Florida's Republican Governor, Ron DeSantis, is a likely contender for the GOP's 2024 presidential nomination if former President Donald Trump decides not to run.
As such, DeSantis has embraced a host of Trump's positions, including the reckless rejection of virtually all public safety guidelines designed to curb the spread of a pandemic that's killed over 600 thousand Americans.
In addition to reopening Florida early on in the pandemic, the Governor signed legislation to block private businesses and local governments from requiring vaccinations. In one of his most recent controversial moves, DeSantis has banned schools from enforcing mask mandates, even after Florida recently broke its all time record in daily new cases and leads the population in hospitalizations for the virus.
The Delta variant of the virus has sent cases skyrocketing, especially among children, who previously demonstrated less susceptibility to the original strain. Because children under 12 are not yet eligible to be vaccinated, some school boards have vowed to defy the Governor and enforce mask mandates anyway.
To that, DeSantis floated withholding their compensation.
In a recent White House briefing, Press Secretary Jen Psaki slammed DeSantis' continued bulwark against public safety, and let school board officials in Florida know they have an ally in Washington.
Watch below.
WH Press Sec. Psaki responds to Gov. DeSantis' (R-FL) financial penalties for school officials who violate his ban on mask mandates:\n\n"If you are not interested in following the public health guidelines to protect the lives of people in your state \u2026 then get out of the way \u2026"pic.twitter.com/Ea4kOMqX23— The Recount (@The Recount) 1628615426
Psaki said:
"If you are not interested in following the public health guidelines to protect the lives of people in your state, to give parents some comfort as they're sending their kids to school ... then get out of the way and let public officials, let local officials do their jobs to keep students safe."
She went on to suggest that the federal government could compensate school board officials if DeSantis refuses to pay them.
WH Press Sec. Jen Psaki hints at using federal funds in response to Gov. Ron DeSantis' (R-FL) financial penalties for school officials who defy ban on mask mandates:
"Certainly paying for salaries could be a part of that … we're looking at a range of options …" pic.twitter.com/4MWsQgU1M2
— The Recount (@therecount) August 10, 2021
She elaborated:
"In the American Rescue Plan, allocation or, in the guidelines or in the parameters for how that money could be spent, certainly paying for salaries is a part of that, or could be a part of that and could cover those needs for these officials."
People supported her comments.
Say it louder for those in the back row!! Keep doing you, Ms. Psaki!!!— Scott Warner (@Scott Warner) 1628616426
Get out of the way Ronnie!https://twitter.com/therecount/status/1425142508187705345\u00a0\u2026— arduousapollo (@arduousapollo) 1628641632
Boss. Move.https://twitter.com/therecount/status/1425142508187705345\u00a0\u2026— Phoenix Woman \ud83c\udf69 (@Phoenix Woman \ud83c\udf69) 1628625662
The only way I could say this better is to add profanity(which I am a little fond of..)https://twitter.com/therecount/status/1425142508187705345\u00a0\u2026— Janet Cruz (@Janet Cruz) 1628624791
People appeared to support compensation for the school board officials as well.
Wouldn't THAT be a kick in the Mask for DeSantis?— DonBrunetti (@DonBrunetti) 1628616557
Omg.... I love this— wolfie13 (@wolfie13) 1628636594
Man that's going to really piss him off and i love it. He will just make himself look bad in the eyes of many in his state but to no ends as they will still get paid and get to defy the mask mandate ban.— budgiesmuggler45 (@budgiesmuggler45) 1628618437
DeSantis has vowed to fight back "vociferously" against federal intervention.
@realDonaldTrump/Truth Social