The state in 2024 directed the Medicaid company Centene to give $10 million to the Hope Florida Foundation as part of a settlement over claims of overbilling. Most of that money ultimately landed in a political committee focused on defeating a recreational marijuana proposal. The committee was controlled by Gov. Ron DeSantis’ then-chief of staff, James Uthmeier.
The revelation of the money from the Medicaid settlement triggered legislative inquiries, multiple resignations and a grand jury investigation, and likely delayed jobs and crushed political dreams. And a later Herald/Times investigation found the $10 million was just part of the state’s spending; reporters found the state spent about $35 million in taxpayer money on advertisements against two amendments DeSantis opposed.
Hope Florida may have dampened any aspirations from the first lady to succeed her husband as governor. In early 2025, DeSantis hinted that he might like to see his wife in his place when he leaves office.
I’m harping on this because Desantis and his wife who heads the foundation where she laundered the money, are guilty of Medicaid fraud. They stole millions of dollars from Medicaid for advertising. It’s insane that more people don’t know about this.
ye ole stealing from taxpayers and spending it to manipulate what the taxpayers vote towards.