Ron DeSantis and the arrogance of power (Opinion)
Sun Sentinel - Gift Link
Its premature to say whether Ron DeSantis will be remembered as Floridas worst governor, although that does seem his intention.
Its not too soon, however, to acknowledge that he has abused his power more than any of his predecessors. People are wise to him, too.
No other governor ever weaponized a state agency to fight a ballot initiative. Thats what DeSantis has done with the Agency for Health Care Administration, whose website features a blow-by-blow attack on Amendment 4, the abortion rights amendment.
Not only that, it isnt true. It falsely claims that current Florida law protects women, and that the initiative threatens womens safety. The use of a taxpayer-funded agency in a political campaign is illegal.
Harassing voters at home
No other governor ever sent his election police to interrogate registered voters as to whether they signed petitions for a cause he opposes an outrageous act of intimidation. Several voters in Lee County answered a knock on their door and it was an armed, uniformed police officer. The issue again was Amendment 4.