Governor DeSantis Formally Apologizes to Tribal Nations, Then Vetoes Two Bills They Asked For Days Later

TALLAHASSEE — Governor DeSantis signed a formal state apology to Native American tribes for historic harms, then, in the final days of his last legislative session, vetoed two bills those same tribes had pushed: one to make state agencies address tribal water shortages, the other to bar the state from significantly interfering with tribal religious practices on state land.

The apology, by most accounts, was sincere and well worded. So were the veto messages, which explained that the governor shared the bills' goals but had concerns about their implementation, a phrase governors of every party keep in a drawer next to the ceremonial pens.

Tribal leaders noted the timing. 'We appreciate being apologized to,' one said, in a sentiment The Press is paraphrasing, 'we would have also appreciated the water.' Advocates pointed out that an apology costs nothing and a mediation process for water disputes costs very slightly more than nothing.

DeSantis, who is termed out and leaves office in January, signed and vetoed more than a thousand bills in his final weeks, giving him ample opportunity to be on both sides of most issues at once.

The Press's statehouse desk runs the flip: the other party's governor apologizing to tribes and then vetoing their priorities in the same fortnight would be filed under 'performative contrition.' Under DeSantis, it is 'balancing competing interests.' The water shortage has not been informed which.