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Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis this week vetoed $35 million for the Tampa Bay Ray’s training facility amidst the Ray organization’s comments surrounding the Second Amendment.
As first reported by OutKick, DeSantis moved to strike federal funding for a Pasco County facility after the Rays attempted to politicize the recent shootings in Uvalde, Texas, and Buffalo, New York.
Last week, the team posted a statement on Twitter stating they are “committed to actionable change” and made a $50,000 commitment to Everytown for Gun Safety’s Support Fund. According to Daily Wire, the groups receiving the Rays’ donations are anti-Second Amendment.
Moreover, the team’s facility funds were not the only thing to get struck by DeSantis on Thursday as he signed the 2023 fiscal year budget.
Measures that also failed to receive the stamp of approval included $645 million for a new prison, $195 million for a new prison hospital, and $20 million for new state airplanes.
Nonetheless, the Freedom First budget does include a record $1.24 billion in tax relief for Floridians.
“Florida has preserved freedom and kept the economy open, which has enabled the state to outperform the nation in jobs, growth, and business formations,” DeSantis said. “Our commitment to freedom has paid off. Our responsible fiscal policies have put the state in a strong position to make the record investments needed to support growth and opportunity in spite of the reckless fiscal and monetary policies of the Biden administration.”