The Intercept reports:
Under the leadership of Florida’s Republican Gov. Ron Desantis, a Missouri-based railroad and transport company that contributed generously in support of his campaign saw an astonishing 280-fold increase in its Florida state government contract awards.
A construction aggregates firm that contributed $82,500 was awarded $30 million in new contracts. And a highway and civil site contracting firm that gave $22,500 saw its contracts grow 15-fold.
They are just a few of the companies — mostly small and mid-sized construction firms — identified by The Intercept that saw a bonanza of lucrative contracts under the Republican governor, who has styled himself as a successor to Donald Trump and a foe to corporate America’s household names.
Read the full article.
NEW: As DeSantis’s fundraising haul fuels talk about a presidential run, he’s pulled in $ from 18 firms that’ve gotten >$1.6 billion in contracts in his 1st term. “DeSantis’s state PAC is a de facto war chest for a presidential campaign,” said @SGhoshCLC https://t.co/Ujo8mbVZOS
— Akela Lacy (@akela_lacy) September 27, 2022
Herzog Contracting, a rail company based in Missouri that funded a group called Let’s Go Brandon PAC and backed a super PAC supporting GOP Senate nominee Eric Schmitt, gave $350k to DeSantis and has received $32.7 million in FDOT contracts, compared to $115k under Scott
— Akela Lacy (@akela_lacy) September 27, 2022
Palm Beach Aggregates, a construction aggregate firm, gave $82.5k to DeSantis & has received $30 million in new contracts after receiving 0 under Scott. Construction firm Johnson Bros Corporation gave $10k & has been awarded $700 million in contracts, 3.5x what it got under Scott
— Akela Lacy (@akela_lacy) September 27, 2022
Overall, the same companies gave $3.6k to Scott and were awarded just over half a billion in contracts during his two terms. The same forms have given more than $800k to DeSantis and been awarded >$1.68 billion in his first term pic.twitter.com/MseAnWEscO
— Akela Lacy (@akela_lacy) September 27, 2022