Rep. Alex Andrade (R-Pensacola), who heads House healthcare budget negotiations, is proposing to cut $2.5 million from the Hope Florida program—eliminating 20 Hope navigator positions and six additional positions in Veterans’ Affairs.
- The controversy stems from fundamental confusion about what Hope Florida actually is. State officials have alternately described it as a “philosophy,” a “program,” and a “movement.” This lack of clarity, combined with administrative confusion about program leadership, has raised red flags for Andrade, who has been investigating the charity supporting Hope Florida.
“Shevaun Harris (Secretary of the Agency for Health Care Administration) didn’t realize she’d hired the Hope Florida executive director, and the Governor’s office can’t decide if the program is a ‘philosophy’ or a ‘movement,'” Andrade explained about his rationale for the cuts.
- Cantonment Love for Hope Florida: At the quarterly meeting of her Mental Health Task Force of Northwest Florida, State Rep. Michelle Salzman (R-Cantonment) had Bob Asztalos, the Deputy Executive Director of the Florida Department of Veterans’ Affairs, give a presentation on Hope Florida. The meetings are not open to the public, but a reader shared the agenda – Hope_Salzman. Just another sign of Salzman, veering away from House leadership and currying favor from Gov. DeSantis.
Federal child abuse prevention grants through the American Rescue Plan have funded Hope Florida’s hotline. The grants are set to expire, and Gov. DeSantis wants $2 million to continue staffing the call line. And while Gov. DeSantis has repeatedly said Hope Florida costs taxpayers nothing, the state has paid a vendor about $6 million to match needy Floridians with local churches and nonprofits under the program, according to the Tampa Bay Times.
The Numbers Game: Vacant Positions
Beyond Hope Florida, Andrade is targeting vacant state positions. His proposal would cut positions vacant for 180 days or more—eliminating around 1,600 positions at the Department of Health alone. “If you can go half a year without filling a position, you have to start wondering if that position’s necessary,” Andrade told us during yesterday’s podcast interview.
- Accountability Measures: Andrade is also proposing to withhold salaries of agency secretaries until they provide requested legislative documents. “If you can’t do a simple ministerial task like providing me the documents I’ve asked for… I don’t think you deserve to get paid,” he said.
Finding Common Ground
Despite tough negotiations, there’s optimism. The initial $3 billion gap between House and Senate healthcare proposals has narrowed to less than half a billion. Andrade praised Trumbull as “reasonable” and “extremely intelligent,” suggesting compromise is possible.
For complete insights into these negotiations and Andrade’s perspective on Florida’s budget priorities, check out our full podcast interview from yesterday morning. The Legislature aims to finalize the budget by tomorrow, with final voting scheduled for June 16.
