DeSantis touts promises kept, vows to keep Florida ‘a freedom zone’

ORLANDO, Fla. (FLV) – Gov. Ron DeSantis spoke at the American Legislative Exchange Council’s 50th annual meeting in Orlando Wednesday, touting his accomplishments in Florida and reiterating his vision for the country.

Early in his remarks, DeSantis spoke about fulfilling promises in the state.

“From cutting taxes to school choice, to parents rights, to anti ESG, anti all these different things,” DeSantis said. “Anything that was on the menu, we got it done, and I campaigned for reelection alongside a lot of these guys. Every single thing we told the voters we do, we did, and then some.”

DeSantis later threw shade and overtly criticized the federal government’s COVID response.

“Its easy to say, ‘well, the bureaucrats are telling me can’t do any of that, and so, it’s not up to me!’ You can do that, or you can lead.”

DeSantis then touted Florida’s economic freedom for its residents.

“Florida does not have an income tax. For those of you who do – you should try it our way some time, I think you’ll like it.”

DeSantis fired off on parental rights and school education.

“They’re not all of our kids. They’re YOUR kids,” he said, rebutting recent comments from President Joe Biden.

“And schools, and our school system, doesn’t exist to supersede the rights of parents – they exist to support the community.”

Reflecting on a major piece of legislation signed into law this year, DeSantis noted that the Chinese Communist Party has been banned from purchasing farmland and land near military bases in Florida.

“You can’t subcontract out key parts of your economy to your top threat [China],” he said.

“[China] wants to buy farmland, they wanna buy land near military bases […] That is not gonna work […] We’re gonna continue to keep this a freedom zone.”