Florida Governor Ron DeSantis made waves recently by proposing a plan to eliminate property taxes in the state—a move that’s already sparked national debate. But one supporter of this policy isn’t just calling it smart—he’s calling it a game-changer.
Cliff Maloney, CEO of Citizens Alliance, recently penned an op-ed for RedState praising DeSantis for taking a stand against what he sees as one of the most unfair parts of our tax system.
“This is more than just smart policy,” Maloney wrote. “It’s a declaration of economic freedom.”
“You never really own your home”
For Maloney, this issue hits at the heart of a bigger problem: Americans being taxed just for the privilege of keeping what they already bought. In his words, “You never truly own your home. Miss a few payments to the government, and they’ll seize your property. That’s not freedom—that’s rent to the state.”
And he’s not wrong—every year, even homeowners who’ve paid off their mortgage still owe thousands in property taxes, just to stay in their homes. Maloney sees this as a fundamental contradiction in a country that’s supposed to value private ownership and individual liberty.
A financial boost for everyday Floridians
Critics have already begun to ask how Florida would pay for essential services without property tax revenue, but Maloney is focused on what that money could mean for families across the state. He points out that the average property tax bill in Florida is $2,386 a year. That might not sound huge, but it adds up—especially for families on tight budgets.
Maloney breaks it down: if a family were able to invest that money every year instead, they could build over $136,000 in wealth in just 20 years. That’s not a minor change—it could be the difference between scraping by and building real financial security.
Not just Florida
This isn’t just a Florida issue, either. Maloney sees DeSantis’ plan as the first domino. He’s already watching other conservative leaders, like Don Huffines in Texas, explore similar proposals.
“If Texas and Florida lead the way on this,” Maloney wrote, “other red states will absolutely follow in their footsteps.”
It’s a bold prediction—but it reflects a growing appetite for policy that breaks with the status quo. Conservatives across the country are looking for more than talking points. They want action. And this, Maloney says, is exactly that.
Rethinking government’s role
Maloney doesn’t just want to get rid of property taxes—he wants people to rethink the role of government altogether. “This bold reform doesn’t just abolish and kill an unnecessary tax,” he wrote. “It completely puts into question the role of government in people’s minds.”
In other words, if we start questioning why the government gets to charge us rent on our own homes, maybe we’ll start questioning what else it’s doing by default—and whether it really needs to.
That’s a conversation Maloney is ready to have, and he believes more Americans are starting to feel the same way.
A new direction for the right?
For years, conservatives have talked about cutting taxes and shrinking government, but often those promises don’t lead to real change. Maloney sees DeSantis’ move as different. It’s not just a campaign slogan—it’s a serious proposal with real impact.
Whether or not this proposal becomes law, it’s already changing the conversation. Property taxes might not have been front-page news before, but with voices like Maloney pushing the issue, they’re quickly becoming a new battleground in the fight over government power and economic freedom.
And if this movement keeps growing, Florida might not be the only state rethinking how it taxes property—and how it defines freedom.