DeSantis: Congress Hiding 'Grotesque' Bill Behind Hurricane Disaster Relief

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis

TAMPA, Florida - Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has joined President-elect Donald Trump, Elon Musk, and several Republican members of Congress to oppose a 1,547-page Continuing Resolution bill filed last night that includes a $69,000 raise for its members from $174,000 to $243,000 annually, exempts members of Congress from Obamacare, and massive spending for pork projects, alongside disaster relief for regions affected by Hurricane Helene. 

"Congress is attempting to deflect criticism of the grotesque CR by hiding behind disaster relief funding, a small fraction of this massive spending bill. This is an insult to Americans’ intelligence," DeSantis posted on X.

"Since 2022, Florida has invested over $3.4 billion in Florida’s Emergency Preparedness and Response Fund and raised nearly $100 million into the Florida Disaster Fund, which is used for disasters that affect our state. Over the same time frame, while Florida has weathered several catastrophic hurricanes, we have still paid down $3.6 billion in tax-supported debt.

Florida proves that fiscal sanity is a choice. With this CR, Congress has chosen the opposite path—to continue wasting your tax dollars, exacerbating inflation, and driving our nation deeper into debt. They shouldn’t hide behind disaster relief; they’re willingly making these poor choices."

Florida Congresswoman Anna Paulina Luna (R-Tampa), whose District was heavily impacted by Hurricanes Helene and Milton, has also come out in opposition to the bill.

"After further discussion with my constituents, I am officially voting NO on the Cramnibus bill," Luna posted on X.

"The most foolish and inept thing ever done by Congressional Republicans was allowing our country to hit the debt ceiling in 2025. It was a mistake and is now something that must be addressed," Trump stated on X.

"Meanwhile, Congress is considering a spending bill that would give sweetheart provisions for government censors and for Liz Cheney. The bill would make it easier to hide the records of the corrupt January 6 committee—which accomplished nothing for the American people and hid security failures that happened that day. This bill would also give Congress a pay increase while many Americans are struggling this Christmas. "