FLIP-FLOP? Ron DeSantis, Who Once Voted to Ban First Class Flights for Congress, Gets Caught Flying in First

DeSantis Leaves the Fox News Greenroom for Los Angeles. When Will He Come to Florida?

Today, Politico Playbook “spotted” Ron DeSantis in first class with Rep. Dana Rohrabacher flying back to D.C. from Los Angeles. DeSantis in 2014 voted to ban Congressional spending on first-class flights. That bill didn’t become law — and now DeSantis is being caught jet-setting around the country.

“DeSantis was happy to ban taxpayer funding for first class in 2014 — has he changed his mind since?” said Florida Democratic Party spokesperson Kevin Donohoe. “Ron DeSantis should tell the people of Florida what he was doing in California and whether he used taxpayer funds to get there.”

DeSantis is rarely spotted outside of a Fox News greenroom (and he barely campaigns in Florida). But apparently he’s spending time in California with Dana Rohrabacher, who Politico once dubbed “Putin’s favorite congressman.” Elliott Broidy, a member of DeSantis’ national finance team who used Michael Cohen to pay hush money to a Playboy model, also lives in Los Angeles. Perhaps DeSantis was visiting him?

In 2014, DeSantis Voted for a Budget That Banned Congressional Spending on First-Class Flights. DeSantis voted for H. Con. Res. 96, “Establishing the budget for the United States Government for fiscal year 2015 and setting forth appropriate budgetary levels for fiscal years 2016 through 2024.” HCR 96 passed the House 219-205. According to the Washington Post, ‘What’s the evidence? Buried deep in the House Republican budget blueprint is Section 608, titled ‘Policy Statement on Responsible Stewardship of Taxpayer Dollars.’ The policy statement included this line: ‘No taxpayer funds may be used to purchase first class airfare or to lease corporate jets for Members of Congress.'” [HCR 96, Vote #177, 4/10/14; Washington Post, 5/15/14]

POLITICO Playbook: SPOTTED Rep. Ron DeSantis (R-Fla.) in first class wearing athletic shorts and Rep. Dana Rohrabacher (R-Calif.) in first class talking on his phone on a red-eye flight from LAX to IAD.