway connecting Florida to Louisiana.

DeSantis, who is now increasing income for his 2022 reelection campaign, is viewed as a opportunity 2024 prospect for president, specifically if Trump forgoes a different run. DeSantis has earned praise from conservative media shops and other Republicans for his refusal to enact strict lockdowns and his constant sparring with the media.

Tyler Pager contributed to this report.