Lawmakers Say Donation to Hope Florida May be Illegal

(Tallahassee, FL) -- A donation made to a foundation Florida's First Lady started may be illegal. That's what a couple Republican lawmakers said yesterday during a committee hearing. They were discussing a 10-million dollar donation from Medicaid contractor Centene to the Hope Florida Foundation. The Times/Herald describes Hope Florida as First Lady Casey DeSantis' top political initiative. The 10 million dollar donation was part of the Agency for Health Care Administration's settlement with the state for overbilling it for the AHCA's services. Pensacola State Rep. Alex Andrade says the donation is illegal because the money should have been put into a trust fund or general fund that lawmakers control. Miami Republican and House Speaker Daniel Perez says it looks as though it could be illegal. An AHCA official says the donation was separate from the settlement. Andrade tells the Times/Herald if he can't get more information, a subpoena would be valid.