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This is what efficient government looks like.

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No such thing no matter who is running it, but I get what you're saying.

Just another mark in the win column for a true conservative.

Florida just like Texas has had a tax revenue surplus.

In July 22 they had a surplus of 21 Billion!
However, the states debt was 24 Billion in Sept 2022.

Florida has paid down about 5 Billion under Desantis which is at least in a good direction.

But just in one year you had a 22 Billon surplus !

Only has paid down 5 billion since governor.

Republicans still like to spend money too!

Texas last year had a surplus of over 14 Billion from property taxes. Yes some of it's coming back to tax payers.
But Texas has been running a surplus for years.

Both states should be debt free .

Now we get excited if any debt even gets paid down as the bar is that low in politics.

Ag87H2O said:

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Once again, DeSantis shows he is a doer, not just a talker. If the Republicans fail to nominate this man for President it will be a colossal mistake and we deserve what we get.

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Republicans have been snatching defeat from the jaws of victory for ages. And we've been deserving what we've been getting for ages.

AGHouston11 said:

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Florida just like Texas has had a tax revenue surplus.

In July 22 they had a surplus of 21 Billion!
However, the states debt was 24 Billion in Sept 2022.

Florida has paid down about 5 Billion under Desantis which is at least in a good direction.

But just in one year you had a 22 Billon surplus !

Only has paid down 5 billion since governor.

Republicans still like to spend money too!

Texas last year had a surplus of over 14 Billion from property taxes. Yes some of it's coming back to tax payers.
But Texas has been running a surplus for years.

Both states should be debt free .

Now we get excited if any debt even gets paid down as the bar is that low in politics.

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There are some benefits to having a small and well managed debt though I agree the goal should always be to be as debt free as possible. Florida is growing FAST and has a lot of investments they are making from infrastructure to education to maintaining their significant environmental issues with areas like the Everglades that are unique to them. The key thing you see with DeSantis is a responsible governance that limits the size of government and keeps a very healthy balance sheet fiscally.

I mean you can always nitpick if you want but some of the big numbers:

GDP $1.07 Trillion
State Budget $117 Billion
Surplus $22 Billion
Total Debt $16 Billion
Interest on Debt approx $1.8 Billion
Rainy Day Fund $2.7 Billion
Emergency Response Fund (New) $500 million
One of 13 States with unanimous AAA Credit rating

Considering Florida doesn't get massive revenue from O&G and has no state income tax that's pretty incredible. Their debt is barely a blip considering their revenue and very manageable. Certainly they are in the discussion for being in the best economic health of any state. Also lead the country in small business formation.

By contrast even though Florida has surpassed New York in population in the last few years NY has a Budget of $227 Billion and a Deficit of $9 Billion that is growing. Texas is 50% larger but has a budget of $321 Billion and a Surplus of $32 Billion. Yet Florida has higher rated Education and services than either, max In State tuition is $6500 per year for instance.

Like I said, you can always find things to nitpick and DeSantis isn't perfect but a lot of people have asked about his fiscal policies and his attitude toward the economy. This is a good window into what he would like to do because he has as close to total power as you can have in one state with the time he has been in office and the majorities he has in the Legislature.

But desantis doesn't have these.

Brittmoore Car Club said:

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This guy is the dream candidate. We deserve what we get if we pass on this once in a generation+ leader.

I am telling you, they are not openly signaling it yet, but the leftists in the know fear Desantis more than any other GOP candidate, especially Trump...who they are intentionally keeping front and center, hoping he runs.

Desantis has constantly taken the fight directly to them and all of their warped initiatives and no other leader comes close.

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The guy is 44 years old and would be the third youngest U.S. president. I don't think we are "passing on a once in a generation+ leader" when we support a different candidate in 2024.

AgBandsman said:

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Brittmoore Car Club said:

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This guy is the dream candidate. We deserve what we get if we pass on this once in a generation+ leader.

I am telling you, they are not openly signaling it yet, but the leftists in the know fear Desantis more than any other GOP candidate, especially Trump...who they are intentionally keeping front and center, hoping he runs.

Desantis has constantly taken the fight directly to them and all of their warped initiatives and no other leader comes close.

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The guy is 44 years old and would be the third youngest U.S. president. I don't think we are "passing on a once in a generation+ leader" when we support a different candidate in 2024.

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He has proven to be a once in a generation (possibly multiple generations) leader by his actions. I realize the reflex is to bring up Reagan....but Reagan did not have to face the out of control domestic/cultural enemy that Desantis has been fighting head on with actual success.

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The guy is 44 years old and would be the third youngest U.S. president. I don't think we are "passing on a once in a generation+ leader" when we support a different candidate in 2024.

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Actually, that's exactly what would happen. No one knows what 4 years holds for this country... assuming "he's young, his time will come" is a poor plan. If you believe trump is the best policy, vote that way... if DeSantis is, vote that way... but I'm not voting for anyone based on "we owe him." I will vote for conservative policy, period. And RDS has that in spades IMHO.

Now explain that to all the people of Florida with their crazy homeowners and auto insurance premiums increases.

Not all is roses living in Florida.

Can a state control that?

So your advocating for government ran insurance? Like Obamacare?

You understand the insurance premiums there are a result of losses incurred by natural disasters (hurricanes)?

SwigAg11 said:

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Can a state control that?

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They have a state insurance regulator that approved the rates that are charged.

And what were those rate changes based on?

Old May Banker said:

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So your advocating for government ran insurance? Like Obamacare?

You understand the insurance premiums there are a result of losses incurred by natural disasters (hurricanes)?

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How is flood insurance managed?

Mostly thru FEMA IIRC... and?

Old May Banker said:

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And what were those rate changes based on?

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A lot of that was litigation charges according to the Insurance Information Institute.

Like when consumers are forced to sue their insurer after a natural disaster to get their money?

I'm trying to figure out why you'd think that was the governor's fault.

TexasAggie73 said:

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Now explain that to all the people of Florida with their crazy homeowners and auto insurance premiums increases.

Not all is roses living in Florida.

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What does this have to do with the State of Florida's debt? Stick with the subject or start a new thread.

Old May Banker said:

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Like when consumers are forced to sue their insurer after a natural disaster to get their money?

I'm trying to figure out why you'd think that was the governor's fault.

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I'm just saying that living in Florida is not all great even if they are able to pay down the state debt. Ask the people which is more important to them state debt or reasonable car and homeowners insurance.

I think the same could be said at numerous places across the nation - Bidenflation is real. So is the influx of people that are choosing to make Florida their home - regardless of insurance rates.

TexasAggie73 said:

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Old May Banker said:

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Like when consumers are forced to sue their insurer after a natural disaster to get their money?

I'm trying to figure out why you'd think that was the governor's fault.

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I'm just saying that living in Florida is not all great even if they are able to pay down the state debt. Ask the people which is more important to them state debt or reasonable car and homeowners insurance.

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the state is responsible for their debt, not for ensuring insurance policies..

the state has no control over the weather and the cost to replace damaged/insured property.
that has real costs, impacted by location and federal policies.

sure, the state can "limit" insurance rates, but insurance companies will just leave if they cannot maintain their expected profit. and yes, they are entitled to a profit.

TexasAggie73 said:

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Old May Banker said:

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And what were those rate changes based on?

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A lot of that was litigation charges according to the Insurance Information Institute.

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Litigation by scummy lawyers and false damage claims by scummy roofing companies is the biggest contributor, combined with hurricane costs of course. Desantis and the legislator did something to try and address both those factors not long ago but it was a problem that'll that years to course correct.

But its certainly not something you can pin on Desantis nor relevant to this topic.

FL_Ag1998 said:

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TexasAggie73 said:

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Old May Banker said:

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And what were those rate changes based on?

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A lot of that was litigation charges according to the Insurance Information Institute.

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Litigation by scummy lawyers and false damage claims by scummy roofing companies is the biggest contributor, combined with hurricane costs of course. Desantis and the legislator did something to try and address both those factors not long ago but it was a problem that'll that years to course correct.

But its certainly not something you can pin on Desantis nor relevant to this topic.

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Since when did threads always stay on topic here?

TexasAggie73 said:

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Now explain that to all the people of Florida with their crazy homeowners and auto insurance premiums increases.

Not all is roses living in Florida.

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They actually passed some pretty sweeping Legislation to try and address some of the problems but inevitably much of it is inevitable. It's a state that had a major Hurricane that wiped out a large city and that required rebuilding and that cost is going to be spread. It is a state that has gone grown by 3 million people in just a few years and that is accelerating putting pressure on housing prices and supply and demand for laborers is out of whack. You have the overall national inflation on the rise making everything more expensive. There is only so much you can do when everything just costs more and a lot of people have unrealistic expectations that they can just keep things cheap in spite of all those costs.

Here is a summary of the Legislative changes this year signed by DeSantis though, they are working on the problem: Summary of FL Legislative Bills addressing Insurance costs

Short list of the separate bills:
Coop and Condominium Associations
Motor Vehicle Glass
Insurer Accountability
Property Insurance
Civil Remedies
My Safe Florida Home Program
Consumer Protection

They aren't sitting on their hands.

TexasAggie73 said:

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SwigAg11 said:

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Can a state control that?

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They have a state insurance regulator that approved the rates that are charged.

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Right


And unless they're using fraudulent actuarials....your point is....?