Carlos Guillermo Smith Calls for Restoring Funding for the Arts

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis (R) shocked many when he cut $32 million from the state budget that would have otherwise gone to arts and culture organizations in the state. The move incited a swift response from groups and lawmakers alike, and one lawmaker is now hoping to lead the charge in the upcoming session. State Senator Carlos Guillermo Smith (D) is making it a top priority to restore funding for the arts.

During an appearance on Political Connections, a weekly local and state politics show hosted by Ybeth Bruzual, the state senator shared some of his priorities as a member of the state senate. “We’re certainly gonna be advocating for more affordable housing dollars,” the state senator commented, calling it a top priority of his. Aside from affordable housing, state Senator Smith also wants to restore full funding for arts and culture groups, noting that it’s especially important for Orlando.

“We know that Governor Ron DeSantis vetoed and issued an unprecedented job killing veto of arts and culture grants that deeply impacted Central Florida,” he said, adding that the veto affected over 60 non-profit grantees like the Holocaust Center and the Orlando Ballet.

A reason why he believes that restoring funding to these groups should be a top priority is because of the jobs they create, highlighting that “it’s a $4 billion industry.”

“We have to restore funding for the arts,” he reiterated, adding that he will aggressively pursue funding as a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee “because of the impact on Central Florida and the jobs that we know that those arts groups are creating here.”

In a news conference last year, Governor DeSantis responded to questions regarding his veto, saying that he had vetoed the funding because some of the money would allegedly be used for programs that taxpayers would find objectionable given the sexual nature or other controversial reasons.

“When I see money being spent that way, I have to be the one to stand up for taxpayers and say, ‘You know what, that is an inappropriate use of taxpayer dollars.’”