Yeah... whatever. The DeSantis administration under-counted all the Covid deaths deliberately to drive his political narrative. Auditors Find 3,000 COVID Deaths Missing From Florida's Records https://www.newsweek.com/florida-covid-19-deaths-audit-1713429 6/7/22 A new report has laid bare a string of failings during the first year of the pandemic that meant thousands of COVID deaths went uncounted in Florida. The investigation by Florida Auditor General Sherrill Norman reviewed the records of three official bodies; the Agency for Health Care Administration, the Department of Health, and the Division of Emergency Management. The state's pandemic performance was assessed from March 1 to October 9, 2020, and the findings were published this week. According to the report, auditors found that Florida's data was so flawed that officials were unable to monitor whether their policies were effective in controlling the virus, with COVID tests not being returned, crucial data such as patients' ethnicity missing from records, and poor contact tracing that left potentially infected people free to unknowingly spread the virus. Additionally, auditors discovered deaths from the disease had been undercounted. More than 3,000 COVID-19 fatalities recorded by doctors did not show up in the state's record of deaths. "An important measure of disease severity is the number of reported deaths associated with the disease," the report said. " Accurate reporting of COVID-19 associated deaths is vital to assessing the severity and impact of COVID-19 and determining the efficacy of infectious disease control measures." Auditors said after cross-referencing state records through its Merlin recording system with figures from the Bureau of Vital Statistics, it found "3,082 death records in the Vital Statistics data that could not be systematically matched to death records in the Merlin data based on the individual's full name and date of birth." While auditors noted that they were able to establish some errors were caused by typos and data entry errors, they said the inaccurate death count made it difficult for the state to see if its plan to fight the spread of COVID was working. "Absent complete and accurate information related to the extent and severity of the COVID-19 pandemic, government officials and the general public may not have had all the information necessary to assess the efficacy of COVID-19 control measures and take appropriate actions," the report said. State auditors also reviewed a sample of tests taken at five state-run testing facilities over the course of a week and found that for three of the testing sites, data indicated that 2,593 tests were administered, but just 996 test results were reported to the Department of Health. The stats mean that more than 60 percent of tests were never returned. It's unclear whether the individuals were contacted with their results, and whether the tests were positive or negative. The audit also analyzed the COVID test profiles of 5,539,899 people, and discovered that key demographic data was often missing; for example, auditors found that 58.9 percent of the records did not include the individuals' ethnicity. That information was crucial at the time as scientists were monitoring whether the disease affected people of various ethnicities differently. Other records were found to be missing patients' ages, gender, or addresses. It took auditors more than a year, from September 2020 through November 2021, to wade through the various data in order to compile the report. The opening summary of its findings said "the number of entities reporting data, inaccurate or incomplete data reported to the state by those entities and the lack of effective access controls in the systems used to gather data, impacted the state's ability to accurately report COVID-19 data at the beginning of the pandemic." One recommendation made by the auditors was that the state needed to "take steps to ensure the accuracy and completeness of information regarding reportable diseases and outbreaks such as COVID-19." The three agencies were all given the opportunity to respond to the audit, and their replies were included. "We appreciate the efforts of you and your staff in assisting to improve our operations," Florida Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo said. In breaking down the auditors' findings, Ladapo said the state Department of Health is working to ensure that the state has the most accurate testing data. "It should be noted that most data quality issues the department experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic originated from laboratories that submitted inaccurate or incomplete data," he said. "Challenges included receiving data from many new laboratories and other facilities with limited experience in reporting test results to the department prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. The department continues to work with laboratories to ensure that COVID-19 test result data is reportedly timely and accurately." Department of Health spokesperson Jeremy Redfern told the Miami Herald that the Auditor General's report was itself flawed, saying that "some of the conclusions come from (the auditors') misunderstanding of the purpose of different datasets." He added that "the report does not address the huge advancements we've made in modernizing our reporting systems." In her reply, Florida Agency for Health Care Administration Secretary Simone Marstiller pointed out the agency used existing resources and systems originally designed for weather disasters to begin collecting COVID data quickly, but the systems had never been intended for that purpose and were consequently not "agile" enough when data requirements changed as the pandemic progressed. "The agency worked alongside licensed health care providers in reporting accurate data," Marstiller said. "However, data is only as accurate as the person who is submitting it into the system." In his response to the report, Kevin Guthrie, the director of the Division of Emergency Management, said: "Due to the scale and scope of the COVID-19 activation and the multitude of state and private entities supporting state-led testing, the Florida Division of Emergency Management was reliant on the Florida Department of Health for all data reconciliation of patient confidential records. As the Florida Department of Health has the statutory requirements for monitoring infection disease reporting, the Division's focus was on the ability to provide testing to as many Floridians as possible and to provide logistical support for the overall COVID-19 response efforts." Newsweek has reached out to Florida Governor Ron DeSantis for comment on the audit.
The Covid response of Ron DeSantis in Florida was an illusion and set of continual lies from his administration. Most other states did a much better job of keeping track of Covid information. This audit released this week by Florida Auditor General Sherrill Norman shows in detail what a complete disaster DeSantis' Covid response was in the first year of the pandemic. It also makes clear the deaths were much higher than the state reported.
Rays learn the hard way what it means to cross Gov. DeSantis https://floridapolitics.com/archive...hard-way-what-it-means-to-cross-gov-desantis/ The Tampa Bay Rays figured their donations to Florida Republicans would buy them some political favor. They were incorrect. Corporations and well-heeled individuals give money to political candidates and expect to receive favorable treatment in return. Take the Tampa Bay Rays, for instance. Creative Loafing shared the work of investigative reporter Jason Garcia, who used public records to show that since 2014, the Rays donated $309,630 to various Florida political campaigns. Of that, $182,725 went to conservative politicians or PACs, including more than $67,000 exclusively to Republicans in this election cycle. They were wrong if they hoped the donations and good relations with top state politicians like Wilton Simpson and Chris Sprowls would give them the needed edge for a pet project. They wasted their time and money. Gov. Ron DeSantis red-lined the $35 million budget item approved by the House and Senate to build a youth sports complex in Pasco County. The Rays clearly hoped to move their spring training headquarters there from Port Charlotte. DeSantis gave two reasons for the veto. The first: the Governor said he doesn’t “support giving taxpayer dollars to professional sports stadiums, period.” He’s not wrong there. But the other reason was more in line with his “think like I do, or else” agenda. After the massacre in Uvalde, Texas, the Rays donated $50,000 to Everytown for Gun Safety. They tweeted: “We all deserve to be safe — in schools, grocery stores, places of worship, our neighborhoods, houses, and America,” the Rays posted. “The most recent shootings in Buffalo and Uvalde have shaken us to the core. This cannot become normal. We cannot become numb. We cannot look the other way.” They added, “We all know, if nothing changes, nothing changes.” The Governor, who favors no-license open so-called “constitutional carry” in Florida, was not amused. Since he said he planned to veto the ballpark plan anyway, why not use it as an example for those who disagree with him. DeSantis said it was “inappropriate to subsidize political activism of a private corporation. So I think, either way, it’s not appropriate.” Just ask the Walt Disney Co. about its return on investment after it got crossways with the Governor. We remember that, right? POLITICO reported in April that Disney donated $190,000 to help elect Republican lawmakers in Florida. The company received a sharp stick in the eye after it opposed DeSantis’ so-called and contentious “Don’t Say Gay” law. GOP lawmakers quickly fell in line with the Governor and turned Disney into a punchline for daring to advocate repeal of the law. DeSantis’ supporters can point to these things as proof that corporations can’t buy him. And it’s not like he or the Republican Party will miss the money from the Rays and Disney. They’ve got plenty of dough. On the other side, though, companies in the future may wonder if maybe they should back the other side. Cash-poor Democrats might welcome the help, but there’s a danger there. They could look like sellouts for taking corporate money after DeSantis took what his supporters would call a principled stand. He’s feeling an adrenaline rush too. Last week, DeSantis threatened the Special Olympics with a $27.5 million fine if it didn’t drop its COVID-19 vaccination requirement for the USA Games competition in Orlando. Olympic organizers gave in because they really had no choice. The Governor could again beat his chest, this time for keeping those Special Olympics rebels in line. Who’s next? No telling. The message to corporations should be loud and clear though. Donate all the money you want, but unless you’re all in and do exactly what DeSantis says, you’re out.
So no other states were audited, eh? Surprise! Only the political narrative angle. In order to know if this was a Florida issue or a widespread problem, you'd have to audit all states and see if the error results were in the same threshold. But then again, you don't think critically, so you'd never consider that.
This is a complete and total lie, and what I expect from you. I watched (and posted!) the entire speech above that references this. He did not say he cancelled the $35 million because they spoke out against gun violence! You're flat out lying (again). When asked the question, he says: "No, I don't support giving taxpayer dollars to professional sports teams - period." (after thunderous applause dies down) "So at the end of the day, that was just the decision that was going to be made. Now, companies are free to engage or to not engage with whatever discourse they want, but clearly its inappropriate to be doing tax dollars for professional sports stadiums, its also inappropriate to subsidize political activism of private corporations. So I think, you know, either way its not appropriate, but we were not in a situation where use of tax dollars for a professional stadium would have been a prudent use. And again, you know, I set that limit for what we were going to spend, and we made sure we would do it. And what we try to do with these projects is doing things that would benefit the community as a whole more so than one specific interest or one specific company." Here you go, NPC. Right from DeSantis's mouth.
Must be all that DeSantis is a Nazi and Dictator truthiness making it easier to get Republicans to register rather than Democrats. I wonder at what point an NPC goes "I might not be looking at this the right way..." Probably never. That's what makes them an NPC. Have to be told what to think. Florida Democrat Party in ‘Shambles’ as Voter Registration Dips and Party Left ‘Rudderless’ By Lydia Nusbaum June 6, 2022 Updated 4:34 P.M. ET TALLAHASSEE (FLV) – Democrats in Florida are losing their grip on the sunshine state as Democrat voter registration numbers dip and donors pull their resources, leaving the party in “disarray” and with poor leadership, according to Florida Republicans. “The Democrat Party is in shambles and that’s why I think a lot of their supporters are fleeing for the hills,” Rep. Jason Fischer said. Gov. Ron DeSantis rose to popularity within the Republican Party when he went against the grain to keep the state open during the coronavirus pandemic. “And he started opening things back up and talking about freedom and liberty,” Fischer said. “I think DeSantis really was the catalyst for bringing more voters into the Republican Party.” Florida has seen extraordinary economic growth since reopening the state. Florida’s job growth rate exceeded the United State’s rate which DeSantis said is due to his decision to keep the state’s economy open. Florida will also have more than $20 billion in reserves, making it the largest budget surplus in the state’s history. DeSantis’ policies are in stark contrast to Democratic-run states that required masks and vaccine passports, which sent residents fleeing to Florida. “The symptoms currently plaguing the Democrat Party in Florida point back to the virus that is the failed leadership in Washington DC and the disastrous extreme anti-American values leading the state and local Democrats further away from their constituents,” said Lee County GOP Chairman Jonathan Martin. Republican State Rep. Spencer Roach said Democrats have a “failing strategy” that turns voters away from the Democratic Party. “Their entire platform is to be against whatever Ron DeSantis does, (GWB's strategy - TT) but they’re never telling the voters what they’re for, what they have to offer, and what they can do better,” Roach said. “In any election year a campaign has just been being the opposite of what the majority party is doing. It’s not enough to convince voters that you have a better plan.” Republicans said the Democratic Party also lacks leadership. Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried became the first Democrat in 12 years to win a Cabinet seat in 2018 in Florida. Fried has also launched a campaign to run for Governor in Florida. “I know how to win as a democrat in Florida and I’m ready to win again — let’s remove Ron DeSantis,” Fried said on Twitter. However, Fried’s leadership as the only statewide Democrat did not stop the wave of voters registering as Republican when Gov. Ron DeSantis took office in 2018. Fried continuously criticizes DeSantis for his anti-lockdown approach and other parental rights legislation. Florida’s Voice asked the Fried campaign multiple times about the Democratic Party losing steam while she has been in office, but did not receive a comment. Fried now campaigns against former Governor and Congressman Charlie Crist for the Democratic nomination in the gubernatorial race. Crist was previously part of the Republican Party, then switched to Independent, and now has declared himself a Democrat. “You can tell Florida Democrats are in trouble when Charlie Crist and Nikki Fried are the best candidates they can offer. From what we are told, Democrat donors would agree,” Republican Party of Florida Executive Director Helen Aguirre Ferre said. Roach said the Democratic Party in Florida is also left with a leadership void in the Florida Legislature. Democratic Ranking Member Rep. Ben Diamond, D-St. Petersburg, will not seek reelection in the Florida House in order to run for congress. Minority Leader Evan Denne, D-Dania Beach, is termed out. State Rep. Ramon Alexander, D-Tallahassee, was supposed to serve as the next top Democrat for the Florida House. Alexander announced he would not seek reelection in the wake of sexual harassment allegations. Florida Democrat Rep. Not Seeking Re-Election After Sexual Harassment Allegations Minority Leader Sen. Lauren Book, D-Broward County, has previously fundraised for other Democrats but now faces a heated contested race in her own district. “They are in complete disarray. They do not have a leader. They are rudderless,” Roach said. “And all of that is just adding to their confusion and disunity and lack of planning, lack of purpose and just lack of cohesion.” Democratic Ranking Member Rep. Michael Grieco, D-Miami Beach, announced he would not seek reelection citing a lack of resources from the “Tallahassee Establishment” as a main reason. “Our campaign’s predicted lack of necessary resources is not from the absence of local community support, but from the lack of a backbone by the Tallahassee establishment that talks a good game but fails to walk the walk when dedicated public servants choose to stick their necks out for their community,” Grieco said on Twitter. For Grieco, he said the fundraising gap in the Senate District 36 race against Republican Sen. Lleana Garcia was around $3 million. But Grieco said the issue with lack of resources is much bigger than his campaign as “historical, traditional and philosophical” donors pull out of supporting elections like his. Democratic strategists told the Miami Herald that liberal grassroots groups are pulling back their efforts in Florida. Activists are reducing staff and scaling back voter-outreach efforts as out-of-state donors have decided to put their money elsewhere. Democrat Strategists Say Florida is “Slipping Away,” Donors Putting Money Elsewhere: Report “Floridians embrace Governor DeSantis because he has their back and is leading with common sense policies that work. Governor DeSantis has single handedly redefined Republican leadership and has raised the bar for others to follow,” Helen Aguirre Ferre said. “On-the-other-hand, Florida Democrats running for governor lack any accomplishments to speak of and can’t protect Floridians from the policy horrors created by Biden.” Most recent data shows Republicans had 135,000 more registrations compared to Democrats in April. In 2018, Democrats had 257,000 more registered voters than Republicans. Gov. Ron DeSantis was sworn into office in 2019. “I think Governor DeSantis is really to thank for accelerating the migration of voters towards the Republican Party,” Rep. Jason Fischer said. “He was able to stand up when everybody else was afraid of Joe Biden, when other governors were continuing to keep their states locked down.” Florida’s Voice reached out multiple times to the Florida Democratic Party for a comment.
Sorry...I was distracted with a photo someone posted. Where was I? Oh yeah...Remember when DeSantis got so much silly BS from NPCs?