海角在线鈥檚 (海角在线) LeMieux Center for Public Policy hosted the second Speaker Series of the season on March 25 with Florida鈥檚 Gov. Ron DeSantis. Since 2012, the center has focused on providing students with the opportunity to meet and discuss domestic and global policy with influential figures. The center鈥檚 goal is to educate and encourage students to be active participants in public policy decisions.
A听Focus on听Policy听听
Before the main presentation, Gov. DeSantis attended a Q&A with students who asked for his insight into the COVID-19 pandemic, the U.S.鈥檚 relationship with Israel, and the importance of having the motivation to make the right choice rather than the politically popular one.
The main discussion was held in the DeSantis Chapel before an audience of over 300 people and hosted by former U.S. Sen. George LeMieux, founder of 海角在线鈥檚 LeMieux Center for Public Policy.
Gov.听DeSantis听was introduced as听a Florida native who studied history and was the baseball captain at Yale University. During his second year at Harvard Law, he joined the U.S. Navy and was awarded the Bronze Star Medal, the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Medal, and the Iraq Campaign Medal. In 2013, he joined the U.S. House of Representatives, and in 2019, he became the 46th governor of Florida.听听
He prioritizes being approachable and accessible to Floridians by traveling听frequently听throughout the state. People can approach him anywhere, from gas stations to sporting events.听When Sen. LeMieux asked about听his travels,听the governor听happily shared that he has been able to promote family-owned restaurants in lesser-known parts of Florida through听his video series,听Diners, Drive-ins, & DeSantis.听听
鈥淲hen I profile these places,听it’s听life changing for their business,鈥� he said.听
Going on about the personal connections he鈥檚 made across the state, Gov. DeSantis shared a story about an unexpected connection with his golf caddy. While playing golf, he learned his caddy was going to college in Florida, even though the caddy was from Nebraska. When Gov. DeSantis found out that the caddy鈥檚 grandparents lived there, he informed the caddy that he qualified for in-state tuition through his grandparents’ residency. Gov. DeSantis took the student’s information and arranged for him to receive 鈥渢he biggest caddy tip鈥� ever.
Balancing Financial Concerns听
Sen. LeMieux steered the conversation to the Governor鈥檚 history of supporting Florida鈥檚 economy. While Gov. DeSantis has spent his time finding ways to build Floridians’ savings, he shared that he still believes there needs to be a recalibration at the federal level by Congress to balance the budget and institute term limits. He wants to find a way to alleviate the financial burden that the national debt indirectly places on Floridians through taxes.
Gov.听DeSantis听said he听would like to find a way to exempt Florida鈥檚听homestead听from property taxes. He has plans to shift property taxes away from middle-class families and onto听non-homestead听properties and out-of-state residences, he said, and听plans to champion his proposal through the U.S.听Legislature.听He听encouraged听other Republican officials to act in their voters’ best interests.听听
鈥淥f all the things these people come up to me about, this is 90% of it,鈥� he noted, looking into the audience. 鈥淏ecause they understand how significant it would be for a family to actually own their home and not just be paying rent to the government.鈥�
Restoring the State鈥檚 Natural Beauty听
One of听Gov.听DeSantis鈥檚 biggest projects has been restoring the Everglades, Sen. LeMieux mentioned.听Florida has now received a delegation from President Donald Trump鈥檚 administration to work on the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan, focusing on restoring the environment,听providing a large water supply for the region’s needs, and enhancing protection against flooding. The project was set for completion in 2034, but it has now been moved up to 2029.听听
鈥淚t is right now and will be the biggest and most significant environmental restoration in the United States in the history of our country,鈥� Gov. DeSantis said.
Looking Ahead for Florida听
When asked if he plans to run for president again,听Gov.听DeSantis听said he听is more focused on his current job as governor to balance budgets, fix property taxes, and address other pressing issues than on what will be next in his political career. To him, his job is to make the choices he believes in and deliver concrete wins to the people of Florida.听There is an element of uncertainty in politics, and the tides change quickly, he commented. However, at the end of his tenure as governor in 2026, what matters to him is that Florida is on the right path to听being one of the most successful states in the听Union.听听
To learn more about the LeMieux Center for Public Policy, visit听here.
