You can't really call the relationship between Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and Florida House Democrats as "Love/Hate" because Democrats have solely expressed disdain towards DeSantis and his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic.
But could all that change now that they need him to do something for them? Probably not, but they are now thanking him for his COVID-19 response, even as some like Rep. Debbie Mucarsel-Powell as called DeSantis "incompetent" in dealing with the pandemic, and showing "failed leadership" as Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz has accused him of.
“Obviously, the incompetence has come out of the White House has been mirrored by the incompetence that we have seen from the governor’s office,” said Mucarsell-Powell (The Floridian)
Florida House Democrats have joined forces and have sent a letter to Florida Governor Ron DeSantis (R) this weekend asking him to "release the millions" of funds they say he is holding to municipalities around the state. Rep. Debbie Mucarsel-Powell (D) made the announcement on Twitter by sharing the letter and expressing the concern of her constituents.
Monroe County desperately needs CARES Act money NOW as the programs accepting applications have now closed.
I, along with members of the Florida delegation, sent a letter to @GovRonDeSantis asking he release the millions he’s holding in funds to all FL counties, cities, towns. pic.twitter.com/nkohqeFbOy
— Rep. Debbie Mucarsel-Powell (@RepDMP) September 26, 2020
Those that signed the letter include Reps. Charlie Crist, Val Demings, Ted Deutch, Lois Frankel, Al Lawson, Jr., Stephanie Murphy, Donna Shalala, Alcee Hastings, Darren Soto, Lois Frankel, and Debbie Wasserman-Schultz.
In the post, Rep. Mucarsel-Powell urged the Governor that “Monroe County desperately needs CARES Act money NOW as programs. Accepting applications have now closed.”
The Governor was accused of withholding funds, and the lawmakers asked that “he release the millions he’s holding in funds to all FL counties, cities, towns.”
Like we said, although the lawmakers have gone on record numerous times to criticize the Governor for his COVID-19 response, they thank Governor DeSantis “for your efforts to protect the citizens of Florida during the COVID-19 pandemic,” adding that “while the CARES Act gave jurisdictions over 500,000 in population the ability to apply directly to the U.S. Department of Treasury for CRF funds, it was Congressional intent that jurisdictions of all sizes benefit from the $150 billion CRF.”
Warning that “the CARES Act money needs to be spent by December 31, 2020,” the lawmakers explain that “cities and counties are in desperate need of these resources now.” Moreover, the letter comes at a time when the Governor has announced that the sunshine state will operate under phase 3, meaning that all restrictions for restaurants, nightclubs, and bars have been lifted.
