Thread by @JimRosicaFL

.@GovRonDeSantis has called a 4pm ET press conference in the Capitol.
Team coverage by @photoriphy and @JKennedyReport of the @USATODAY NETWORK - FLORIDA. #FlaPol

DeSantis talks about a year of #COVID19, says lockdowns did not work, can never let it happen again, mentions Florida's lower unemployment rate compared to "lockdown states." Policies "have not been effective" but other states getting more money from feds, he says.

DeSantis says Florida could get $9-10B, but he proposes only $1.4B in spending this FY 2021-22, proposes $1k one time bonus for state's 1st responders, infrastructure needs: $73.2M for state's CONNECT unemployment system

Behavioral health services: $72M for "comprehensive integrated behavioral health services," economic development: $260M in relief for seaports bc of cruise ships not sailing, $150M for Florida Job Growth Grant fund, created by his predecessor Rick Scott

Also asking for lawmakers to budget add'l $50M for @VISITFLORIDA on top of what he already asked for.
-$50M for road fund for FLDOT, total of $100M incl his previous budget request
-$1B for Resilient Florida program
-$41.7M for FL Nat'l Guard for "capital investment" (armories)

-$1B for new "Emergency Management Response Fund" so state doesn't have to wait for @fema
-$938.4M to fund FLDOT work program
-Workforce training & research: $60M for "capitalization grants" for tech school grants; $125M for DOE for training needs, apprenticeships, etc.

To recap: All of these proposed numbers apply to the feds' COVID19 stimulus money coming to Florida.
-$10M for Alzheimers research, total of $15M
All told: $4.1B in new spending, he says, all at the discretion of lawmakers, who write the budget in the annual leg session

DeSantis ends on note of complaint (which he's said before) about amount of federal COVID largesse: "All in all, we're getting the short end of the stick, make no mistake about it, but we'll be getting the job done for the people of Florida."

Also complains about the "amount of money going to blue states" while Florida (a red state) is, basically, getting shafted in his view.

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Planning note: @JKennedyReport will have a full story later with a better handle on the numbers.