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‘No Way’: DeSantis Rejects Biden Admin’s Decision to Defer Pandemic Policy to WHO

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OPINION: This article may contain commentary which reflects the author's opinion.


Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is making it clear that his state is not about to go along with a Biden administration decision to defer policy decisions regarding future pandemics to the UN-linked World Health Organization, accused by the Trump White House of working to shift blame away from China regarding the coronavirus outbreak.

“We in Florida, there is no way we will ever support this W.H.O. thing. That’s not going to happen. No way,” DeSantis said on Tuesday.

“But you saw, I mean, you saw a lot of these elites advocate very pernicious policies…part of the reason people want to move here is because we rejected those policies, but they advocated very pernicious policies, including locking kids out of school,” he continued.

The governor’s comments come after the WHO has been pressing the U.S. and other countries to ratify a President Biden-backed “global pandemic treaty” which would give the UN agency more funding as well as the power to declare and then manage new pandemics.

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Meanwhile, Jeb Bush, the 43rd governor of Florida who spent $150 million and could not beat Donald Trump to secure the 2016 GOP presidential nomination, has made an admission about his very Trump-like successor.

In a write-up for Time magazine, which named Gov. Ron DeSantis as one of 2022’s most influential people, Bush noted, “During the pandemic, most people stayed home, and those who didn’t probably moved to Florida. Despite relentless criticism, Governor Ron DeSantis kept schools open, ensured Florida’s economy remained open for business, and allowed individuals to determine their own risk tolerance.”

“His approach works. It’s one that has allowed Florida to emerge from the pandemic as a national model of personal freedom, economic growth, environmental protection, and education excellence,” he continued.

“Florida continues to see record population growth, unemployment remains below the national average, the private sector is growing, and Florida remains a national leader in school choice,” Bush noted.

“On top of that, DeSantis has demonstrated his environmental credentials with major investments to restore America’s Everglades, preserve and expand wildlife corridors, and protect Florida’s precious waterways,” he said.

“While the Beltway crowd may not like his style, it’s his record that will become his legacy,” Bush added.

On Monday, DeSantis rolled out another new initiative called the Florida Hometown Heroes Housing Program, which gives public service first responders and teachers financial assistance to purchase their first home.

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“I’m excited about this program. I think it’s going to make a difference for (Lee County) Sheriff (Carmine) Marceno’s deputies and the police officers here in Cape Coral and all of Florida,” DeSantis said.

Melba Lugo, 63, a second-grade teacher at Mid Cape Global Academy, added: “I feel content to be part of this program that gave me this opportunity to accomplish this dream of mine seemed so far away.”

“It helped me with my down payment. I only pay $1,000, and then it also helped me with the closing costs. They gave me $10,000, so out of pocket, I just pay $5,680,” Lugo said.