Senate President Bill Galvano praises DeSantis’s response to coronavirus pandemic
The COVID-19 pandemic is unlike anything the Florida Legislature has seen before, but Gov. Ron DeSantis is leading Florida in the right direction, according to Senate President Bill Galvano.
The Bradenton lawmaker gave his post-session State of the State address in a free presentation with the Lakewood Ranch Business Alliance Monday morning. He reassured listeners that the crisis is being handled with the correct amount of precaution and consideration.
“I could have never predicted the emergency state of affairs that we have with COVID-19,” said Galvano. “They were calling Florida the next Italy. There was a lot of information that required us to be vigilant with the next steps, but I think Ron DeSantis is doing a phenomenal job.”
Galvano, who serves on the Re-Open Florida Task Force, suggested that the steps being taken to allow businesses to operate again are another cautious decision, noting that there are no “hard and fast dates” for the next phases of Florida’s recovery plan. Phase 2 won’t begin until the virus is on a downward trend across the state.
“Everything is going to be based on where we see our numbers and availability of medical assets,” he noted.
In Manatee County, a shortage of specimen collection kits and personal protective equipment made it difficult to understand how the coronavirus was spreading throughout the community. Some local nursing homes became hotspots for the virus, prompting state officials to step in with “strike teams.”
An increase in testing and other procedural changes at the state level are helping to slow the spread, Galvano said, noting that the whole situation is a learning process.
“If you look at the numbers in Manatee, they’re significantly better than they were just a few weeks ago,” said Galvano, referring to nursing homes and other long-term care facilities. “A lot of this is learning as you go. At this point in Florida, the main issue is nursing homes and the surgeon general is on top of it.”
The local senator also addressed Florida’s financial situation in the midst of the pandemic. Between several reserve funds and the federal government’s CARES Act, the state is sitting on about $8 billion that can be used to ease the financial burden of the crisis.
The extra help from the federal government provides more stability, but Galvano warned against the toll a second economic stimulus package could take on future generations.
“I wish they wouldn’t. At some point, you have to say enough is enough,” he argued. “How much are we putting on the backs of our children and grandchildren? I think we deal with what we have and act accordingly.”
With his term ending in November, Galvano says he looks forward to exiting the political sphere and making a return to practicing courtroom law with his Bradenton law firm.
