MEDIAite: “Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL) got his name trending on Thursday after sending two charter planes of Venezuelan migrants to Martha’s Vineyard, drawing outrage from his critics and applause from his supporters — but the use of taxpayer funds for the trip might have violated state law.
The Florida governor borrowed the controversial tactic from his Texan counterpart and potential 2024 presidential rival, Gov. Greg Abbott (R-TX), who has been busing migrants from Texas to Democrat-controlled cities like Washington, D.C. and New York City, and drawing similar criticism and cheers from the expected sides of the political aisle.
…The budget passed by the Florida Legislature earlier this year included a section that was among DeSantis’ recommendations, allocating $12 million to the state Department of Transportation “for implementing a program to facilitate the transport of unauthorized aliens from this state.”…Longtime Florida political reporter Marc Caputo, currently at NBC News Digital after stints at the Miami Herald and Politico, posted several tweets Thursday afternoon highlighting the budget proviso that allocated the funds for transporting migrants “from this state,” noting that would mean Florida, not Texas.
NPR’s report on the plane transport had uncovered that the flights originated in San Antonio, Texas and stopped in Florida on the way to Martha’s Vineyard…”