¶ DeSantis’ Florida Is Lagging Behind
Highlights:
- Under Ron DeSantis, Florida’s health care metrics have lagged national averages and shown evidence of racial disparities.
- A study from Georgetown found Florida ranked in the bottom 10 states for providing health care coverage to children, with Latino, Black, and lower-income children disproportionately shouldering the burden.
- A Commonwealth Fund study found that Floridians paid more for health insurance than nearly any other states with employees paying a larger share relative to other states.
- Florida was ranked 46th out of 50 states in percentage of the population with health insurance.
- The American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) ranked Florida last, 50th out of 50 states, in their scorecard of the quality of the health systems for elderly adults.
- A WalletHub study found Florida had the worst flu vaccination rate for adults among states in 2022.
- In 2020, Florida ranked second in the nation (raw number) and 15th worst in death rate for drug overdose deaths.
- A WalletHub study found Florida ranked 37th among states on the listing of the best states for doctors.
- Florida’s infant mortality rate was worse than the national average of 5.4. Studies have found racial disparities, as Black Floridians experienced a higher rate of infant death compared to white Floridians.
- Education metrics in Florida showed teacher salaries and student spending below the national average, evidence of decline under Ron DeSantis.
- Florida’s Department of Education showed a marked decline in school ratings in 2022 compared to 2019.
- The National Education Association found Florida ranked 44th among states in spending per pupil.
- The National Education Association found Florida ranked 48th among states in teacher salaries.
- Florida’s high school dropout rate was above the national average.
- PEN America report found that Florida ranked second among states in banned books.
- Under Ron DeSantis, Florida was ranked as the least affordable state to live in the country.
- In 2022, Miami saw the highest year-over-year rent increase across the country. Orlando and Tampa ranked second and third.
- A real estate investment firm found Florida home values had risen 80% over the past five years, noting Tampa and Miami were leading the increase. Realtor.com designated Miami as America’s least affordable place to live.
- WalletHub studies ranked Florida low among 50 states on metrics for new families, specifically to have a baby (42nd out of 50) and to raise a family (32nd out of 50).
- Under Ron DeSantis’ leadership, Florida showed lagging indicators on several economic metrics.
- Florida ranked 36th among states in median household income. At $63,062, Florida was over $9,000 below the national average.
- The median salary in Florida was $37,918, behind the median national salary of $54,132.
- Florida ranked 34th among states for the rates of families living under the poverty level, at 9.4%.
- Florida ranked 7th among states in income inequality . At the same time, a 2020 study found Florida ranked 3rd worst among all states for equitable taxation, when comparing tax rates for the bottom 20% and top 1%.
- Florida ranked 32nd among states for housing headquarters for major companies.
- Florida ranked 35th among states for college-educated young adults (bachelor’s degree attainment for 25-34 year olds). College graduates in Florida were 11% more likely to leave the state than to stay.
- WalletHub studies found Florida ranked as a below average state to be a police officer (36th), and among the worst in overall public safety (44th) under Ron DeSantis. In public safety, Florida also ranked third worst for bullying incidents.
- In office, Ron DeSantis presided over a nearly 20% increase in electricity prices. Florida also lagged national metrics in renewable energy consumption.
- Ron DeSantis has presided over a drop in water quality in the state.
- The Florida Department of Environmental Protection found 3.1 million acres of Florida’s estuaries were polluted and not suitable for drinking, an increase from 2018.
- Florida ranked first in the nation in raw numbers for lakes deemed too polluted for swimming and drinking, and fourth in percentage of all lakes assessed as polluted.
Under DeSantis, Floridians’ Health Care Suffered
Georgetown Study Found Florida Was Among Worst States In Child Health Care Access
Georgetown Study Found Florida Was In Among Bottom 10 Worst States In The U.S. In Providing Health Care Coverage To Children, With 7.3% Of Florida Children Uninsured, Compared To 5.4% Nationally. According to the Tampa Bay Times, “Some 7.3% of Florida children were uninsured in 2021, ranking the state in the bottom 10 nationally, according to a new study by the Georgetown University Center for Children and Families. Nationally, 5.4% of children are uninsured, the report found.” [Tampa Bay Times, 12/15/22]
Latino, Black, And Lower-Income Children In Florida Were More Likely To Be Uninsured
Highest Rates Of Uninsured Children Were Among Latinos And Poor Communities, Around 9% Of The Population Did Not Have Medical Coverage. According to the Tampa Bay Times, “The highest rates of uninsured children were among Latinos and in poor communities where almost 9% remain without medical coverage. The rate among Black children was 6.4%, more than a full percentage point lower than the state average.” [Tampa Bay Times, 12/15/22]
Florida Health Insurance Premiums Were Among Highest In Nation, With Costs Increasingly Being Shifted Onto Workers
Study Found Floridians Paid More For Health Insurance
Commonwealth Fund Study Found Floridians Paid More For Health Insurance Than Nearly Any Other State. According to WUSF, “Employees in Florida paid more for their health insurance in 2020 than workers in nearly every other state, a new study from The Commonwealth Fund found. The study compared employee health insurance costs, including insurance premiums and deductibles.” [WUSF, 1/20/22]
Florida Workers Paid An Average Of $9,284 On Health Insurance In 2020, Among The Most Expensive States In The Nation
Florida Workers Paid Average Of $9,284 In 2020 On Health Insurance. According to WUSF, “The average amount that Florida workers paid for premiums – which come out of their paychecks – and deductibles was $9,284 in 2020, or 16% of the state’s median income. […] ‘Workers in Florida pay a greater percentage of that premium — one of the highest in the country,’ Collins said. ‘And then median income in Florida is lower than the national average, actually significantly lower. So it's really a perfect storm for high cost burdens.’” [WUSF, 1/20/22]
In The Past Decade, The Average Amount Of Health Insurance Costs Paid By Florida Workers Increased, Going From 10% Of Costs To 16%
Percentage Of Income Going To Health Insurance For Florida Workers Had Increased Over Past Decade, Going From 10% To 16%. According to WUSF, “The average amount that Florida workers paid for premiums – which come out of their paychecks – and deductibles was $9,284 in 2020, or 16% of the state’s median income. Ten years ago, Florida’s workers paid $5,205 – or 11% of the state’s median income. […] And the problem has gotten worse over the past decade. In 2010, Floridians spent 10% of their median income on health insurance premiums and deductibles. Now, it’s over 16%.” [WUSF, 1/20/22]
Florida Was Ranked 46 Out Of 50 States For PErcentage OF The POpulation WIth Health Insurance
Florida Had 87.9% Of Residents Insured, Ranking 46th Among The 50 States. According to the Guardian, Florida ranked 46th out of the 50 states for percentage of the population with health insurance, at 87.9%. The Guardian cited the US Census Bureau, 2021 ACS, for the statistic.
[Guardian, 4/10/23]
Florida Ranked 41st Out Of The 50 States In Health Care Access. According to the US News and World Report state rankings, Florida ranked 41st out of 50 in health care access. [US News and World Report, State Rankings – “Florida,” accessed 2/28/23]
American Association Of Retired Persons (AARP) Ranked Florida Last Among States In Long-Term Care For The Elderly
American Association Of Retired Persons Ranked Florida Last, 50th Out Of 50 States, In Terms Of Long-Term Care For Elderly People, Noting Lack Of Medicaid Expansion. According to the Guardian, “A haven for retirees, Florida has the worst long-term care for elderly people among all 50 states, according to the American Association of Retired Persons. It is among 10 states that have refused to expand Medicaid, a public health insurance programme for people with low income, under the Affordable Care Act.” [Guardian, 4/10/23]
AARP Long-Term Services And Support State Scorecard Compiled Measures Of State Performance To Create High-Quality Systems Of Care For Older Adults. According to the AARP Long-Term Scorecard, “The Long-Term Services and Supports (LTSS) State Scorecard—a compilation of state data and analysis—showcases measures of state performance for creating a high-quality system of care in order to drive progress toward improvement in services for older adults and people with physical disabilities, and their family caregivers. The focus is on state-level data because our country does not have a single national system to address LTSS needs.” [AARP – Long-Term Services and Supports State Scorecard, accessed 4/28/23]
A Higher-Than-Average Amount Of Florida Hospitalizations Were Preventable
4,955 Out Of 100,000 Hospitalizations In Florida Were Preventable, Above The National Average. According to the US News and World Report state rankings, 4,955/100k hospitalizations in Florida were preventable, against the national average of 4,378. [US News and World Report, State Rankings – “Florida,” accessed 2/28/23]
Wallethub Study Found Florida Was Worst Among States In Flu Vaccination Rate For Adults In 2021
WalletHub Ranking Found Florida Had The Worst Flu Vaccination Rate Of Any State For Adults In 2021. According to TCPalm, “Just in time for the start of another flu season, Florida’s adult flu vaccination rate has hit rock bottom. The Sunshine State ranked 51st in that category of WalletHub’s annual States that Vaccinate the Most report, which included the District of Columbia and assessed 17 medical metrics. Florida completed its journey to the bottom of the list, down from 50th in 2021 and 49th in 2020. The state in 2022 had half the adult flu vaccination rate of Rhode Island, which topped the list. ‘There is a lot of supply, we just don’t have a very big demand,’ said Dr. Julia Fashner, a family medicine physician at HCA Florida St. Lucie Medical Specialists in Port St. Lucie. ‘It’s still important to get flu shots. It’s our way to prevent the flu.’” [TCPalm, 10/19/22]
Florida Exceeded National Average In Overdose Deaths
2020: CDC Found Florida Ranked 15th In Drug Overdose Death Rate For 2020, The Most Recent Year Available. According to the Center for Disease Control, Florida ranked as the 15th worst state for drug overdoses, with 7,231 linked deaths. [Center for Disease Control, “Drug Overdose Mortality by State,” accessed 3/28/23]
2020: Florida Ranked Second In The Nation In Raw Number Of Overdose Deaths. According to WUSF, “Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention show that overdose deaths last year increased nearly 30% across the country. In Florida, the rate increased more than 37%. […] Florida ranks second in the nation for overdose deaths, behind only California. Last year, 7,579 people died from a drug overdose, an increase of 37% from 2019.” [WUSF, 7/21/21]
WalletHub Study Found Florida Ranked 37 On Their List Of The Best States For Doctors
WalletHub: Florida Was 37th Best State For Doctors Across 19 Key Metrics, Including Physician Wages, Hospitals Per Capita, Public Hospital Quality. According to Wallethub, “In order to help doctors decide where to practice, WalletHub compared the 50 states and the District of Columbia across 19 key metrics. Our data set ranges from the average annual wage of physicians to hospitals per capita to the quality of the public hospital system.” Florida ranked 37th among all states in the study. [Wallethub, 3/20/23]
Florida Had Worse Infant Mortality Rate Than National Average, With Racial DisparitY Between White And Black Infants
Florida Had An Infant Mortality Rate Of 5.8 Deaths Per 1,000 Live Births. According to the Centers for Disease Control, Florida had 1,217 infant deaths, or a rate of 5.8. [Centers for Disease Control, “Infant Mortality Rates by State,” accessed 3/28/23]
2020: National Infant Mortality Rate Was 5.4 Deaths Per 1,000 Live Births. According to the Centers for Disease Control, “In 2020, the infant mortality rate in the United States was 5.4 deaths per 1,000 live births.” [Centers for Disease Control, “Infant Mortality,” accessed 3/28/23]
Northeast Florida Healthy Start Found Racial Disparities In Infant Mortality Rates In Florida
Northeast Florida Healthy Start Coalition Found A 3.4x Disparity In Infant Mortality For White Births Vs. Black Births. According to Northeast Florida Healthy Start Coalition, “Despite improvement in the overall infant mortality rate, racial disparities continue to persist: in 2020, the infant death rate for white babies was 4.8 deaths per 1000 live births, compared to 12.8 deaths for black babies. 2021 provisional data shows a growth in the disparity: black babies died at a rate 3.4 times higher than the white rate. Racial equity in birth outcomes is a key focus of the Coalition.”
[Northeast Florida Healthy Start Coalition, Press Release, 1/17/23]
Under DeSantis, Florida Students And Teachers Saw Increased Problems At Schools
2022 Report Showed Drop In School Rating, Test Scores Compared To 2019
Florida Schools Earned Fewer A’s And B’s Than 2019 Ratings. According to the Orlando Sentinel, “Florida’s first full school report card since the COVID-19 pandemic showed fewer schools earned A’s and B’s than in 2019, according to results released Thursday by the Florida Department of Education. In Central Florida, Seminole County Public Schools remained the top performer, earning a district grade of A. Orange County Public Schools earned a B as did the Lake and Osceola county school systems. The owner of three Orlando bars has gone to the Florida Supreme Court in a dispute about compensation for COVID-19 closures. The state canceled student testing — the backbone of the grades — in 2020 when the pandemic shuttered schools, so no grades were issued that year, and it made grades optional last year because many students were still studying remotely. This year represented the return to Florida’s decades-old system of grading public schools, and school districts, based mostly on the performance of their students on state standardized tests. Schools that earned an A or improved a grade are eligible for extra money, which is often used for staff bonuses.” [Orlando Sentinel, 7/7/22]
- A Smaller Percentage Of Schools Received A’s And B-Ratings. According to the Orlando Sentinel, “But compared to 2019, a somewhat smaller percentage of schools earned A’s or B’s this year, about 59% down from 62% three years ago, state data showed. This year, 41% of the schools earned C’s and D’s up from 37% in 2019. There were 30 F-rated schools this year out of 3,412 public schools eligible for a grade. In 2019, there were 14 out of 3,328.” [Orlando Sentinel, 7/7/22]
Florida Student Test Scores Fell
Students Test Scores In Math, Reading, Science, And Social Studies Fell From 2019. According to the Orlando Sentinel, “Students scores on the standardized math, reading, science and social studies tests that factor into the grades declined from 2019, before the pandemic, so somewhat lower grades were to be expected.” [Orlando Sentinel, 7/7/22]
Florida Ranked Towards Bottom Of States On Spending Per Pupil
2022: Florida Ranked 44th Among States In Spending Per Pupil. According to the National Education Association’s 2022 rankings, Florida ranked 44th in spending per pupil for 2022 at $10,703. [National Education Association, “NEA 2022 Rankings,” April 2022]
Florida Ranked Towards Bottom Of States On Average Teacher Salaries
2022: Florida Ranked 48th Among States In Average Public School Teacher Salary At $51,009. According to the National Education Association’s 2022 rankings, Florida ranked 48th in average teacher salary for 2022, only beating Mississippi and South Dakota. [National Education Association, “NEA 2022 Rankings,” April 2022]
Florida’s High School Dropout Rate Was Above National Average
2019: Florida’s High School Dropout Rate Was 6.0%, Above The National Average. According to the Center for Education Statistics, 6.0% of Florida 16-to-24 year olds were high school drop outs, above the national average of 5.1%. [National Center for Education Statistics, “Percentage Of High School Dropouts Among Persons 16 To 24 – 2019,” accessed 2/28/23]
FLORIDA SCHOOLS LED NEARLY EVERY OTHER STATE IN BANNING BOOKS
PEN America Report Showed Florida, Which Banned 566 Books Was Second In The Nation In Terms Of Highest Number Of Book Bans Per State. According to Florida Politics, “Only Texas has banned books more frequently than Florida’s public schools, according to a national free speech organization that attributed two new pieces of the state’s legislation with an uptick in verboten books. PEN America counted 566 Florida book bans spread over 21 of the state’s 67 school districts from July 2021 to June 2022. That compares to the 801 bans in effect in 22 Texas school districts. Pennsylvania clocked in at third place with 457 bans in 11 school districts.” [Florida Politics, 9/19/22]
PEN America Report Noted Book Bans Were Coming From Parent-Organized Groups Such As Moms For Liberty And Florida Citizens Alliance. According to Florida Politics, “The report, issued Monday in recognition of Banned Books Week, raises the alarm from critics that this new momentum for banning books could impair the free exchange of ideas that makes American democracy work. In the vast majority of cases, the new wave is much more than a parent objecting to a book found in their child’s backpack, officials from PEN America said. It’s coming from organized and coordinated groups such as the national Moms for Liberty and Florida Citizens Alliance. ‘Today’s wave of bans represents a coordinated campaign to banish books being waged by sophisticated, ideological and well-resourced advocacy organizations,’ said Suzanne Nossel, chief executive officer of PEN America.” [Florida Politics, 9/19/22]
DeSantis Oversaw Increases In The Cost Of Housing In Florida, With The State Being Called The Least Affordable State In The Nation
DeSantis Oversaw Increase In Cost Of Renting In Major Florida Cities
May 2022: Miami Saw Highest Year-Over-Year Rent Increase In The Country, Followed By Orlando And Tampa, And Jacksonville Was In The Top 10. According to CNN, “The Miami metropolitan area, where the median rent for a one-bedroom unit is now about $2,600 a month, saw the highest year-over-year overall rent increases in the country, according to a recent report by the real estate website Realtor.com surveying the 50 largest metro areas in the US. The Orlando and Tampa markets ranked second and third on the list, and Jacksonville also cracked the top 10. [CNN, 5/31/22]
2022: Florida Was Least Affordable Place To Live In The US
CBS News HEADLINE: “Florida Is The Least Affordable Place To Live In The U.S.” [CBS News, 5/2/22]
Numerous Studies Showed Florida Was The Least Affordable Places To Live In The US. According to WFLA, “Orange you glad you moved to Florida? The state’s now home to the least affordable places to live in the U.S., according to multiple studies covering rental costs, home prices and income. Rent.com reported Tampa’s average rent for a one-bedroom apartment was $1,682, up 32.4% since the year before. In St. Petersburg, it’s $1,890 or 19.6% higher than 2021. Orlando? $2,061, up 38.2%. In Jacksonville, rent costs were up 11.2% to $1,401 per month. Miami rent for a one-bedroom was reported at $2,744 per month, up 21.6%.” [WFLA, 4/28/22]
Realtor.com Designated Miami As America’s Least Affordable Place To Live, Noted Average Rent Took Up 60% Of Household Income. According to CBS News, “In February, Realtor.com designated Miami as America's least affordable place to live. Average monthly rents in the metro area, at $2,930, are on par with San Francisco and Los Angeles — and double the level considered affordable for people in the region given local incomes. Miami's typical rent takes up a whopping 60% of a household's typical income. That figure is 45% in Tampa and 37% in Orlando. (Housing policy experts consider rents affordable at no more than 30% of pre-tax income.) Miami, Orlando and Tampa have also had the fastest-growing rents in the country over the past year.” [CBS News, 5/2/22]
Real Estate Investment Firm Found Florida Home Values Have Risen 80% Over The Past Five Years
Norada Real Estate Investments Found Florida Home Values Rose By 80% Over The Past Five Years. According to the Guardian, “Meanwhile the cost of living is spiralling. Norada Real Estate Investments found that Florida home values have risen by 80% over the past five years.” [Guardian, 4/10/23]
Norada Found Miami And Tampa Were At Forefront Of Increase In Florida Home Values, Called Them Among The Most Dramatic In The Country. According to Norada Real Estate Investment, “Florida home values have risen by about 80% over the past 5 years and a positive trend is forecasted for the next 5 years. […] It's no surprise that Zillow ranked Tampa, Florida, as the top real estate market in the United States in 2022. Overall, Florida housing prices have witnessed some of the most dramatic increases in the country, with Miami and Tampa at the forefront of the upswing.” [Norada Real Estate Investments, 4/5/23]
WalletHub Studies: Florida Ranked As Below Average State To Have A Baby Or Raise A Family
WalletHub Study: Florida Ranked The 42nd Best State To Have A Baby. According to WalletHub, “To determine the most ideal places in the U.S. to have a baby, WalletHub compared the 50 states and the District of Columbia across 32 key measures of cost and health care accessibility, as well as baby- and family-friendliness. Our data set ranges from hospital conventional-delivery charges to annual average infant-care costs to pediatricians per capita.” Florida ranked 42nd on the rankings. [WalletHub, 5/9/22]
WalletHub Study: Florida Ranked The 32nd Best State To Raise A Family. According to WalletHub, “To help with the evaluation process, WalletHub compared the 50 states across 51 key indicators of family-friendliness. Our data set ranges from the median annual family income to housing affordability to the unemployment rate.” Florida ranked 32nd on the rankings. [WalletHub, 5/9/22]
Under DeSantis, Florida Lagged On Key Economic Indicators
Florida’s Median Household Income Was Below National Average, Ranked 36th Among States
Florida Ranked 36th In The Nation In Median Household Income. According to the Capitolist, “Florida ranks 36th in the nation (15th worst) in household income, more than $9,000 per year below the national average […] The latest census data shows that the typical household in Florida earns $63,062 per year, the 15th lowest median household income among states, and $6,655 less than the national median.” [Capitolist, 10/28/22]
Florida’s Median Household Income, At $63,062, Was Over $9,000 Below The National Average. According to the Capitolist, “The latest census data shows that the typical household in Florida earns $63,062 per year, the 15th lowest median household income among states, and $6,655 less than the national median.” [Capitolist, 10/28/22]
Florida Ranked 36 Out Of 50 In Median Household Income. According to The Guardian, Florida’s median household income of $63,000 ranked it 36 out of 50 states. The Guardian cited the US Census Bureau, 2021 ACS, for the statistic.
[The Guardian, 4/10/23]
Median Salary In Florida Was Below The National Average
Median Salary In Florida Was $37,918. According to The Balance, Florida’s median salary was $37,918 For Q2 2022.
[The Balance, 9/19/22]
Median Salary In The US Was $54,132 Per Year. According to The Balance, “The median salary in the U.S. in the second quarter of 2022 was $1,041 per week or $54,132 per year.” [The Balance, 9/19/22]
Florida Ranked 34 Out Of 50 States For The Rate OF Families Living Below The Poverty Level, At 9.4%
Florida Ranked 34 Out Of 50 States For Families Living Below The Poverty Level. According to The Guardian, Florida ranked 34th out of 50 states for the rate of families living below the poverty level. The Guardian cited the US Census Bureau, 2021 ACS, for the statistic.
[The Guardian, 4/10/23]
Florida Ranked High On Income Inequality, While Having One OF The Least Equitable Tax Rates Between Rich And Poor Citizens
Florida Ranked High On The Gini Coefficient, A Measure Of Income Inequality
Florida Ranked 7th Highest Among States On Income Inequality Index. According to Statista, Florida scored a 0.49 on the Gini coefficient, ranking 7th among states. [Statista, “Gini coefficient as a measure for household income distribution inequality in the United States 2021, by state,” accessed 3/1/23]
2020 Study: Florida Ranked 3rd Among 50 States For Inequitable Tax Rates Between The Wealthiest And Poorest Citizens
Visual Capitalist Study, 2020: Florida Ranked 3rd Among All States For Inequity In Their Tax System, With A Higher Ratio Of The Poorest Citizens Paying Taxes Vs. The Wealthiest Citizens. According to Visual Capitalist, “What percentage of your income goes into Uncle Sam’s pocket? Your answer will vary depending on how much you earn. Data shows that low and middle-income families pay a much greater share of their income towards state and local taxes than wealthy families. Today’s visualization uses data from the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy (ITEP) to map the effective tax rates—or taxes paid as a share of family income—across income groups at the state and local level.”
[Visual Capitalist, 1/23/20]
Florida Ranked Low For Housing Major Company Headquarters
Florida Ranked 32nd Among States For Housing Headquarters For Top Companies. According to the US News and World Report state rankings, Florida ranked 32nd among states for housing headquarters for top companies, as grounded in Fortune magazine’s Fortune 1000 list. [US News and World Report, State Rankings – “Business Environment,” accessed 2/28/23]
Florida Ranked Low Among States For Young College-Educated People, More College Grads Choose To Leave Florida Than Stay
Florida Ranked 35th Out Of The 50 States For College Education For Individuals Between The Age Of 25 And 34. According to The Guardian, for individuals between the age of 25 and 34, Florida ranked 35th out of 50 among states in the rate of bachelor’s degree attainment. The Guardian cited the US Census Bureau, 2021 ACS, for the statistic.
[The Guardian, 4/10/23]
11% More Florida Graduates Leave Florida After Graduation Than Stay
The National Bureau Of Economic Research Found 11% More Florida Graduates Leave After Graduation Than Stay. According to Axios, 11% more Florida graduates leave after graduation than stay.
[Axios, 9/14/22]
WalletHub Found Florida Ranked Low On Public Safety Measures, Below Average State To Be A Police Officer
WalletHub Study: Florida Ranked 36th Among 50 States In The Best Places To Be A Police Officer. According to WalletHub, “In order to determine the best states in which to pursue a law-enforcement career, WalletHub compared the 50 states and the District of Columbia across 30 key indicators of police-friendliness. Our data set ranges from the median income for law-enforcement officers to police deaths per 1,000 officers to state and local police-protection expenses per capita.” Florida ranked 36th across all states. [WalletHub, 5/9/22]
WalletHub Study: Florida Ranked 44th Among 50 States In Public Safety. According to WalletHub, “Certain states keep their residents safer than others. In order to determine the safest states in America, WalletHub compared the 50 states across 53 key safety indicators grouped into five different categories. Our data set ranges from the percentage of residents who are fully vaccinated to assaults per capita and the unemployment rate.” Florida ranked 44th among all states. [WalletHub, 10/25/22]
- WalletHub Study: Florida Ranked 3rd Worst Among States For Bullying. According to WalletHub, “Certain states keep their residents safer than others. In order to determine the safest states in America, WalletHub compared the 50 states across 53 key safety indicators grouped into five different categories. Our data set ranges from the percentage of residents who are fully vaccinated to assaults per capita and the unemployment rate.” Florida ranked 3rd worst among all states in the bullying incidence rate.”
[WalletHub, 10/25/22]
DeSantis Presided Over An Increase In Electricity Prices While Florida Ranked Low In Renewable Energy Consumption
DeSantis Presided Over Increase In Electricity Prices
DeSantis Presided Over A Nearly 20% Increase In Electricity Prices. According to the US Energy Information Administration, Florida’s average retail price of electricity (all sectors) went from 10.44 cents per kilowatt hour in 2019 to 12.52 cents per kilowatt hour in 2022. [US Energy Information Administration, “Electricity Data Browser – Florida,” accessed 3/1/23]
Florida Power Companies Planned Rate Increases In 2023. According to WTSP, “Floridians could be hit with higher electric bills as soon as April as power companies work to make up costs from last year's hurricanes. Three of the state's largest power companies — Tampa Electric (TECO), Florida Power & Light (FPL) and Duke Energy — filed rate increases with the Florida Public Service Commission on Monday.” [WTSP, 1/24/23]
Florida Lagged Behind National Averaged In Renewable Energy Consumption
Motley Fool: Florida Ranked 35th Among States In Percentage Of Energy Consumption That Was Renewable. According to the Motley Fool, Florida had 6% of its energy consumption come from renewables, ranking 35th and below the state average of 17.14%. [Motley Fool, 12/15/22]
2020: Florida Lagged Behind The U.S. Average In Renewable Energy Consumption. According to the US Energy Information Administration, Florida’s energy consumption was 7.9% renewable, compared to a national average of 12.3%, in 2020 (the last year of data availability). [US Energy Information Administration, “State Profiles and Energy Estimates– Florida,” accessed 3/1/23]
Florida’s Water Quality In Estuaries And Lakes Had Declined Under DeSantis’ Tenure
The Amount Of Polluted Estuaries In Florida Had Increased Under DeSantis
The Florida Department Of Environmental Protection Noted 3.1 Million Acres Of Florida’s Estuaries Were Polluted And Not Suitable For Drinking, An Increase From 2018’s Figure Of 2.5 Million Acres. According to the Tampa Bay Times, “In 2018, before DeSantis took office, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection reported that 2.5 million acres of the state’s estuaries were polluted and not suitable for drinking or recreation. That number declined to 2.1 million in 2020 before growing to 3.1 million in 2022. That increase was fueled, partly, by a surge in nutrient pollution, which can worsen algae blooms that are toxic for wildlife and cause health complications for people swimming or drinking from such waters.” [Tampa Bay Times, 1/15/23]
Florida Ranked Second In The Nation For Square Miles Of Polluted Estuaries, And Ninth In Percentage Of Estuaries Assessed As Polluted. According to the Tampa Bay Times, “The Environmental Integrity Project evaluated the latest water quality analyses submitted by each state. Its report was released March 17, 2022, a month before Florida released the latest data on the state’s water. According to the report: […] Florida also has the second-most square miles of polluted estuaries in the U.S. It ranked ninth when looking at the percentage of estuaries assessed.” [Tampa Bay Times, 1/15/23]
DeSantis Presided Over Increase In Pollution In Lakes
2.1 Million Acres Of Lakes Across Florida Were Identified As Unsuitable For Swimming And Aquatic Life, A 1.1 Million Acre Increase From 2018 Before DeSantis Took Office. According to the Tampa Bay Times, “Other bodies of water in Florida also experienced an initial decrease in pollution when DeSantis entered office and then an uptick toward the end of his first term. Lakes: In 2018, more than 1 million acres of lakes across Florida were identified as unsuitable for swimming and aquatic life. The count dropped to about 893,000 acres in 2020, before rising to 2.1 million in 2022.” [Tampa Bay Times, 1/15/23]
Florida Ranked First In The Nation For Lakes Deemed Too Polluted For Swimming And Drinking Water In Raw Figures, Ranked Fourth In Percentage Of Lakes Assessed As Too Polluted. According to the Tampa Bay Times, “The Environmental Integrity Project evaluated the latest water quality analyses submitted by each state. Its report was released March 17, 2022, a month before Florida released the latest data on the state’s water. According to the report: Florida ranked first in the nation for total acres of lakes deemed too polluted for swimming and aquatic life. When looking at the percentage of lakes assessed, Florida ranked fourth.” [Tampa Bay Times, 1/15/23]