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Ron DeSantis' Issue Positions (Political Courage Test)

Office:

On The Ballot: Campaign Suspended, Republican for President

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Issue Positions

For Presidential and Congressional candidates who refuse to provide voters with their positions, Vote Smart has researched their public records to determine their likely responses. These issue positions are from 2024.

  • "Florida will continue to defend its recently-enacted pro-life reforms against state court challenges, will work to expand pro-life protections, and will stand for life by promoting adoption, foster care and child welfare." (www.tampabay.com)
  • "By properly interpreting the Constitution, the Supreme Court has answered the prayers of millions upon millions of Americans." (twitter.com)
  • "The prayers of millions have been answered. For nearly fifty years, the US supreme court has prohibited virtually any meaningful pro-life legislation, but this was not grounded in the text, history, or structure of the constitution." (www.tallahassee.com)
  • "When people say that we’re going to somehow cut seniors, that is totally not true," he said on Fox News. "Talking about making changes for people in their 30s or 40s so that the program’s viable, that’s a much different thing." (www.nytimes.com)
  • "Anybody who’s on Social Security, we’re going to make it work for you, so don’t worry about benefit cuts." (www.nytimes.com)
  • "My grandmother lived till 91 and Social Security was her sole source of income, and that's true for a lot of seniors throughout this country. So I say to seniors in America: promise made, promise kept. I understand what you're going through with the rising prices, and you need that Social Security check. So we'll make sure to get that done." (x.com)
  • ABC News "Look I have more seniors here than just about anyone as a percentage. We're not going to mess with social security as Republicans. I think that that's pretty clear." (abcnews.go.com)
  • "Our $2 billion tax cut package is the largest tax cut package in Florida history. It will help many who need relief from inflation, especially our Florida families. By permanently eliminating sales tax on all baby supplies, diapers, wipes, closed cribs, strollers, we will be able to say that in Florida, having a child will be tax free. We are proud to be pro-family and we are proud to be pro-life in the state of Florida." (None)
  • "DeSantis will advance an ambitious tax and regulatory reform agenda to unleash American production, increase productivity and growth, and support our families, workers, and small businesses while lowering inflation." (rondesantis.com)
  • "DeSantis will work to not only extend the individual tax rates and further simplify the tax code, but also seek permanence." (rondesantis.com)
  • "Revitalizing economic freedom and opportunity today will require more than just tax cuts -- it will require building an economy where the concerns of average citizens are elevated above those deemed "too big to fail." (rondesantis.com)
  • "Revitalizing economic freedom and opportunity today will require more than just tax cuts -- it will require building an economy where the concerns of average citizens are elevated above those deemed "too big to fail." (rondesantis.com)
  • "DeSantis will advance an ambitious tax and regulatory reform agenda to unleash American production, increase productivity and growth, and support our families, workers, and small businesses while lowering inflation." (rondesantis.com)
  • "DeSantis will seek a more competitive tax system that incentivizes long-term, domestic investment over financial speculation and short-term returns while purging the code of K Street carveouts and loopholes." (rondesantis.com)
  • "DeSantis will work to not only extend the individual tax rates and further simplify the tax code, but also seek permanence." (rondesantis.com)
  • "For decades, the DC Establishment has put the interests of themselves and their donors above the American people. I will end business as usual in DC. That doesn’t sit well with many DC politicians — and that’s fine with me." (x.com)
  • Signed HB 3 "Expands Police Recruitment Efforts" (None)
  • "But one of the things we noticed that we were one of the states that was stepping up to back the law enforcement. A lot of these other states--Illinois was not good, Washington State, California, whatnot--these folks were not being treated well in their communities. There were efforts to defund police." (rondesantis.com)
  • "In Florida we back the blue, we support the men and women of law enforcement." (khqa.com)
  • "Florida strongly supports law enforcement and has consistently enacted commonsense criminal justice policies to keep our communities safe. We stand behind our citizen officers, and we give them the tools to succeed professionally and personally. Other states deputize non-citizens, enact policies that favor criminals over victims, and work to overtly or covertly defund the police, but not in Florida." (www.flgov.com)
  • "Today, I awarded $4.2 million for new infrastructure in Santa Rosa County, which will create new jobs in the aerospace and defense sectors. This investment will support our military communities in Northwest Florida and bring new businesses to our state." (twitter.com)
  • "I am proud to continue making investments that strengthen Florida’s military communities and support our military families. With these grant awards, we are upholding our commitments to military and veteran families and supporting the critical missions of our state's military installations." (www.flgov.com)
  • "These grant awards demonstrate the state of Florida's commitment to our defense communities. Florida continues to be the most military-friendly state in the country and supporting service members and their families is an honor and responsibility we hold high." (None)
  • "We are proud of our veterans and active-duty military members and proud of what our communities do to support them. Florida is one of the most veteran friendly states and I think there are very few places that you would rather be on duty than in the state of Florida. As a veteran, I really appreciate what everyone who wears the uniform does in our state and am excited about these proposals – they will go a long way and have a meaningful impact. In Florida, we are going to continue our momentum of supporting our military, supporting our veterans and being good stewards of our military installations." (www.flgov.com)
  • "Yes, of course. This is Republicans and Democrats in DC who have done this. Republicans talk big when they are out of power, but when they get in they don't put their money where their mouth is. Donald Trump added almost $8 trillion to the debt in only 4 years. He made the promise and did the opposite." (www.youtube.com)
  • "Since 2019, spending for federal agencies has increased by 50 percent. Do you feel better off as a result of this expansion of government? As President, I will reduce spending and the footprint of these agencies by at least 50 percent." (twitter.com)
  • Fox News "Both parties have done it. Both parties have been involved. And actually, Republicans are very tough when they're out of power. But when they get in power, you know, they basically go on a spending binge too. And I think you've seen it over the last five or six years." (www.foxnews.com)
  • Signed Senate Bill 102 "Appropriates $711 Million for State Affordable Housing Programs" (None)
  • "In its first year of funding, the Hometown Heroes Program helped more than 6,700 first responders, veterans, nurses, and educators purchase homes in the communities they serve. Now that the program is expanded, I look forward to serving even more Floridians in the coming year." (www.flgov.com)
  • "This legislation provides record support for Florida’s workforce and their families to help them live where they work, while also providing historic support for our military communities and the families living near military bases. I applaud Senator Passidomo for leading on this legislation and look forward to the support it will provide to Florida families." (www.flgov.com)
  • "Because of President Biden's disastrous economic policies, Florida families are feeling the pressure of inflation on their wallets," said Governor Ron DeSantis. "But in Florida, we are ensuring that our state's economic success gets passed on to the people that made it possible. I will continue to push smart fiscal policy that will allow Florida families to keep more of their hard-earned money in their pockets. Stronger families make a stronger Florida." (None)
  • "We've also delivered, for all Floridians much needed economic relief. Due to the excessive spending and printing of money by the the federal government, Americans are living through the worst period of sustained inflation in decades. We've worked together to reduce the pain of inflation by enacting over $1 billion in tax relief in this current year's budget and by slashing tolls by 50% for Florida commuters for this calendar year. That will save some families more than $1,000. Thank you, Legislature, for stepping up for our consumers." (None)
  • "Yes, it is true — I’m different from the establishment Republicans and Democrats who have spent irresponsibly to create today’s inflation. As president, I will ensure both parties stop spending our country into oblivion." (x.com)
  • "The federal government has gone on an inflationary spending binge that has left our nation weaker and our citizens poorer, it has enacted pandemic restrictions and mandates -- based more on ideology and politics than on sound science -- and this has eroded freedom and stunted commerce." (None)
  • "It’s unfair to force a truck driver to pay a loan for someone who got a PhD in gender studies. Taxpayers shouldn’t be footing the bill for student loan relief and Biden’s order isn’t constitutional. If anything, universities handing out worthless degrees should be on the hook." (twitter.com)
  • Politico "I have sympathy for some of these students because I think they were sold a bill of goods. I think these universities knew that they could take all this federal loan money. So we need to do things to make it better for our students to be able to have pathways for success, but it starts with holding these universities accountable." (www.politico.com)
  • New York Post "It's unfair to people who took out loans and worked hard and paid off their loans. If they're producing people who went deep into debt and their degree isn't worth anything and they're not able to make enough money to pay it back-then it's on them." (nypost.com)
  • "Florida took action this legislative session to increase transparency and strengthen the security of our elections, Floridians can rest assured that our state will remain a leader in ballot integrity. Elections should be free and fair, and these changes will ensure this continues to be the case in the Sunshine State." (www.flgov.com)
  • Signed SB 524: "Establishes Office of Election Crimes and Security" (votesmart.org)
  • Signed SB 90: "Establishes Restrictions on Vote-By-Mail and Drop Boxes" (votesmart.org)
  • "We will achieve energy independence by using our domestic resources. The United States has the best oil and gas resources in the world. We have an incredible opportunity to leverage this competitive advantage for the good of our economy." (www.tampabay.com)
  • "I am going to unleash all of America’s energy potential. On Day One, I’m taking all the Biden regulations, the Green New Deal, ripping it up and throwing it in the trash can where it belongs. We’re going to lower your gas prices." (x.com)
  • "Replace climate change ideology with energy dominance in all national security and foreign policy guidance" (rondesantis.com)
  • "Unleash oil and gas exploration and development, pipelines, and infrastructure on Day One to crush inflation and support working families" (rondesantis.com)
  • "Biden frowns on producing our own oil and gas here but will go to Saudi Arabia and fist bump to try to get it from them? This stops when I'm president. We're going to open up all energy production and we will be energy dominant again in this country. We need to lower gas prices and reduce inflation for the American people — and we have the resources at our disposal to do it." (x.com)
  • "Replace climate change ideology with energy dominance in all national security and foreign policy guidance" (rondesantis.com)
  • "We will achieve energy independence by using our domestic resources. The United States has the best oil and gas resources in the world. We have an incredible opportunity to leverage this competitive advantage for the good of our economy." (www.tampabay.com)
  • Politico "You don’t need a permission slip from the government to be able to exercise your constitutional rights. And as of right now there’s 25 states — so half the states allow that. Well, in Florida next week we are going to make it 26 because I will be signing the legislation into law." (www.politico.com)
  • "The Biden Administration is trying to turn more than 10 million law-abiding gun owners into felons overnight. The ATF’s pistol brace rule is unconstitutional. In Florida, we are fighting to uphold Second Amendment rights." (twitter.com)
  • Signed HB 543 "Constitutional Carry" (None)
  • "Just a few months after ending the COVID "public health emergency," the Governor of New Mexico has declared a new "public health emergency": Guns. She is now asserting the power to infringe on Second Amendment rights by executive fiat. This assertion is not surprising — since 2020, "public health" has become a pretext for depriving citizens of civil liberties and trampling on our Constitutional rights. It ends when I am President. Your 2nd Amendment rights SHALL NOT BE INFRINGED." (twitter.com)
  • "Floridians have more choices in picking out their cellphone plans than their health insurance plans. Every day in the grocery store, we make decisions about what we want to buy, weighing price, necessity, and quality, and deciding what’s right for us," the proposal said. "But, when it comes to something as important as health care, we have fewer choices and less information." (www.jacksonville.com)
  • "Since 2019, we have prioritized policies that support families and empower parents. Today, we are expanding maternity and family leave for Florida's state employees, including 9 weeks for mothers." (twitter.com)
  • "When I became Governor, I made it a priority to champion policies that support families and empower parents. As a father of three, I know how instrumental those first weeks are for new parents and their children." employees/#:~:text=Eligible%20state%20employees%20can%20receive,the%20birth%20of%20a%20child. (www.flgov.com)
  • "Florida continues to lead the nation in ensuring accountability in the health care industry and in introducing reforms to combat rising prescriptions costs. This executive order requires accountability and transparency for pharmaceutical middlemen when doing business with the state, thereby reducing the upward pressure on prescription drug costs." (www.flgov.com)
  • "Floridians are also harmed by inflation when it comes to the prices of prescription drugs, especially due to pharmacy middlemen. We must bring transparency to the system so that Floridians can save money on their drugs. We need reform of the PBMs!" (None)
  • "We are committed to making Florida’s prescription drug market the most transparent and accountable in the nation. For too long, PBMs and Big Pharma have made extraordinary windfalls by operating behind closed doors — deciding which prescriptions are covered, where they can be purchased, and how much they cost. These rules will continue our efforts to lower prescription costs and make corporations responsible to the patients they serve." (www.flgov.com)
  • "This legislation builds a foundation of transparency for pharmacy benefit manager (PBM) practices and drug prices in Florida, allowing consumers to make the best choices for their own health. PBMs and Big Pharma have managed to escape the public eye and work in the shadows for far too long. I’m proud to sign a bill that takes the reins back from these health care monopolies while empowering consumers." (www.flgov.com)
  • "I'm sick of having Republicans complain about our southern border. I'm going to be the President who finally ends our southern border problem in America. And you do that by declaring it a national emergency on day one. We're going to martial all available resources, including our US military to be on the border, to stop the invasion coming in." (twitter.com)
  • "I have seen firsthand the crisis at our southern border due to Joe Biden's dereliction of duty. This is a disaster zone." (twitter.com)
  • "The disaster at our border is a direct result of the Biden Administration ending Trump border policies that curbed illegal immigration, the influx of drugs, and human smuggling." (twitter.com)
  • The Hill "We will take action to end the idea that the children of illegal aliens are entitled to birthright citizenship if they are born in the United States." (thehill.com)
  • ABC "Dangling the prize of citizenship to the future offspring of illegal immigrants is a major driver of illegal migration. It is also inconsistent with the original understanding of 14th Amendment, and we will force the courts and Congress to finally address this failed policy. This idea that you can come across the border, two days later have a child, and somehow that’s an American citizen -- that was not the original understanding of the 14th Amendment and so we’ll take action to force a clarification of that." (abcnews.go.com)
  • New York Times "Everyone that has come illlegally under Biden. That's probably six or seven million right there. It's going ot require a lot of effort. It's going to require us to lean in." (www.nytimes.com)
  • "The Biden Border Crisis has wreaked havoc across the United States and has put Americans in danger. In Florida, we will not stand idly by while the federal government abandons its lawful duties to protect our country. The legislation I signed today gives Florida the most ambitious anti-illegal immigration laws in the country, fighting back against reckless federal government policies and ensuring the Florida taxpayers are not footing the bill for illegal immigration." (www.flgov.com)
  • "The Biden Administration’s practice of bending the knee to countries like Iran and Venezuela weakens our national security, does nothing to help Americans, and empowers evil actors. We must stop appeasing our adversaries and sanction them." (twitter.com)
  • "In Florida, we don’t capitulate to state sponsors of terrorism. We sanction them. My legislative proposal ensures Florida will not do business with companies that support terrorist groups like Hamas. I urge other states to follow Florida’s lead." (twitter.com)
  • "Following the horrific atrocities committed by Iranian-backed terrorist group Hamas against Israel, I am calling on the Florida Legislature to act swiftly to ensure our state does not send a penny to the Iranian terror state. I am glad to see the Legislature’s willingness to convene and address this along with other important issues for the state." (www.flgov.com)
  • CNN "We cannot prioritize intervention in an escalating foreign war over the defense of our own homeland, especially as tens of thousands of Americans are dying every year from narcotics smuggled across our open border and our weapons arsenals critical for our own security are rapidly being depleted." (www.cnn.com)
  • "While the US has many vital national interests-securing our borders, addressing the crisis of readiness within our military, achieving energ security and independence, and checking the economic, cultural, and military power of the Chinese Communist Party-becoming further entangled in a territorial dispute between Ukraine and Russia is not one of them." (twitter.com)
  • Politico "We need to bring this war to an end. We need the Europeans to step up and do their fair share. And we need to get serious about the top threat this country faces, which is the Chinese Communist Party." (www.politico.com)
  • The Hill "We think whatever utility that these applications have is clearly outweighed by the benefit that the CCP gets from data mining and being able to collect information." (thehill.com)
  • CNBC "... I do think it represents a threat to our country given China's ownership of it." (www.cnbc.com)
  • WSJ "I am inclined to not want TikTok in the United States. I think it's creating a security vulnerability for us. I think they are mining a lot of data." (www.wsj.com)

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