Judge rejects DeSantis administration’s bid to toss lawsuit over migrant flights

TALLAHASSEE

A Leon County Circuit Court judge on Friday refused to dismiss a lawsuit against Ron DeSantis brought by a North Miami Beach state senator who has accused Florida’s governor of illegally using taxpayer funds to fly migrants from Texas to Martha’s Vineyard in

Massachusetts last September.

Judge John C. Cooper set a Jan. 30 trial date to hear the constitutional challenge brought by Sen. Jason Pizzo, a Democrat who is suing in his capacity as a private citizen. Cooper rejected attempts by DeSantis’ lawyers to dismiss the case, although he did agree to release Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis as a defendant.

Pizzo argues that the 2022-23 state appropriations bill that financed the controversial flights improperly used the budget to create a substantial new program instead of authorizing it through a separate law. Under longstanding principles of the Florida Constitution, substantial policies and programs must be first authorized in a separate law so that they can be widely discussed and reviewed by lawmakers.

DeSantis signed the

“I see the impact, how it changes boys’ lives,” Ray said. “If there’s evidence or proof of that, look no budget on June 8, including the provision that allocated $12 million in interest the state earned from COVID relief funds to pay for “relocation services” run by the Florida Department of Transportation “to facilitate the transport of unauthorized aliens from this state.”

Records obtained by the Florida Center for Government Accountability, the Miami Herald, further than myself.”

Growing up, Jonathan

ALIE SKOWRONSKI askowronski@miamiherald.com DeAnthony Solomon, 18, senior at Miami Central Senior High School, gives the 5000 Role Models prayer during the scholarship ceremony for the Wilson Scholars of the 5000 Role Models of Excellence Program on June 5, 2022, at the Adrienne Arsht Center in downtown Miami. The program gives young Black men mentorship.