Representative Kathy Castor (D-FL) is referring to Governor Ron DeSantis (R-FL) as a “grinch” this Christmas after he rejected the $320 million federal grant for transportation infrastructure.
The rationale for the decision was based on the notion that the grant was “politicized” to address climate change, according to Business Insider. The grant would’ve been facilitated through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law’s (BIL) Carbon Reduction Program (CRP).
In a letter to Gov. DeSantis, Rep. Castor and five other Democratic U.S. Representatives from the state of Florida call for the Florida governor to reverse course as the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) had a plan in place to use the funds for “public transit, safe rest stop areas, and reduced congestion.” However, Gov. DeSantis denied the proposal.
“This decision constitutes a stark policy reversal, following months of FDOT planning and the development of the state’s Carbon Reduction Strategy, a prerequisite step for Florida to receive the program’s $320 million in funding,” wrote the lawmakers. “FDOT’s own documents outline the importance of the Carbon Reduction Program — and the investments it would have provided — to the state’s transportation goals. Such goals include: providing safe and convenient transportation options, improving traffic flow and reducing congestion and idling, improving energy efficiency, and reducing climate impacts.”
Castor and the legislators continued by saying that “the people of Florida deserve answers” regarding his decision.
“Plainly, your repeated rejection of federal investment opportunities will lead our state to a future with more traffic fatalities, higher energy and transportation costs, and worse air pollution. The people of Florida deserve answers, and they deserve a Governor who will not sacrifice the best interests of our state to further an extreme agenda,” they stated.
The Democratic lawmakers brought up the fact that a reversal from DeSantis is not unprecedented. Recently, the Florida governor had a change of mind on energy-saving rebates. The lawmakers believe it was due to pressure from Castor and her fellow legislators.
They concluded, “After months of pressure from Castor and her colleagues, Gov. DeSantis appears to have reversed his decision on the energy-saving rebates. DeSantis also blocked investments for electric vehicles, EV charging and solar for all - all of which would lower costs for Florida families. Bah, Humbug!”
The signers of the letter alongside Rep. Castor included Reps. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL), Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (D-FL), Darren Soto (D-FL), Maxwell Frost (D-FL), and Lois Frankel (D-FL).
