Florida Watch launches new ad, blames DeSantis for signing “tax increase”

by | May 11, 2021



Florida Watch launched a new ad, placing the crosshairs on Governor Ron DeSantis for signing an online sales-tax bill that they say increases taxes for Floridians.

The ad, titled “Ron DeSantis just raised your taxes,” dropped on Tuesday and accuses the Governor of raising taxes after signing into law measure (SB 50) that would require out-of-state online retailers to collect sales taxes on purchases made by Floridians. The bill is estimated to bring in $1 billion a year in revenue.

The legislation drew the support of business groups who claim it isn’t a tax increase and that Florida retailers have been hurt by out-of-state businesses being able to sell products with tacking on taxes. Opponents, however, say the bill hurts consumers, requiring them to pay taxes without reaping the benefits.

“In the middle of the night, Governor DeSantis signed a law that will cost Floridians an estimated $1 billion a year, the narrator of the ad says. “The extra $1 billion you’ll be paying will only be used to cut taxes for already wealthy corporations.”

The video then cuts to broadcasts of others who opposed the legislation with many calling the new law a “regressive tax.”

“He [DeSantis] is implementing a regressive tax, meaning that it’s a tax that everyone has to pay into regardless of what their income is,” said Ana Kasparian from The Young Turks, a left-leaning news outlet, whose coverage appears in the video. She went on to say, “he gave businesses a tax cut while increasing taxes on consumers in the state.”

Florida Watch, a progressive research organization, also lambasted Republicans for “prioritizing tax breaks for their biggest donors” during the pandemic, citing work done by President Joe Biden and Democrats to provide relief to Americans.

“The bottom line is that DeSantis and Republicans raised your taxes to the tune of $1 billion a year so they could give even more kickbacks to their corporate donors,” said Josh Weierbach, Executive Director of Florida Watch. “They couldn’t be bothered to use billions in aid from the Biden Administration, provide more Floridians with health coverage during a pandemic or fix our broken unemployment system. But they did find time to raise your taxes.”

4 Comments

  1. Robert Himschoot

    Obviously Josh Weierbach has been a leach on society and never been in business. The brick and mortar people that own retail businesses in Florida have been operating at a disadvantage for years. They have been required to collect sales tax and submit to state for years. Those Florida businesses employ thousands of people who provide goods and services for all of us. The overall sales taxes collected help operate the state. To think Biden will bail us out is stupid…..who do you think pays for the feds largesse?

  2. Anonymous

    The Democratic Party fears DeSantis. The mainstream media is all in to take him down as he is very popular throughout the country and has what it takes to be President of the United States. Every paper in Florida will endorse the Democratic candidate for Governor. They would even endorse Gillum again if he was the nominee.

  3. Charlotte Greenbarg

    Blatant lie calling it a tax increase. It’s requiring everyone to pay sales taxes equally, no loopholes.

  4. John J Murphy Jr

    Oh boy Bezos is crying in his beer again…..Amazon reaps a tax free life thus increasing there profits while Florida Tax Payers get screwed again. Sign it Gov its time for a lot more fairness in our allowing these NY era looser to pay for what they reap tax free. If it has a dnc bent you know its a lie and this hit piece smells of K Street liars talking trash. Florida first the rest are second. Great job Florida legislature and outstanding job Gov De Santis…..Trump for President De Santis for VP in 2024 Go Team Go…