Crist: DeSantis is ‘Working For Himself, Not Floridians’ After Hurricane Ian

SAINT PETERSBURG (FLV) – Just one week after Hurricane Ian made landfall in Florida, Democrat gubernatorial candidate Charlie Crist claims Gov. Ron DeSantis “is working for himself, not Floridians.”

DeSantis began preparing for the hurricane the week before landfall and has held numerous press conferences per day since then.

Host Joy Reid asked Crist what he makes of DeSantis, “who is a tea partier and who voted against giving money to Hurricane Sandy, now having to play nice with President Biden because he needs the money.”

“It’s ironic, I mean as you pointed out, Gov DeSantis voted against when Hurricane Sandy came to the northeastern part of the united states but now when it’s on us, he’s in the awkward idealogical position that does jive with his ideology to have to ask for federal money,” Crist said.

“Listen, I’m glad he’s doing it because Florida does need it there’s no question about it but it sure would be nice to be kind of consistent about what you believe versus what you think is an emergency situation so you have to change whats happening. He just seems to be inconsistent on so many things. He talks about freedom for example – yet he wants to attack a woman’s right to choose. I mean it’s inconsistent all the way.”

Charlie Crist

In 2013, DeSantis voted against the $9.7 billion Hurricane Sandy flood insurance aid, according to reports.

DeSantis explained why he voted against the aid saying, “The Senate passed legislation that went in the opposite direction by stuffing a bill designed to aid storm victims on the northeast corridor with money for such extraneous matters as fisheries in Alaska. The storm occurred more than two months ago and it is sad that Congress has not used that time to find room in the budget for needed disaster relief.”

DeSantis explained that Congress failed to attempt to identify reductions in nonessential spending.

“I sympathize with the victims of Hurricane Sandy and believe that those who purchased flood insurance should have their claims paid. At the same time, allowing the program to increase its debt by another $9.7 billion with no plan to offset the spending with cuts elsewhere is not fiscally responsible,” DeSantis said.

It was previously reported that DeSantis requested President Joe Biden grant a Major Disaster Declaration for all 67 counties on Sept. 28 for Hurricane Ian. The Declaration was approved on Sept. 29.

The Major Disaster Declaration provides a wide range of federal assistance programs for individuals, as well as funds for both emergency and permanent work and public infrastructure.