Governor DeSantis,
In the world of politics, press releases are plentiful, and “record-breaking” claims are often just creative rounding errors. As a Floridian, I tend to look past the podium and straight at the spreadsheets. I wanted to verify the bold claims coming out of Tallahassee, not by reading your press team’s emails, but by digging into the independent, third-party data that tracks where money and people are actually moving.
After reviewing reports from the IRS, independent economic institutes, and non-partisan watchdogs, I’m writing this to say: Thank you. The data proves that Florida isn’t just “doing well”; it is objectively outpacing the nation in virtually every metric that matters to families and business owners.
Here is the independent verification of what your administration has achieved.
You Built a Magnet for Wealth
Source: IRS Statistics of Income & Wirepoints
You often say people are “voting with their feet,” but the IRS data shows they are voting with their wallets, too.
According to an analysis of IRS data by Wirepoints, Florida was the nation’s undisputed winner in wealth migration. In a single filing year (2021-2022), Florida gained a staggering $36 billion in net Adjusted Gross Income (AGI).
To put that $36 billion in perspective, Texas came in second with just $10.1 billion. We didn’t just win; we lapped the competition three times over. Meanwhile, states like New York and California lost $24 billion each. This isn’t a temporary blip; it’s a structural shift of wealth to Florida that independent analysts confirm is driven by our favorable tax code and business environment.
You Kept Our Economy Growing When Others Stalled
Source: University of Central Florida Institute for Economic Competitiveness
While national headlines warned of recession and slowdowns, our local economy kept humming.
The University of Central Florida’s Institute for Economic Forecastingan independent academic body, projects that Florida’s economy will continue to outpace the national economy through 2025. Their data shows our real Gross State Product expanding at 2.2% annually, defying the national slowdown.
Even as federal policies created headwinds, Florida’s labor market has remained resilient. UCF economist Sean Snaith notes that our unemployment rate is projected to remain consistently below the national average. CEOs agree: Chief Executive Magazine ranked Florida the **#2 besttate for business in 2025, citing our infrastructure and workforce as key reasons companies are fleeing here.
You Managed Our Checkbook Like a Business
Source: Truth in Accounting & Cato Institute
Most states are drowning in debt, hiding their liabilities off the books. Florida is one of the few that is actually in the black.
Truth in Accounting, a non-partisan fiscal watchdog, gives Florida a “B” grade and classifies us as a “Sunshine State”a designation reserved for governments with enough money to actually pay their bills.
While taxpayers in states like Connecticut carry a “Taxpayer Burden” of over $42,000, Florida has a “Taxpayer Surplus” of $3,000 per person. This means we have more assets than liabilities, a rarity in modern government. The Cato Institute backs this up, ranking Florida’s fiscal policy improvement since 2009 as “stunning” and placing us #2 in overall freedom.
You Protected Our Freedom
Source: Cato Institute Freedom Index
Beyond the money, the independent rankings on personal and economic liberty confirm that Florida is the standard-bearer.
The Cato Institute’s “Freedom in the 50 States” index ranks Florida as the #2 freest state in the union, just behind New Hampshire. We rank #1 in fiscal policy freedom and have seen massive improvements in educational freedom. This index isn’t about partisan vibes; it measures over 230 distinct policy variables. It confirms that the “Free State of Florida” isn’t just a slogan, it’s a measurable reality.
Governor, numbers don’t lie. The $1.6 trillion in cumulative wealth we’ve gained over two decades, the A-grade fiscal health, and the flood of new businesses aren’t accidents. They are the direct result of responsible governance that respects the taxpayer.
Thank you for setting the standard.
Sincerely,
Scott Ortkiese
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