As Governor DeSantis prepares to hand out $624 million of our dollars to top
1% profitable corporations, Rep. Nixon requests corporate tax transparency
As Governor Ron DeSantis prepares to hand out $624M of Floridians’ public dollars to the top 1% most profitable corporations in the state, Representative Angie Nixon (D- Jacksonville) submitted a list of questions to the Department of Revenue in hopes of getting answers regarding the state’s system of taxation and on the tax obligation of corporations that do business in Florida.
“As rent and property insurance rates skyrocket, the Governor is about to hand out hundreds of millions of our tax dollars to a small handful of big corporations. This is the second time that the Governor has given rich refunds to these same huge companies – many of which are now helping to fund the Governor’s re-election campaign,” said Representative Nixon. “Floridians can’t even get their rent assistance on time, but the Governor is racing to give these corporations $624 million by May. We deserve to know far more about the corporations that are taking so much of our money.”
Representative Nixon hopes to hear back from the Department of Revenue in a timely manner and share the findings with the public, to ensure our dollars are invested in people’s needs, not corporate greed.
Representative Anna Eskamani (D- Orlando), Ranking Member of the Ways & Means Committee, added to the call, “I applaud Rep. Nixon’s efforts. Floridians have a right to know far more about the corporations that are benefiting from the Governor’s handouts. We secured major victories this session by defeating billions in new corporate tax giveaways. Unfortunately, Floridians are still paying for laws the Governor already approved.”
Under a measure adopted by legislators and signed into law by Governor DeSantis in 2019, the top 1% most profitable corporations in Florida are slated to receive a $624 million corporate tax giveaway by May. Altogether, HB 7093 (2018)) and HB 7127 (2019) have saved the top 1 percent of businesses in Florida an estimated $3.7 billion. That’s the equivalent of nearly two decades of spending on affordable housing.
The People’s Budget Florida is a coalition of unions, community organizations, small business owners, elected officials, and policy experts fighting for a state that works for all of us, not just corporations. The coalition includes SEIU, SEIU1199, SEIU-FPSU, Florida Rising, The Florida Policy Institute, The Florida Immigrant Coalition and others.
