Gov. DeSantis speaks at FSW’s Collier County campus

Gov. Ron DeSantis spoke at Florida SouthWestern State College’s Collier County campus.

DeSantis said he’s trying to keep political ideology out of the everyday economy. He explained he wants to stop investment decisions based on environmental or social guidelines.

There are many strategies to use while investing. Still, none are perhaps more controversial for the time being than environmental, social, and governance investing or ESG taking social responsibility into account when making investing decisions.

According to DeSantis, ESG is a Trojan Horse for inserting woke politics into the everyday economy. And that’s why he’s introducing broad legislation restricting banks from using ESG investing practices.

“This is a distortion of a government of, by, and for the people. They are not accountable to you. They are not accountable to us, and I think ultimately it does represent a threat not just to a smooth and prosperous economy, smooth functioning, prosperous economy, but also our very freedom itself,” DeSantis said.

A very different answer if you ask Kari Lerner, the chair of the Lee County Democratic party.

“It just provides additional information, additional facts about an organization, what that organization does. That’s it, it’s just more information,” Lerner said.

But neither is completely right, according to FGCU economist professor Tom Smythe. He said investors should have some say over how their money is invested.

“There are a number of issues around ESG investing that do not Don’t make them good choices for growing wealth over time. However, if someone is endear to the those topics, they ought to have a right to be able to choose that within their retirement plan,” Smythe said.

Florida Senate President Kathleen Passidomo and House Speaker Paul Renner joined DeSantis at 7505 Grand Lely Drive in Lely Resort.

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