This week, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis threatened to withhold the salaries of county school board members and superintendents who defied his executive order banning mask mandates for students.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, DeSantis’s office called the move a “narrowly tailored means to address the decision-makers who led to the violation of law,” the statement said.
“Education funding is intended to benefit students first and foremost, not systems. The Governor’s priorities are protecting parents’ rights and ensuring that every student has access to a high-quality education that meets their unique needs.”
The Biden administration responded by saying it would go around DeSantis. White House spokeswoman Jen Psaki noted federal COVID-19 relief aid is under “federal discretion.” The White House is “continuing to look into what our options are to help protect and help support these teachers and administrators who are taking steps to protect the people in their communities,” she told reporters.
But in Florida, Democrats are looking for a more direct route.
Democrats in the state Senate announced the launch of a GoFundMe account to pay the salaries that DeSantis may trim.
In a press release, they claimed the account would “repay salaries stolen” by DeSantis.
“If the governor chooses to defund public education and withhold salaries from educators as punishment for protecting students’ health and safety, we will fill the gap to support them in this fight,” said Sen. Lauren Book, the Democratic leader in the Florida Senate.
In response, state Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis accused Democrats of trying to bribe local education officials, as explained in a series of tweets.
“The second any of these superintendents or school board members accept a cent, they may be breaking the law,” Patronis wrote.
“Also, they all may be breaking the law by using their official office in raising cash for a political outcome,” he added. “Giving money straight to a public official by using @gofundme to affect an outcome? Sounds a lot like bribery.”
Patronis then tweeted the state bribery statute, which defines the crime as “to knowingly and intentionally give, offer, or promise to any public servant … any pecuniary or other benefit not authorized by law with an intent or purpose to influence … performance of a public duty.”
When critics lashed out that he was misreading the intent of the Democrats’ fundraising drive or the law, Patronis replied, “They put out a press release saying they’re going to set up a @gofundme me account for officials who defy @GovRonDeSantis. They’re promoting how they’ll give cash-money to officials who make certain decisions. Seems like a problem.”
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Democrats are seemingly not interested in the Constitution, or the law. Promoting or teaching CRT brings about a lack of patriotism in America, and it is a very slanted account which leaves out many vital facts. I say take all kids out of public schools and homeschool them or take them to private schools. Find some neighbors who have kids and work together. We have to end the reliance on insane public administrators and/or teachers.