Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis Expects More Federal Assistance To Help The State Deal With COVID-19

Florida Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis said Tuesday that he expects more federal assistance to be given to his state to help it deal with the health and economic impacts of COVID-19.

In an interview with Politico, DeSantis said the virus has caused Medicaid enrollment in Florida to grow by 570,000 people, causing the program’s cost to balloon by $1.6 billion. The state is currently receiving federal stimulus money to cover the increased enrollment through December.

DeSantis believes the federal stimulus funding will be extended through June 30, 2021, when the state’s fiscal year ends.

“We think that they're going to continue that as long as there's a state of emergency,” DeSantis said. "If we didn't have that, then we'd have to do more in [general revenue].”

DeSantis also said the state may have to borrow to cover the expanded $400 weekly federal unemployment boost that was mandated by Trump’s executive order on Aug. 8. He may try to get a loan from the Department of Labor in order to cover the increased jobless benefits.

“If there's a way to do it through that, then we will proceed and do it,” DeSantis said about the possibility of a loan from the Labor Department.

Congressional leaders are currently at an impasse over the next round of stimulus legislation. President Trump has frequently slammed Democrats’ request to include more aid for state and local governments.

"Democrats are primarily interested in a $1 trillion bailout of the poorly run states," Trump said during a news conference last week. "We're not going to go along with that."

Florida has struggled to deal with the virus, reaching a record of 15,300 new daily cases in the state on July 12. DeSantis has pressured schools to reopen in the fall and welcomed college football teams to play in the state.

As unemployment claims soared in Florida, the state’s unemployment system has also come under scrutiny, as it is often difficult for applicants to receive benefits. DeSantis has blamed former Florida Gov. Rick Scott for inefficiencies in the system.