Governor, it’s certainly not tax-free to raise a child in Fla.

Without fail, whenever Gov. for public safety, parks, and schools, Ron DeSantis talks about taxes while corporations were gifted a — whether on the campaign trail windfall of tax breaks and refunds. around the country, press conferences The permanent tax exemption and photo-ops, or even on baby products will only return a official speeches — he brags about fraction of that (about $160 million) Florida being a “low tax” state. to families annually. To put it into

In his most recent State of the Jennifer perspective, it will take Florida State Address, the governor made Parker workers and families over a decade sure to mention that it is now to make up for the corporate tax “tax-free to raise a child in Florida” thanks giveaways policymakers passed instead of to “permanently removing taxes on baby the permanent exemption for baby products. items.” This is not something to brag about.

During the six years (2017-2022) that The governor’s claim that it is now families had to wait for that permanent “tax-free to raise a child in Florida” also baby item tax exemption, what policymakers blatantly defies the experience of millions have done is cut the state’s corporate of families across the state. As a health care income tax rate, refund over $500 million worker and mother of a teenage daughter, to corporations, and raise online sales taxes I can state with authority that child care in on consumers to offset taxes for businesses. Florida is neither accessible nor affordable,

These policies (among others) cost and the situation is getting worse. Floridians and their families the benefits of Yet, policymakers have not addressed billions of dollars that could have been used the issue, which not only impacts families but also costs $911 million in decreased tax revenue. State policymakers have continually refused to expand Medicaid, leaving thousands of parents uninsured and forfeiting $2 billion in potential savings. Recently, policymakers turned down $260 million in federal funds to help parents with low incomes afford groceries during the summer months when school is out.

Sadly, refusing this money results in real pain for real people.

Although baby items are now sales tax exempt, policymakers’ refusal to pass policies that would undoubtedly help families and generate revenue for public services is a tax (a strain or heavy demand) on families. So, no, it is not “tax-free to raise a child in Florida” — far from it.

In fact, a recent study from the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy names Florida’s tax code as the most upside-down in the country. As a percentage of one’s total earnings, lower-income families are taxed at higher rates than the state’s top earners.

It’s clear that when corporations and the wealthy are finally made to pay what they owe, the majority of Floridians can have the potential to thrive. That’s why advocates and leaders of all backgrounds are working together across the state to hold legislative leadership accountable, demanding they “Fund Our Futures” by passing policies that reflect the true values of Floridians such as affordable housing and health care, reproductive freedom, quality education, living wages, and clean air and water.

If we had the right leaders who sincerely serve the people, we really could make Florida even more than “low-tax,” but more importantly, a “high-quality” state to raise our children.

Jennifer Parker is a Kissimmee resident, a unit secretary at a major Central Florida hospital and a member of 1199SEIU, the largest union of health care workers in the state.