U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis released a graph of the economic growth of all 50 states. Florida ranks in the lowest tier for growth. Last month, Florida's unemployment was at 12.2 percent. The state's unemployment is higher than the national average of 9.5 percent. Which brings up an interesting question. Why is Congress telling Gov. Charlie Crist to spend stimulus money faster?
In a letter to Florida Governor Charlie Crist, the committee's chairman, Rep. James Oberstar, wrote that as of June 30, Florida had begun construction on highway projects totaling only 2 percent of the $1.346 billion set aside for it in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.
"I strongly urge you to refocus your efforts to implement the Recovery Act and use the available funds to create and sustain family-wage jobs," said Oberstar, who heads the House of Representatives Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.
Crist was toying with the horrible idea of of private companies owning toll roads. Florida was considering privatizing roads to pay for new construction. The St. Petersburg Times editorial board pointed out the state could borrow money and run tolls cheaper than outsourcing to private contractors.
Florida is in an economic spiral and needs new roads. Crist crossed party lines to support the Recovery and Investment Act. Is Crist so focused on becoming Senator that he forgotten his role to as Governor?
Opponents to Gov. Charlie Crist’s half-billion-dollar Everglades restoration land buy this afternoon get their last chance to convince a judge to torpedo the deal.
ReplyDeleteClosing arguments for the months of on-again, off-again hearings are scheduled for 2:30 p.m. before Palm Beach County Circuit Judge Donald Hafele.
Crist proposes spending $536 million to buy 73,000 acres from U.S. Sugar Corp., with an option to purchase 107,000 acres more. The land would be used to build reservoirs and treatment areas to help restore water flows to the Everglades.
The South Florida Water Management District, which leads Everglades restoration, needs the judge’s approval to borrow the money for the deal. South Florida taxpayers would pay off the debt.
Opponents, led by U.S. Sugar’s rival sugar producer Florida Crystals, question the cost of the deal and contend it will take money away from other delayed Everglades restoration projects.
However Hafele rules, the case is expected to be appealed to the Florida Supreme Court.
http://weblogs.sun-sentinel.com/news/politics/palm/blog/2009/08/showdown_in_palm_beach_county.html
I would be wiling to bet Crist waiting for this to pass to use money in this area of developmnt.
http://blogto2010.blogspot.com/
The Florida unemployment debacle can be summed up using this map
ReplyDeletehttp://www.localetrends.com/st/fl_florida_home.php?MAP+TYPE=curr_ue