FLORIDA EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT SPENT $405 MILLION IN SIX MONTHS
Florida’s emergency managers drained the state’s disaster fund to spend $405.6 million in just six months on immigration enforcement, that’s 70% of the state’s entire four-year immigration budget, all at once. The spending flowed through 83 contracts with private vendors, and the receipts are concerning.
The largest single contractor? A porta-potty company called Doodie Calls collected nearly $92.8 million.
The emergency fund also covered private jet flights to the “Alligator Alcatraz” detention center, meals at more than 55 restaurants (including bar tabs at Bumpa’s Sports Bar and Pedro’s Tacos), a $203 badge purchase, and $1.1 million to a high-profile law firm. State officials say every expense was necessary and that the federal government will reimburse the bulk of it. However, Federal authorities said they have not promised that.
Several vendors receiving hundreds of millions in contracts have ties to the DeSantis administration or the Florida Republican Party, including the companies behind nearly $56 million in combined payments.
$1.1 million to a high-profile law firm on New Year’s Eve
$479,000 to a private jet company, justified as supporting “Israel evacuation efforts.”
$156,000 in “food products” that included repeated charges at bars and a $18,859 purchase at a camouflage and bow-and-arrow retailer listed under food
At least 55 restaurants billed to the emergency fund, including multiple visits to a sports bar and two taco-and-tequila chains
$25.5 million to a firm run by Republican donors with ties to the DeSantis administration
$213,000 in foreign airfare including charges to the Spirit Airlines Charitable Foundation
A December purchase at an awards and plaques shop, billed as emergency supplies
Nearly $380 million of the $405 million in total spending went to outside contractors
