Turkey in Florida Budget

Gov. Rick Scott vetoed money for legal aid and autism. Scott had no problem signing off on a $5 million rowing regetta for Sarasota County. It is no coincidence that Sen. Mike Bennett backed the rowing center. Is Scott going to try to convince voter that rowing is a job creator.

Scott billed himself as anti-rail. J.D. Alexander wanted the Sunrail project approved to create a rail line to his family-owned warehouses. Scott granted Alexander his wish. Bennett wanted a rowing regetta and Scott delivered. Remember Scott running as someone who would stand up to special interests?

I will be shocked if Scott doesn't sign-off on Alexander's pet project Polytechnic. Nothing screams fiscal conservatism like creating an independent school that no wants.

Rick Scott Has Receives Negative E-mails

You will be less than shocked to learn that Gov. Rick Scott's office is receiving negative e-mails over his line-item veto $4,799,11 for public broadcasting funding. Scott's office has received 3,316 e-mails in support of public broadcasting funding. 976 e-mails were in support of the SunRail project Scott has put on hold. The vast majorities of the e-mails were against Scott's policies on public broadcasting and SunRail. I'm sure Scott will send communications director Brian Burgess to tell us up is down and down is up.

Rick Scott Making More People Homeless

Literally. Scott vetoed $12 million for the National Veteran's Homeless Support Group. It is a Brevard County homeless program that fines homeless veterans and gets them off the streets. Currently the NVHS can only supply housing to 20 veterans. The NVHS is attempting to eventually supply housing to 700 homeless vets.

With many veterans unable to find work around Florida, many are ending up homeless. Many of these veterans have taken to living in various wooded areas around the state. Some continue to look for work, and some take classes at community colleges to give them a better chance of finding a job.

The National Veterans Homeless Support advocacy group is attempting to help the approximately 700 homeless veterans in Brevard County; up from approximately 600 last year. The group is sponsoring their second annual "Warm, Full, Safe for Christmas" program. This event will provide local homeless veterans with a 2 night stay in a local hotel.

Florida TaxWatch placed the NVHS program on its list of turkeys. Scott and Florida TaxWatch are in for a shock if they think cutting education and increasing the homeless populatation is going to make Florida more attractive to out-of-state businesses.

Mia Jones On Rick Scott's Vetoes

Florida state Rep. Mia Jones (D-Jacksonville) sent out this press release. Jones calls Scott's budget line-item vetoes job killing and anti-education. No argument from me.

State Representative Mia L. Jones issued the following statement regarding the Governor Rick Scott's Budget Signing:

"While I am disappointed, I am not surprised that Governor Rick Scott signed a budget that eliminates jobs for thousands of state workers and does nothing to put Floridians back to work. It is unfortunate that the one group of state employees who are probably suffering the least is the governor's staff and agency heads who are earning more than their predecessors.

I am equally outraged that the governor would line-item veto projects in the budget without properly vetting them on their merits and speaking with the organizations that will have to live with the impacts. Thanks to the Governor's vetoes, Northeast Florida will lose millions of dollars, including much needed funding to the Agape Community Health Center that would have been the sole provider of vital emergency dental services to our most vulnerable uninsured and underemployed adults throughout our community. The Governor's vetoes will also impact Florida State College at Jacksonville and the University of North Florida, which will now have to find funds to address needed infrastructure renovations and improvements for HVAC and Roofing problems within their existing infrastructure.

As we move forward, I hope the governor will provide the citizens of our state clarification on where he stands on public education. To say that these vetoes were a way to put more dollars in our public schools is offensive considering his budget recommendation cut public education by nearly 8 percent."

Rick Scott's 2011 Budget Vetoes

It is easy to see why some Republicans are angry at Gov. Rick Scott for surprisingly proclaiming his support for K-12 education. Scott's budget veto list is filled with education cuts. One education veto I am happy to see is the Dan Marino Foundation vocational school. Marino is a celebrity and can go to private donors for the funding. My understanding is the vocational school is to give work skills training to the disabled. I don't doubt Marino has noble intentions. It is just hard to justify Marino's school getting $500,000 when teachers will be facing layoffs and the state won't be making the requiements for smaller class sizes.

Below are Scott's vetoes. Click the link at the top of the pdf file for bigger text.

Rick Scott's 2011Veto List

Rick Scott's Education Flip Flop

Gov. Rick Scott proposed Draconian to education. Now Scott is saying that the Florida legislature could restore those cuts in a special session. Florida House Speaker Dean Cannon and Sen. Mike Fasano say when did Scott start caring about education? It is bad when Republican elected official are saying the a Republican Governor doesn't care about education.

Cannon

“What is more surprising is the Governor’s sudden emphasis on K-12 education. The budget we sent him funds education at a higher level than the Governor recommended just a few months ago, when he proposed a 10% cut to the FEFP. The Governor communicated numerous priorities during session, and we did our best to accommodate him. It would have been helpful if the Governor had shared this new found emphasis with us before the budget was finalized.

“It is the Governor’s constitutional authority to veto line items in the budget, and I respect his decisions. The vetoes of general revenue appropriations will further increase the more than $2 billion the Legislature set aside in our state’s reserves, which will help protect our bond rating and ensure that we have ample reserves in the event of an emergency.”

Fasano calls Scott's bluff.

"When did Governor Scott all of a sudden care about our teachers? It's a bit disingenuous when he says we should have put more money into helping our teachers when the budget he presented to the Florida Legislature in January cut education almost twice as much than what the legislature finally passed. I guess he read his poll numbers yesterday. If he truly wants the Florida Legislature to take the vetoed dollars and put them in to our educational system he should immediate call the Legislators back for a special session so we can avoid teacher layoffs."

Boy, I wonder if Fasano likes Scott. What do you think, dear reader.

Don't hold your breath for Scott calling a special session. Scott is just posturing and very badly at that.

Update: The Republican budget criticism continues. Sen. Paula Dockery takes Scott to task on Twitter for vetoing St. Johns River restoration.

can it get worse for FL env?“@bruceritchie: Gov Scott vetoes $305M for land buying (if land is sold) and $10M for St Johns River restoration

Florida Tax Watch 2011 Turkey List

Republicans in the Florida legislature can no longer blame budget turkeys on the Democrats. Republicans have super majorities in the Florida House and Senate. Rep. Joe Negron decided to deflect criticism on Republican budget turkeys by attacking the pro-bussiness Florida TaxWatch.

Today’s Florida TaxWatch Turkey List exposes a complete misapprehension of the legislative appropriations process. This hackneyed annual list of ostensible “turkeys” and “pork” is based on the mistaken rationale that budget decisions originating from the executive branch come clothed with a presumption of correctness while ideas from the elected representatives of the people should be viewed with suspicion.

Let’s take a closer look at the criteria TaxWatch uses to reach its opinion that $203 million in the 2011-12 state budget represent “turkeys”. TaxWatch charges that a funding item was “not requested by agency”, “not on PECO list”, “not in DOT work program” or “added in conference”.

TaxWatch’s deference to the executive branch is entirely misplaced. Under the Florida Constitution, the Legislature has the exclusive authority to budget. The Governor can veto a budget line item, but the executive branch cannot spend one dime of the people’s money without the express authorization of the Legislature. Likewise, “added in conference” is a flimsy basis to disparage a budget expenditure. The conference process is a meaningful and significant component of the appropriations enterprise. Conference provides an open and transparent opportunity for the House and Senate to negotiate an agreed upon budget and to take a concluding look at the Appropriations Act to determine final priorities. Many proposed funding items are reduced or eliminated during this review process.

TaxWatch calls $500,000 appropriated for the Loveland Center in Sarasota County a “turkey” because it was “not requested by an agency”. That is true. It was, however, requested by Senator Nancy Detert, who was actually elected by her constituents to write the state budget. The Loveland Center offers adult day training, supported living and group home services to adults with severe developmental disabilities. I know – I’ve been to the Loveland Center myself to observe and admire the 125 students who overcome their disabilities and participate fully in community life, including working at businesses from Siesta Key to Englewood.

Try telling Marc Buoniconti or the thousands of Floridians confined to wheel chairs and the dozens who will show up at emergency rooms this week with spinal cord injuries that the money appropriated to the Miami Project to Cure Paralysis is a “turkey”. Marc suffered a devastating spinal cord injury during a college football game and responded by co-founding the Miami Project, the world’s most comprehensive spinal cord injury research center, where promising clinical trials are underway to find cures that will one day alleviate the multiple consequences of injury.

I am proud of Florida’s balanced budget, which reflects the Legislature’s thoughtful judgment and principled commitment to live within our means, the same way families and businesses do. Thankfully, the Legislature has not funded every project “requested by the agency” through the years or the taxpayers we represent would have been saddled with billions of dollars of unwise spending. The Florida TaxWatch Turkey List is a fading media gimmick that crumbles under constitutional scrutiny.

If Negron was so interested in helping the disabled he wouldn't have been on a crusade to cut Medicaid. Then there is Negron's bizarre and offensive comments about KidCare.

“I don’t think they have a KidCare program in Ethiopia or India,” he said, admonishing people testifying before his committee to “stop the self-flagellation about all the things we’re not doing.”

He went on to say “I don’t want this to be the doom and gloom committee,” and that “Let’s celebrate the good things we’re doing in health and human services.”

Negron feels he should get a pat on the back if Florida's health care for poor children isn't as bad as a third world country. Which India isn't. Not that Negron is aware that India is an international economic player.

I am not crazy about Goulds Coalition of Ministers & Lay People, Inc. getting $100,000 to do social services work that could go to actual social service agencies. The original request was for $250,000 by the Rev. Ernest T. Andrews. Oversight for faith-based programs is terrible.

Negron has a point that the legislature is the branch that makes the budget. Where Negron loses me is that Republicans are proud of the budget. House Speaker Dean Cannon is silent about the pork he placed into the budget.

Orange County -- the home of current House Speaker Dean Cannon of Winter Park -- landed $38.3 million in projects that TaxWatch labeled "turkeys."

Kudos to the Florida Senate for budgeting $12 million for homeless programs. The bad news is that is going to be one of the first things Gov. Rick Scott uses his line-item veto on.

Thanks to Ryan Wiggins and Erin Choy at Florida TaxWatch for sending me a file I could read. The file is impossible to read in pdf form. My advice is convert it into an xls file. It's easier on the eyes.

Update: I failed to mention to $500,000 the Dan Marino Foundation received to start-up a vocational college. Seriously, is the legislature on crack? We are cutting education for K 12 schools. However, the legislature is going to help a rich Hall of Fame quarterback start a vocational school. Unbelievable.

Copy of 2011-12 Florida TaxWatch Turkey List (Sorted by County)-DA

Democratic Strategy: Be Nice to Rick Scott

I have urged Democrats to hammer Rick Scott on his budget proposals. It is good policy and good politics. Wonder why Florida Democrats keep losing elections and have no legislative accomplishments? Look no further than Florida House Minority Leader Ron Saunders comments to the media.

Meanwhile, Democrats -- with a minority of seats in the Legislature -- seemed to delight in the potential for conflict between the new executive and the Republican majority.

House Democratic leader Ron Saunders of Key West told his caucus on Tuesday that little would be accomplished by criticizing Scott. "He's done his job. It's now in our court. It's up to the Republican Legislature," Saunders said.

Saunders is counting on House and Senate Republicans to keep Scott in check. Does Saunders truly believe that Republicans are going to pass a budget that Democrats will like. Scott's political floundering has given Saunder's the opportunity to make the Democrat's case on the budget. Instead, Saunders has decided to punt. Fucking pathetic.

Joy-Ann Reid on Rick Scott

Joy-Ann Reid shares the same thoughts that I had on Rick Scott's budget disaster. Reid shares my sentiment that unveiling the budget at a tea party rally and not to the general public is political stupidity.

He doesn't understand the difference between campaigning and governing. Scott unveiled his budget plan at a tea party gathering. And while that might make Florida's tea party activists feel important, the election is over. Scott is going to have to come to terms with the fact that while he didn't win the majority of Florida's support, he is stuck governing everybody, including people who are not part of the tea party movement. By unveiling his plans at a highly partisan gathering that represents a third of Floridians at best, Scott revealed that he is more interested in positioning himself ideologically than behaving as a statesman.

The problem with Scott is at heart he is scared to death of facing the public. It takes a great deal of political cowardness to, at the last minute, have his mother speak in his place at the Boca Raton Republican Club. Scott has enough problems speaking to a Republican audience. There is no chance Scott will have the courage to discuss his budget in a townhall meeting with moderate voters.

Scott is not a good enough politician to to stage a late rally like President Barack Obama did last December. Obama's Afghanistan and economic policies have been disasters. Polls show the public uneasy about the economy and Afghanistan. Obama has managed to make the public ignore his policy failure through his impressive political skills. Rick Scott has none of Obama's gifts.

Scott's already low poll numbers will sink because he can't sell his policies. I consider that a good thing. The only thing working in Scott's favor is the Florida Democratic Party is so incompetent that they can't stage an effective attack against the Governor. Hint to Rod Smith and Eric Jotkoff: Scott is going to endangers the lives of Floridians by denying organ transplants. Pound that message.

What Should Be the Democratic Message on Rick Scott's Budget

I am getting emails from the Florida Democratic Party of news articles of how Rick Scott's budget didn't keep his campaign promises or how the budget will never pass. This is horrible messaging which is standard operating procedure of the Florida Democratic Party. FDP chair Rod Smith delivered this highly uninspiring message.

This budget is a frontial assault on the quality of life of every Floridian and will not create a single job nor spur our economy forward; instead it takes us further into the economic ditch," Florida Democratic Party Chairman Rod Smith said in a statement.

The right message is Scott's budget is going to increase the tax burden on the poor and middle class. Here is a breakdown of the current tax increase of the poor, middle class and top 1 percent.

Lowest 20% - 13.5 percent

Middle - 9.2 percent

Top 1% - 2.6 percent

If you make over $509,000-a-year expect Scott to back tax cuts for the top 1 percent. Not exactly a "I feel your pain" moment.

Florida has one of the lowest corporate tax rates in the country. Scott has proposed lowering the corporate tax from 5.0 percent to 3.5 percent. Scott hopes to eventually eliminate the corporate tax. Never mind Scott is proposing this when Florida is facing a $3.5 billion budget shortfall.

Scott has proposed repealing the drug tracking law designed to deal with pill mills. Scott refused to give a reason. Considering Scott's shady past at HCA/Columbia, this should give people concern. Can anyone think of a mainstream politician that is against cracking down on drugs? Seriously.

Scott has accused the unemployed of being too lazy to look for work. The Florida legislature is working on bills to cut unemployment compensation from 26 to 20 weeks. Scott will sign the bill if it hits his desk. The 12 percent of unemployed in Florida could be looking at homelessness.

Scott proposes to eliminate $1 billion from Medically Needy program. Pregnant women and children lives will be at risk from not getting health care. These are people that do not have private insurance. Patients will be denied organ transplants from the cuts to the Medically Needy program. Arizona citizens have died from Gov. Jan Brewer denied patients transplants.

Scott's budget proposes $3.3 billion in education cuts. The result would mean layoffs of teachers. The cuts would mean there would not be enough teachers to follow the constitutional guidelines of the class size amendment. Scott education budget would violate the Florida constitution and set up legal battles.

Scott is a horrible politician. Scott has low poll numbers and needed to unveil the budget to a mainstream audience. Instead, Scott chose a Tea Party rally. Scott is politically operating as if he is still running in the Republican primary. Scott is governing a state with a Democratic voter advantage. These Democrats stayed home in 2010. They didn't switch over and vote for Scott. High approval for Scott's policies is not going to happen with regressive proposals and poor communication.

Scott is an unconfident politican that barely beat the poor campaigners known as Bill McCollum and Alex Sink. Scott has alienated the media and they are now hammering his budget. The Tea Party doesn't make up the majority of Republican voters. Republican and Democratic voters are going to be angry when there aren't enough teachers for their children. These voters will also be angry when they can't get Medicaid or other state heath care. I'm guessing a lot of these voters won't be too happy about Scott making it harder to go after pill mills.

It is absolutely sad that the Florida Democratic Party can't hammer Scott on his budget. Scott's base of support is weak and even other Republicans won't back Scott's budget. (Florida Republicans knows Scott isn't popular.) The Florida Democratic Party should attack Scott for waging class warfare against the poor and middle class. Democrats should be pounding the message that people could die because of Scott's health care proposals. Many people are hurting in the economy and Rod Smith and Eric Jotkoff haven't attacked Scott and other Republicans for their insensitivity to the unemployed. And the Florida Democratic Party wonders why they keep losing elections.

Sink-Scott Debate Update

Alex Sink said her budget reform plan will save the state $700 million. Incoming Senate President Mike Haridopolos said Sink's plan would cost the state $12.5 billion. I challenge Haridopolos to provide an economic study to prove his accusation.

In the debate, Rick Scott accused her of using "Obama math" for her budget proposal. Scott has invoked Obama's name so many times I'm starting to wonder if he thinks Sink and Obama is the same person. Message to Scott: Sink is a woman and Obama is black. They are not the same person.

Sink had a good retort to Scott's "Obama Math" silliness.

"Rich, we can't trust anything you say," she said, to scattered applause. "There is not a single kind of tax increase in any of my plans."

Sink also brushed off the "Obama math" charge.

"I don't know what Obama math is," she said. "What I do know is, I was a 4.0 math major at Wake Forest University."

Update: Gary Fineout tweets this report.

No Scott post debate. Haridopolos instead.

Scott is the epitome of the chicken too scared to cross the road. Scott is all image and terrified of being taken off his talking points.

Quote of the Day

"I'm here today as a fellow Amereican. Whose parents were born in a country that lost itself to socialism. My parents lost their country to a government. I will not lose mine to a government.

Marco Rubio, at a tea bagging protest comparing the United States to Fidel Castro's Cuba. This is same Rubio that attempted to raise the state sales tax and said shifting the tax burden from property owners would benefit laborers.

He went on: "And I'm telling you that this property tax cut will create $6-billion in disposable income. And what that means in real terms is that people who now mow their lawns will hire someone to do it. ... People who now maintain their own pools will hire someone to do it. ... And that helps the working class. ...

"The more disposable income there is, the faster the working class can join, can grow into the ranks of home ownership, can send their kids to college, etc. I know. I was raised on disposable income."

The response from callers to the Jim Defede Show was swift.

"The working people are what built this country," said a caller named Cliff. "We didn't live off handouts, which is what he's suggesting. ... It's a typical Republican (attitude), looking down their noses at the average guy."

Robert, another caller, took issue with increasing the sales tax.

"Most working-class people are just struggling to survive and their solution is the most regressive form of tax there is? This is unbelievable. Trickle-down economics was disproven. ... I work my tail off every day just to make ends meet, and if they raise the sales tax, that's going to be coming directly out of every little bit that I earn. It's just going to make it even more expensive to live here, not less."

Rubio claims conservative trickle down economics will balance the budgets at states and the federal level. Rubio was Florida House Speaker and the state budget is in heavier debt now. I find it hysterical Rubio can talk about lower taxes and balanced budgets with his record. Draining the Lawton Chiles Endowment is not bold leadership. Alex Sink warned Gov. Charlie Crist the trust fund money must be repaid. Rubio didn't flinch at leaving a bill for the next legislature. Rubio has no credibility to complain about President Obama running up a debt. He did the same thing in Tallahassee.

Side note: property taxes are a problem and other sources of revenue need to be found for schools.

Shiny Happy Governor

Via Kenneth Quinnell: unemployment is rising in Florida. Since people aren't working, Governor Charlie Crist decided to follow their example. Crist took the Friday off when news broke of Florida's unemployment rate reaching 9.4 percent. Crist took two days off the week before.

Meanwhile, the Florida legislature scrapped Crist's budget recommendations. The Governor's office budget projections were deemed outdated.

"We threw that away," Sen. Mike Fasano of New Port Richey said at a recent budget hearing. A strong Crist ally, he said later that lawmakers rarely pay much attention to a governor's budget proposal.

Senate budget chairman J.D. Alexander has pleaded for Crist to use the Governor's office as a "bully pulpit." Crist continues to take days off and say he is optimistic about the budget. Crist refuses to leave the confines of his "Shiny Happy People" world.

“I am more optimistic about getting a budget today. I had good conversations with the speaker and the president today. I am more encouraged we might get gaming and some significant additional revenue out of the [Sen. Dennis] Jones bill, maybe as much as $700 to $1 billion. There are glimmers of hope.”

Crist, quoted yesterday in the Sun Sentinel.

Alexander to Crist: Remove Rose Colored Glasses

This is fun. Florida Senate budget chairman J.D. Alexander hung a sign mocking Gov. Charle Crist's delusional optimism.

``BUDGET CHAIRMAN'S WARNING. Please Remove All Standard Issue E.O.G. [Executive Office of the Governor] Rose Colored Glasses Prior to Entering Suite. Failure to do so May Cause Severe Economic Pain to the People of Florida.''

Alexander admitted he was mocking Crist. The Chairman said the only way to fix the budget was "a mix of cuts and new revenues." That translates into deeper budget cuts, tax and fee increases. Alexander urged Crist to use the "bully pulpit" to get the legislature to deal with reality. Sadly, I don't see that happening. Crist remains in a "Shiny Happy People" world.

Fiscal Opportunism

I like to know where the pork is? Enlightening me conservatives.

TALLAHASSEE - The state still faces a deficit of up to $700 million this fiscal year - and $5 billion next year - despite last month's budget-cutting session, the Senate's top budget chief said Monday.

On top of that, said JD Alexander, head of the Senate's Ways and Means committee, property taxes are expected to yield $1 billion less than the state needs just to maintain the status quo for K-12 public school funding.

The sobering budget news sets the stage for a spring repeat of last year's legislative session, when lawmakers had to carve into both the current and coming year's spending plans. The upcoming session will bring especially painful twists: deeper budget holes and difficult decisions about raising taxes.

Alexander doesn't expect the stimulus package to cure budget woes. (It was never intended to.) The State Senate is fighting each other over stimulus money.

Nan Rich was a voice of reason. Charlie Crist's budget director, Jerry McDaniel, health care budget committee $4 million in federal Medicaid money was coming. McDaniel suggested moving money the state had for Medicaid to pay for other programs. Rich would have none of that.

Sen. Nan Rich, vice chairwoman of the Senate's health care budget committee, responded with alarm. "I'm having a real hard time understanding how we're looking at having excess money when we don't fund our Medicaid program properly, or many other areas of health care - that this becomes a pot of gold for other people to use."

Another problem is Obama's oversight inspectors would ask Florida to immediately repay for the Medicaid money. Obama made it clear stimulus money isn't made to pay for other programs. That is exactly is what McDaniel is proposing. Fiscal conservatism has become opportunism.

Charlie Crist: Profile In Leadership During Budget Session Edition

The Orlando Sentinel editorial board wonders why Crist has been "MIA during the special session" The answer to that is the best way for Crist to stay above the fray is by doing absolutely nothing. Crist needs an extension to submit his budget request.

What exactly has Crist doing as Governor? The budget is cut to the bone. Why can't Crist make the Feb 20th budget request deadline?

Crist's web site does not have a press release for 2009. The Governor hasn't being using his office to promote his legislative agenda. The only noise made by Crist is protecting the teacher certification program. The TCP guarantees a ten percent pay increase for teachers, if they receive a master certification. The legislature cut the TCP by $11 million. Crist threatens to use a line-item veto.

Crist said he thinks he can veto the cut without having to find extra money to make up for it because the Legislature's budget-cutting package includes a cushion of about $300 million, intended to cover the gap if future tax collections are lower than projected.

Asked how far into that $300 million he'd be willing to go by vetoing spending cuts, he said, "Not too far. I think it was prudent for them to do that."

Crist has not delivered on his promises to the teachers' union. There is no reason to believe Crist will protect the TCP.

Charlie Crist Asks More More Time

Governor Charlie Crist is sent a letter to Seanate President Jeff Atwater and House Speaker Ray Sansom. Crist wishes to delay submitting his budget. The law requires the Governor to file a budget by February 20th.

Atwater and Sansom will most likely grant Crist's extension. Crist said is wasn't worried and delayed calling an emergency session. Crist is now saying he can't submit a budget in time. What gives?

Draft Alex Sink

Democrats want CFO Alex Sink to run for Governor in 2010.

It's time to put a Democrat back in the Governor's Mansion! Alex Sink is Florida's rising star and we want her as the next leader of our state. Join the movement to draft her in 2010, support her fight for Florida's families and children, and complete the Sunshine State's transition to the "blue" column by electing a new chief executive with true blue credentials! Alex Sink for Governor.

Beating Charlie Crist will be difficult. The economic outlook will effect Crist's future. The mortage crisis and state budget deficit are not about to get better. Sink has been pleading with the Republican-dominated Florida legislature to hold a special session.

"When Florida's families realize they are spending more each month than they are earning, they don't wait six months before taking action," Sink wrote to House Speaker-designate Ray Sansom, R-Destin, and Senate President-designate Jeff Atwater, R-North Palm Beach. "I urge you to call a special session in December or January so that we can reduce our state's expenditures for this fiscal year in a responsible manner."

She has already asked Gov. Charlie Crist and legislative leaders for borrowing authority of $1.25 billion from state trust funds.

Sink said, "as keeper of the state's checkbook," she has to repay trust-fund borrowing by June 30. If lawmakers wait for the regular session in March to reduce state spending - or even consider tax increases, which Crist and the GOP legislative leadership oppose - she said there will be only three months for agencies to absorb all of the necessary cuts.

"Let's make it real for Floridians," Sink said. "I think every Florida family is sitting around their kitchen table thinking, 'Do we need to cut back? What do we need to cut back on? What happens if one of us loses our job?'

Sink's calls for a special session went ignored.

"I'm not hitting the panic button," said incoming House Speaker Ray Sanson. "There's not a panic button to hit."

Sanson is waiting for the November 21st revenue estimate. No one in either party expects the revenue estimate to provide good news. Sink had to ask Crist and the legislature for $1.25 billion to fund the government. The budget has been cut the past two years. This isn't a matter of cutting pork. This is about not running the government into debt.

Asked if the state can continue budgeting for all of its needs without raising more
revenue, Sink said: "I don't know."

Which explains why Republicans are in no hurry to call a special session. Sanson and Crist do not want to admit they are running the state into debt. They do not want to offend Grover Norquist and anti-tax conservatives by discussing new taxes. Conservative dogma keeps Crist and fellow Republicans from during heavy lifting. Florida Republicans would rather run the budget like Enron. When in debt, borrow more money.

Sink, the only Democrat on the Florida Cabinet, said the state already has borrowed $300 million from its own trust funds to pay day-to-day expenses due to a growing shortfall in general revenue, mostly sales tax. She expects to borrow at least $500 million more from the trust funds.

"You can't look at these numbers and not be alarmed," Sink said.

Sanson expects the deficit to reach $2 billion. There is no reason for him not to ask Crist to call a special session.

Alex Sink vs Charlie Crist

It is no secret that the Florida budget is in a deficit. CFO Alex Sink blasts Charlie Crist for using the Workers’ Compensation Administration Trust Fund as an ATM machine.

"While I understand the current challenge to find resources in this year’s budget, I am concerned about the recommendation to sweep $129.5 million from the Workers’ Compensation Administration Trust Fund. Through efficient management and reform of the Workers’ Compensation system, our state has been able to reduce Workers’ Compensation Administrative Trust Fund assessments from 2.75 percent to 0.25 percent, which is a 91 percent reduction over an eight-year period. A trust fund sweep of this magnitude will require the state to raise Workers’ Compensation assessments—taxes—on Florida businesses as early as January 2009. I look forward to working with the Governor and the Legislature to prevent assessment increases on Florida’s business owners.

Crist will rob Peter to pay Paul, before he will raise taxes. Crist can't run for President in 2012 as a tax-raising Republican. Crist as pulled $1.1 billion from the state's reserves. Where does Crist plan on pulling money from next year? The housing market isn't about to improve soon.

I expect Crist to travel around Florida telling people that things are great. Florida is screwed if the economy gets worse. Crist does not have the political courage to make the hard choices needed.

Baccarat Will Save Us All

Governor Charlie Crist has a plan to solve Florida's budget deficit. Everyone plays and loses at baccarat.

Crist clearly is hoping that the prospect of the state drawing a much-needed cash infusion from baccarat, black jack and other games the deal would okay at tribal casinos will eventually wear down opposition. House Speaker Marco Rubio, R-West Miami, has sued Crist saying he overstepped his authority in approving the compact without seeking approval from the Legislature, with arguments before the Florida Supreme Court set for Jan. 30.

The budget shortfall will be $2 billion for 2008 and it could get be worse if the housing market continues to tank. Sen. Burt Saunders, R-Naples warns, "Our 2009 budget is not going to be any better." The gambling deal with the Seminoles will only bring an estimated $100 million to the state.

I'm on the fence about gambling. If people choice to blow their money that is up to them. If I was Governor, I would probably make the Seminole deal before the Interior Department gave approval without Florida getting a dime. Thankfully, we have Republicans using tax dollars to fight the deal in court. Thank God for fiscal conservatism.

I wish Crist would not sell the gambling deal as the answer to all fiscal foes. It's dishonest and will only put him in a bigger hole when voters wise up. Crist made the same mistake overselling property tax reform. Then again, Crist is an economic iliterate.