Governor Ron DeSantis has vetoed $32 million in arts and culture funding from Florida's state budget, citing concerns over the allocation of funds to 'inappropriate' organizations such as the Fringe Festival. The decision has drawn criticism from various quarters, including PEN America, which argues that the move will devastate the arts community and is part of a broader pattern of censorship. The cuts affect over 600 arts and culture organizations, including about 130 groups from Miami-Dade County. DeSantis defended his decision by stating that taxpayer dollars should not fund events like the Fringe Festival, which he described as 'sexual.' The veto also included four other bills, one of which pertained to lawsuit protections for cybersecurity breaches. The 2024-2025 state budget totals $116.5 billion, and the funding cuts are seen as either fatal or a significant inconvenience depending on the size of the organization.
This is batty even by DeSantis standards. The money vetoed was also for opera, symphonies, children's theater, art museums, zoos and more. These guys have an obsession with drag queens that I doubt Dr. Ruth could cure. https://t.co/KYv3ocADKW
Governor DeSantis vetoed $32 million in grant funding slated for over 600 art and culture organizations, including about 130 groups from Miami-Dade County. The cuts come as he approved the 2024-2025 state budget which totaled $116.5 billion. https://t.co/aZMpBGkT0l
DeSantis says he cut arts funding over objections to ‘sexual’ festivals https://t.co/9tqvNVn85A
.@GovRonDeSantis Says He Vetoed Culture Funding to Stop Paying For 'Sexual' Fringe Festivals Reported by @LivCaputo via @Floridianpress https://t.co/Sh6mKxIrCg #FlPol #FlaPol
NEW: DeSantis cited "sexual" Fringe Festivals as the reason why he gutted Florida's cultural funding from the budget. It's not clear they would have been funded in the first place. https://t.co/n5Up9xEy3T
This is NOT an appropriate use of taxpayer dollars, but would have otherwise been part of a taxpayer-funded "Fringe Festival" had @GovRonDeSantis not acted to protect taxpayer dollars. https://t.co/vHgywLe9wc https://t.co/xLpOAM2T58
.@GovRonDeSantis responds to a reporter asking about his veto of 'cultural grant funding': "You'd have your tax dollars being given in grants to things like the Fringe Festival, which is a sexual festival... how many of you think your tax dollars should go to fund that?" https://t.co/3ZP5gduOwT
During press conference @GovRonDeSantis was asked about veto of $26m in cultural/arts grants. He said he did it because some money would have gone to "inappropriate" outfits such as the "Fringe Festival" & the Legislature needs to "reevaluate" how's that done ... background ..
Gov. DeSantis vetoes lawsuit protections for cybersecurity breaches, three other bills Reporting by @ChristineSexton https://t.co/mKRKjgnjxj #FlaPol
.@GovRonDeSantis vetoes four bills. https://t.co/4TU6dTcb4Y
DeSantis vetoes all grant funding in the state. Don't really see why government should be funding art. If you want to be paid to do art that has no market value, rely on rich patrons rather than government. https://t.co/GIXqtE7AdW
“Depending on the size of the organization, it’s either fatal or it’s beyond an inconvenience.” South Florida arts and culture orgs are scrambling after Gov. DeSantis cut $32 million in funding from the state budget. https://t.co/lyu3SMsYx1
PEN America criticizes DeSantis for decision to veto all arts and culture funding in Florida. "This decision will not only devastate the arts but add to his legacy of censorship and disregard for art, literature, and knowledge," says @KBlankenshipFL https://t.co/CeReu0oK3g