DeSantis blames Biden for migrants: 'I heard no outrage' before flights to Massachusetts

BRADENTON, Fla. (CBS12) — Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis announced new tax cut proposals and discussed flying migrants to Massachusetts during a midday news conference in Bradenton, Tuesday.

The governor — who’s running for reelection in November and is considered a possible presidential candidate in 2024 — said, "Those migrants were being treated horribly by Biden."

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As for sending nearly 50 people to Martha's Vineyard, "It was volunteer, offered transport to sanctuary jurisdictions."

DeSantis said the plight of migrants and the southern border hadn't gotten attention before.

"The only thing I hear them getting upset about is you have 50 that end up in Martha’s Vineyard," he said. "Then they get very upset."

He said it's fair the people landed on Martha's Vineyard.

"If you believe in open borders, then it’s the sanctuary jurisdictions that should have to bear the brunt," he explained.

DeSantis also compared the Vineyard to other places and blamed the people who live there.

"They were provided an ability to be in the most posh sanctuary jurisdiction maybe in the world," the governor said. "Martha’s Vineyard people deported them the next day. They could’ve absorbed this. They chose not to. ... What about all these other communities that have been overrun with hundreds or thousands? It shows you now these policies on the front burner. People need to be talking about. Biden can't defend his policies of open borders. It's doing huge damage to our country. It's costing a lot of money. It's costing lives."

Later, he explained why the migrants he flew away had not departed from Florida, but from Texas.

"Everyone down there will say between a third and 40 percent of the people coming across are seeking to end up in Florida."

DeSantis talked about catching a few people at a time before saying, "If I could do it all in Florida, I would."

He credited himself for making an "impact" on the national discussion and used the word "stunt" — which critics used against him — against President Biden.

"The biggest stunt was Biden coming in as president and reversing Trump’s policies just so he could virtue-signal that he was against Trump," the governor said. "It didn’t matter that the policy had worked”

The subject DeSantis brought up exactly seven weeks before election day was tax cuts.

He said he wants baby and toddler necessities such as diapers to be sales tax-free permanently. Right now, they’re tax-free for a year, through the end of June, 2023.

DeSantis added that cribs and strollers should also be tax-free permanently.

Then, he called for a one-year tax-free holiday on children’s books, toys for kids up to age 12, and all household items costing up to $25.

That’ll be up to the state legislature.

Later, DeSantis discussed his accomplishments at a campaign event in West Palm Beach.