Politics

Gov. DeSantis budget would yank funding from Black Business Loan Program

Published

2 hours ago

February 3, 2025

The program helps Black-owned businesses obtain borrow money when they can’t access traditional lending.

As part of his budget proposal for fiscal year 2025-26, Gov. Ron DeSantis plans to eliminate funding for the Black Business Loan Program.

His budget, called “Focus on Fiscal Responsibility,” calls for the cancellation of $2.225 million for the program, which provides loans for “Black business enterprises that cannot obtain capital through conventional lending institutions but that could otherwise compete successfully in the private sector,” according to Florida State Statute.

The program, last decade, had a record of controversy, including allegations of high rates of default, inadequate security for loans, and loans made improperly to ineligible people, including elected politicians and a convicted felon, according to reporting in the Florida Times Union of Jacksonville, the Gainesville Sun and FloridaPolitics.com.

The budget cut falls under community development programs within Housing and Community Development. Overall, the department stands to be funded at $438 million under the Governor’s budget proposal, a little less than half its funding in the current budget year.

The policy area also includes a $100 million cut to the Broadband Equity, Access, and Development Grant Program, which helps ensure access to broadband in underserved areas. It’s worth noting though that the same program was zeroed out in the current fiscal year, meaning the Governor’s proposal maintains a cut already implemented.

The Governor’s budget also includes a $100 million cut to the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), which provides financial assistance to low-income residents having trouble paying their electric bills.

The proposals are part of DeSantis’ latest budget, released quietly late Sunday. The $115.6 billion proposal is more than $3 billion less than the current fiscal year budget.

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Politics

Anthony Bonna, Port St. Lucie Council member, launches bid to succeed Toby Overdorf in HD 85

Published

12 minutes ago

February 3, 2025

May Greene

After nearly seven years in local government, Adam Bonna is seeking higher office.

He’s the first candidate to file for the 2026 race for House District 85, where Republican Rep. Toby Overdorf must leave office due to term limits.

Bonna, 37, is off to a hot start. His campaign reports that he’s already collected over 100 contributions totaling nearly $100,000 from his campaign account and political committee, Treasure Coast Leadership Fund.

A real estate and marketing professional, Bonna said he’s taking cues from President Donald Trump and Gov. Ron DeSantis, whose leadership, values and “America First” policies he hopes to reflect and expand upon with a win next November.

“President Trump and Gov. DeSantis need strong conservative voices who won’t back down from doing what’s necessary to keep our state and nation great,” he said.

“Florida is the greatest state in the nation because we are a shining example of bold, successful conservative governance, but we must continue working to protect our way of life.”

Bonna’s campaign website says he wants to reduce taxes, address Florida’s insurance crisis, make the state safe and more affordable for families and seniors, and secure America’s border against illegal immigration.

It also lists nearly a dozen elected officials who are supporting Bonna’s campaign, including St. Lucie County Sheriff Richard Del Toro, St. Lucie County Clerk Michelle Miller, St. Lucie County School Board member Troy Ingersoll and St. Lucie County Commissioners James Clasby, Jamie Fowler, Larry Leet and Erin Lowry.

All four of Bonna’s peers on the Port St. Lucie Council — Mayor Shannon Martin, Vice Mayor Jolien Caraballo and Commissioners Stephanie Morgan and David Pickett — are backing Bonna too.

Bonna’s career in government began in March 2018, when then-Gov. Rick Scott appointed him to the St. Lucie County Commission. By then, he’d worked in politics for over a decade, including as a campaign manager for Stuart Republican Sen. Gayle Harrell and a senior researcher for Scott’s successful 2010 gubernatorial bid.

Newt Gingrich, Nikki Haley and Allen West are clients, Bonna said previously.

Bonna won his District 3 seat on the Port St. Lucie Council in a 2021 race for the remainder of Martin’s term after she resigned to run for Mayor. He took 63% of the vote in 2022 to secure a four-year term.

Bonna’s campaign said that since taking office, he’s worked to grow Port St. Lucie’s economy and cut property taxes by 10%, making the city’s tax rate the third lowest among Florida’s 20 largest municipalities.

His community involvement includes service as Chair of the St. Lucie County Education Foundation and Treasure Coast Regional Planning Council. He was one of Florida’s 30 presidential electors in the 2024 Electoral College. He has also represented St. Lucie County Republicans as a State Committeeman since 2016 and currently chairs the Florida GOP’s State Committeeman and Committeewoman Caucus.

He and his wife, Tara, have two children and are expecting a third in April.

“As a husband and father, I understand the challenges families face — rising costs, concerns about education, and the need for safety,” he said. “I’m running to fight for our shared values and to ensure the Treasure Coast remains a place where families and businesses can thrive.”

HD 85 straddles Martin and St. Lucie counties from Palm City to Port St. Lucie.

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Politics

Gov. DeSantis wants another $62M to equip the Florida State Guard

Published

45 minutes ago

February 3, 2025

May Greene

He also wants further investments in the Florida National Guard’s Camp Blanding training facilities.

A proposed budget from Gov. Ron DeSantis includes $62 million to equip the Florida State Guard.

DeSantis in 2022 announced a push to reinstate a Florida State Guard, and launched the force the following year.

“Since 2023, the Florida State Guard has proven to be an invaluable force augmenting manpower and providing important resources to impacted Floridians during disasters,” reads a budget memo in the Governor’s “Focus on Fiscal Responsibility” budget.

The $62 million would go toward equipment, including maritime vessels, essential vehicles, debris removal resources and training for rapid search and recovery efforts during and after natural disasters.

The Florida Legislature last year authorized expanding the force from 400 to 1,500 members, and DeSantis in his memo said the state needs to fund enough equipment to support a Guard of that size.

Importantly, DeSantis also wants to expand support for the Florida National Guard. He also included $7.2 million to pay for higher education for National Guardsman, along with $1.2 million in health insurance reimbursements.

“Florida National Guard recruitment and retention programs help provide a well-rounded force of soldiers that are supported not only in their National Guard duties but also in their careers,” the budget memo reads.

He also wants the state to invest $75 million as part of a multi-year investment in facilities at Camp Blanding, the National Guard’s joint training center in Clay County. On top of that, he wants $25 million for the first phase of a mission training complex there, including infantry battle courses and simulation courses. He wants some of that going toward barracks and facilities to support training of up to 5,000 guardsmen simultaneously.

The budget also includes $13 million for renovating and repairing other Florida National Guard facilities, including $5.5 million to revitalize and modernize all readiness centers in the state and $7.8 million for maintenance.

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Politics

Florida gas prices fall 15 cents, following crude oil prices

Published

1 hour ago

February 3, 2025

May Greene

The price is now one cent off from this year’s low (so far).

Gas prices in Florida are on something of a rollercoaster. But the news is good this week, with prices down 15 cents per gallon over last week, according to AAA — The Auto Club Group.

Pump prices fell from $3.22 per gallon last week to $3.07 per gallon Sunday, following a downward slide in crude oil prices after winter storms receded.

“Earlier this month, oil prices rose to multi-month highs due to frigid temps in the southern U.S. and sanctions on Russian crude,” AAA spokesperson Mark Jenkins said in a statement.

“Now, oil prices are back down to where they were to start the year, allowing gas prices to fall too.”

The price of gas this year, so far, has swung from a low of $3.06 per gallon on Jan. 8 to a high of $3.23 per gallon on Jan. 16. The price for U.S. crude, meanwhile, has ranged from $72 per barrel to $78 per barrel.

The per-barrel price settled at $72.53 on Friday.

The most expensive metropolitan markets in Florida for gas are the West Palm Beach-Boca Raton area and Naples, where motorists paid $3.20 per gallon Sunday, followed by the Lakeland-Winter Haven area ($3.15).

The cheapest gas is in Panama City ($2.87), followed by Pensacola ($2.92) and Punta Gorda ($2.97).

Nationally, the priciest state is Hawaii, where drivers and motorcyclists are shelling out $4.54 per gallon, followed by California ($4.47) and Washington ($3.93).

The best states to be petroleum-dependent are Mississippi ($2.68), Oklahoma ($2.69) and Texas ($2.71).

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