Gov. Ron DeSantis openly defied President Joe Biden’s attack on Florida on Wednesday, saying he would “stand in the way” of any federal COVID-19 restrictions that would hurt businesses, try to force shutdowns or just “single out” the Sunshine State.
During a press conference in Panama City, DeSantis responded to a speech Biden made Tuesday calling for the Florida governor to “get out of the way” of people trying to fight the recent surge of COVID-19 cases.
“Joe Biden is suggesting if you don’t do lockdown policies, you should quote, ‘get out of the way’ … if you’re coming after the rights of parents in Florida, I’m standing in your way,” DeSantis said on Wednesday.
“Why don’t you do your job,” the governor said, calling for Biden’s team to address the border migration crisis.
DeSantis said he would stand in the way of anyone who tried to deny children an in-person education, impose mandates or hurt livelihoods.
“If you’re trying to lock people down, I am standing in your way and I’m standing for the people of Florida,” DeSantis said.
DeSantis said instead of shutting the border, Biden wants to have the government force kindergartners to wear masks in schools as a way to control the virus.
“Well, I can tell you that in Florida, the parents are going to be the ones in charge of that,” DeSantis said about wearing masks in schools.
As cases of risen in Florida, 11,515 people hospitalized with COVID-19, the death toll has NOT risen.
Biden attacked Florida and Texas and DeSantis addressed any suggestion that Florida would go along with vaccine mandates.
“We said from the beginning, we’re going to make it available for all, but we’re not going to mandate it on anybody. It’s ultimately an individual’s choice to be able to do it,” DeSantis said. “So, why don’t you do your job (Biden), why don’t you get that border secure and until you do that, I don’t want to hear a blip about COVID from you.”
