Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis defends Hope Florida once again as Rep. Alex Andrade seeks more information, and a Floridian in debt is concerned over the possible closure of the CFPB.

DeSantis defends Hope Florida as House committee investigation gains traction

On Wednesday, documents came out that are related to the state settlement that led to $10 million being directed to the Hope Florida Foundation, and in turn, money being moved between that charity, two not-for-profits, and a political committee fighting against Amendment 3 last year.

Gov. Ron DeSantis defended the organization Thursday in Fort Pierce, saying the funds were not taxpayer money or money owed to the state.

He also issued another lengthy defense of the Hope Florida project championed by First Lady Casey DeSantis.

“But it didn’t cost you anything as taxpayers. All it did was reimagine the proper role of government," DeSantis said. "We know government can’t be all things to all people, that’s failed. They did a war on poverty in the 1960s, if that had succeeded we wouldn’t have poverty. And yet it ended up entrenching a lot of this. So, this is a better way."

“This is a better way for people in need," DeSantis continued. "Their horizons will be expanded. They will do better. But it’s also a better way for taxpayers. And so you look at some of the problems you see with the budget in Washington. This type of model would be better for people as well as save a lot of money. So that’s what this is motivating. It’s a political attack on a successful program and against the first lady because I think a lot of people are threatened by the success of the program. It upends some of their ideological commitments. It shows that she’s actually made a difference. I know there’s people that are threatened by that.”

Meanwhile, Republican state Rep Alex Andrade, who is leading the House probe into Hope Florida, spent part of the day posting to social media about a text message that was sent to some Floridians urging them to call their elected representatives in support of the governor.

That message indicated it was sent by the political action committee “Restore our Nation" — which was previously used to fundraise for DeSantis’ presidential campaign.

The Florida House released a series of letters sent by Andrade’s committee last week, seeking documents and testimony in the Hope Florida investigation.

They asked Hope Florida to provide documentation on all of its bank records, contracts with all current and former employees, and all personnel expenses. That includes tax forms, financial records, and any correspondence with the governor’s then-Chief of Staff James Uthmeier, or Hope Florida Attorneys Jeff Aaron and Mohammad Jazil.

They want AHCA to share all communications related to the Centene payment, including any draft versions. And they asked the governor’s office to provide any communication between Uthmeier or his employees with any of the groups involved, or their leaders.

The committee wants all transaction details between the not-for-profit organizations Keep Florida Clean, Save our Society from Drugs, and Secure Florida’s Future, and Hope Florida, a list of authorized signatories, and correspondence with Uthmeier, Aaron, or Jazil.

The committee also sent separate letters asking Mark Wilson, the chair of Securing Florida’s Future, Amy Ronshausen, the leader of Save our Society from Drugs, and Jeff Aaron, the Hope Florida attorney to testify before them Thursday.

Consumers with debt concerned over potential cuts to the CFPB

After President Donald Trump took office for his second term, his administration instructed employees of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau to stop working. 

The agency has become a target of Elon Musk’s unofficial Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).

The CFPB, formed in response to the 2008 financial crisis, is an independent government agency designed to protect consumers from financial fraud and deceptive practices.  

The CFPB has regulatory authority over companies that provide financial products and services, including credit cards, bank accounts, loans, credit reports and debt collection.

The agency gives consumers a way to file a complaint against financial products and services. The proposed cuts to the agency have caused concern for consumers who need assistance to dig out of debt.

Brian Hodge says several years ago he and his wife faced thousands of dollars of credit card debt.

“Some poor financial decisions on our part,” said Hodge.

Part of that debt was from their medical bills, including from a stomach surgery he had to have.

He was able to work with Money Management International to get his debt paid down.

“We got the creditors to agree to lower or no interest — many of our cards were no interest — only one was a very small amount of interest,” said Hodge. “And so we suddenly had light at the end of the tunnel. So it was like, ‘Oh man, in three years we won’t have debt anymore.'”

But his wife’s health issues have persisted, and along with them, medical bills that are once again adding up.

“Every time she sees a doctor they’re like, 'We’re not really sure, so we’re going to send you to this specialist," Hodge said. "And then that specialist isn’t sure, so we’re going to send you to this other specialist. And that one’s not really sure, so we’re going to send you back to this other one."

Hodge said he’s been able to avoid bankruptcy, but he’s had to use part of his retirement and other savings to stay financially afloat. He has health insurance, but even with that, he believes medical costs are way too high.

“If medical stuff was affordable, if we all had to pay a little more to know that we could go to a hospital and it wouldn’t cost us much if anything at all, then people could be healthier, and healthier people could work harder and do more,” said Hodge.

Hodge says his wife can no longer work, making their financial situation even tighter.

He believes protections in place to protect Americans financially should stay in place.

“It’s disheartening to have conquered what is a common difficulty among Americans and think finally I’ll be able to save up — maybe one day own a home — the American dream,” said Hodge. “And then you lose it all and it still seems you’re just clawing to tread water.”

A federal judge has ordered a temporary halt to the dismantling of the CFPB.