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Scott vetoes record $615 million from budget
by John Kennedy | May 26th, 2011
Gov. Rick Scott vetoed a record $615 million Thursday from the budget approved earlier this month by lawmakers — saying he was holding “special interests accountable.”
With Scott’s action, the budget shrinks to $69.1 billion, and reserves swell to about $2.8 billion.
“I campaigned on making the tough choices to turn our economy around,” Scott told a crowd at The Villages, the Central Florida retirement community Thursday.
Scott, who earlier called for even deeper cuts for education, urged lawmakers to redirect some of the vetoed dollars back into public schools — which face a $1.3 billion cut.
Representatives of business groups, lawmakers and Florida Republican Party Chairman Dave Bitner were the warmup act for Scott’s budget signing and vetoes under a sweltering midday sun.
Speakers praised Scott and ridiculed Washington for overspending.
“The people in Washington, D.C., need to use Florida as an example of fiscal responsibility,” said Sen. Alan Hays, R-Umatilla.
The budget approved by lawmakers cuts $2.6 billion from schools, health and social service programs, bringing per-pupil funding to its lowest level in six years, while imposing deep cuts to hospitals, nursing homes and HMOs. Some economists warn the spending plan, which takes effect July 1, could slow the state’s recovery by adding more Floridians to the jobless ranks.
But among conservative tea party voters, who helped vault Scott to a narrow victory over Democratic opponent Alex Sink last fall, the Legislature’s spending plan was a failure.
The budget reduces the state’s workforce by 4,500 positions, to 122,236 employees. It also privatizes prisons in the state’s 18 southernmost counties, including Palm Beach and the Treasure Coast, clouding the future of about 3,000 corrections workers.
School districts also are looking to cut jobs in the face of a drop in state dollars. Palm Beach County is poised to close a $35.4 million budget hole by eliminating more than 700 positions, including custodians, classroom monitors and school police officers.
But in his budget proposal, released in February, Scott wanted more. He called for cutting 8,681 jobs across state agencies, while reducing $4.6 billion in spending.
Florida Democrats spent Wednesday firing off several thousand e-mails to the governor’s office, demanding that he veto the entire 406-page document.
“It is a budget that eliminates, and does not create, jobs for Floridians,” said Rep. Mark Pafford, D-West Palm Beach. “It is a sorely deficient budget that is inappropriately balanced on the backs of our middle class.”
Gov. Rick Scott vetoed a record $615 million Thursday from the budget approved earlier this month by lawmakers — saying he was holding “special interests accountable.”
With Scott’s action, the budget shrinks to $69.1 billion, and reserves swell to about $2.8 billion.
“I campaigned on making the tough choices to turn our economy around,” Scott told a crowd at The Villages, the Central Florida retirement community Thursday.
Scott, who earlier called for even deeper cuts for education, urged lawmakers to redirect some of the vetoed dollars back into public schools — which face a $1.3 billion cut.
Representatives of business groups, lawmakers and Florida Republican Party Chairman Dave Bitner were the warmup act for Scott’s budget signing and vetoes under a sweltering midday sun.
Speakers praised Scott and ridiculed Washington for overspending.
“The people in Washington, D.C., need to use Florida as an example of fiscal responsibility,” said Sen. Alan Hays, R-Umatilla.
The budget approved by lawmakers cuts $2.6 billion from schools, health and social service programs, bringing per-pupil funding to its lowest level in six years, while imposing deep cuts to hospitals, nursing homes and HMOs. Some economists warn the spending plan, which takes effect July 1, could slow the state’s recovery by adding more Floridians to the jobless ranks.
But among conservative tea party voters, who helped vault Scott to a narrow victory over Democratic opponent Alex Sink last fall, the Legislature’s spending plan was a failure.
The budget reduces the state’s workforce by 4,500 positions, to 122,236 employees. It also privatizes prisons in the state’s 18 southernmost counties, including Palm Beach and the Treasure Coast, clouding the future of about 3,000 corrections workers.
School districts also are looking to cut jobs in the face of a drop in state dollars. Palm Beach County is poised to close a $35.4 million budget hole by eliminating more than 700 positions, including custodians, classroom monitors and school police officers.
But in his budget proposal, released in February, Scott wanted more. He called for cutting 8,681 jobs across state agencies, while reducing $4.6 billion in spending.
Florida Democrats spent Wednesday firing off several thousand e-mails to the governor’s office, demanding that he veto the entire 406-page document.
“It is a budget that eliminates, and does not create, jobs for Floridians,” said Rep. Mark Pafford, D-West Palm Beach. “It is a sorely deficient budget that is inappropriately balanced on the backs of our middle class.”
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