Publix Gave $100K to DeSantis’ Re-Election Campaign Last Month
For years, the Lakeland-based company and members of its founding family have supported conservative causes and backed efforts to oppose progressive legislation, including the legalization of medical marijuana and the regulation of polystyrene, better known by the brand name Styrofoam. In 2018, Publix leaders gave $670,000 to a campaign for Republican gubernatorial candidate Adam Putnam. The next year, heirs to the Publix fortune donated $28,000 to Donald Trump’s re-election campaign and $25,000 to a PAC supporting DeSantis’ re-election bid.
Last month, Publix doubled down on its support for the business-friendly governor. In December, the grocery chain made four $25,000 contributions to the Friends of Ron DeSantis PAC, which has raised more than $50 million to date. Publix previously donated $25,000 to the committee in January 2020 and another $25,000 in November 2019, according to state records.
-https://www.miaminewtimes.com/news/publix-gave-100000-to-republican-florida-gov-ron-desantis-11802566
Another Publix outrage: Company tapped to distribute vaccines in FL after donations to DeSantis
While there continues to be growing outrage over the news that an heiress to the Publix Super Markets chain bankrolled most of the cost of the January 6 insurrection rally — with #BoycottPublix trending on Twitter — there is another new Publix scandal here in Florida that has gotten less attention. Just a few weeks after Publix donated $100,000 to Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’ PAC, DeSantis announced a partnership with the the grocery chain to distribute COVID-19 vaccines to people 65+ through Publix stores in selected counties in Florida. Can you say quid pro quo? I knew you could.
Publix gave two $25,000 contributions on December 7 to the Friends of Ron DeSantis political committee and two additional $25,000 contributions on December 31, according to Florida’s Division of Elections campaign finance database. Just a few days later, on January 5, DeSantis announced that Publix and the Florida Department of Health would work together to distribute COVID vaccine doses to customers age 65 years and older. Hmmm. Of course, DeSantis’ people and Publix officials deny any link to the company’s recent large donation to DeSantis, but so far have refused to offer any details on how long their vaccine distribution “partnership” discussions and plans have been underway.
-https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2021/1/31/2013041/-Another-Publix-outrage-Company-tapped-to-distribute-vaccines-after-donations-to-DeSantis
Families are boycotting Publix after a member of founding family donated $300,000 to the Trump rally that preceded January’s deadly Capitol attack…
Wendy Mize’s family grew up on Publix, disciples to the giant supermarket chain’s empirical marketing slogan: “Where shopping is a pleasure”. As infants, her three daughters wore diapers bought from the Publix baby club. As children, they munched on free cookies from the bakery. There were even perks for the family’s pets, who are proud members of Publix Paws.
But now the decades-long love affair is over. After a member of Publix’s founding family donated $300,000 to the Donald Trump rally that preceded January’s deadly Capitol riots, Mize is pulling out of what she says has become “an abusive, dysfunctional relationship”, and joining others in a boycott of the Florida-based grocery chain that operates more than 1,200 stores across seven south-eastern states.
-https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/feb/15/us-families-boycotting-publix-grocery-chain-capitol-riot
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