Sunshine Sentinel

A judge in Leon County upheld Gov. Ron DeSantis' (R-FL) decision to stonewall unemployment bonuses to Florida residents in June.

Judge Layne Smith was burdened with the decision of whether DeSantis had acted legally by opting out of federal unemployment benefits for the state of Florida before they were scheduled to end. DeSantis' administration ended the bonus for Floridians as of June 26 while the payments were slated to continue through Sept. 6 on a federal level. While attorneys and plaintiffs alleged the move was against state law, an attorney for the DeSantis administration, Daniel Nordby, countered those suing by explaining that Florida was not required by law to comply with the CARES Act, CBS Local Miami reported.

"Quite simply, Florida law doesn’t require participation in the CARES Act programs that were enacted by Congress. Neither federal law or Florida law requires participation," Nordby said, according to CBS Local Miami.

The circuit judge handed down the decision that DeSantis had acted within the law when opting out of those payments. She is quoted in the 18-page opinion stating that, "This decision belongs solely to the state’s chief executive. Ultimately, Governor DeSantis’ strategy to promote reemployment by ending Florida’s participation in the (Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation) program is a political issue that the voters can approve or reject at the ballot box,” Tampa Bay Times reported. 

This opinion, issued at the end of August, resolved the complaint that was filed in July.