Crist hints at budget veto, The Buzz (St. Pete Times)

January 13, 2009

Gov. Charlie Crist on Tuesday emphasized the value of "working together" with the Legislature. But he also gave strong hints that he will surgivally use his veto pen and aim it at the education budget cuts approved by lawmakers over the weekend.

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State fiscal strategy running on empty, Ocala Star-Banner

January 13, 2009


There really is nothing "special" about the current special session of the Florida Legislature. Sure, lawmakers are expected to approve a plan to erase a $2.3 billion budget shortfall for this year by again raiding state trust funds, slashing education and health care, raising traffic fines and putting a kibosh on the state's successful Florida Forever land conservation program. It is the same strategy we saw last year.

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States continue spending sprees, USAToday

January 12, 2009
By Dennis Cauchon and Judy Keen

As a federal bailout takes shape, many states continue to spend money at boom-time rates even though revenue is sinking.

The mismatch between spending and revenue has left states facing projected shortfalls of up to $80 billion over the next six months, equal to as much as 10% of what states had planned to spend.

CASH-STRAPPED: States anxiously await federal funds

Forty-two state legislatures convene this month, and filling those gaps will be their top priority. A handful of states — notably California, Florida and New Jersey — have reduced spending, a USA TODAY review of state financial reports shows. Most have taken a wait-and-see attitude because spending cuts may not be needed if Congress approves a large federal aid package, and big spending hikes are a possibility.

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Florida lawmakers leave $130 million in gambling money on hte table, Casino Gambling Web

January 12, 2009

Legislators in the state of Florida are patting themselves on the back for working to fix a budget deficit without having to raise taxes. What they are not admitting is how they left $130 million of possible revenue on the table while cutting funds going to education in the state.

The lawmakers in Florida called a special legislative session to deal with the shortcomings of the state budget. They vowed at the beginning of the session to not make tax hikes to cover the budget problems. They succeeded in that. It is their failure, however, to approve a Seminole Indian casino gambling compact that had Governor Charlie Crist annoyed.

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School officials want cut of federal bailout, USAToday

January 12, 2009
By Greg Toppo

If banks, insurance companies and automakers are getting a piece of Washington's bailout largesse, why not cash-strapped schools?

That's the thinking of officials at a few hard-pressed school systems, who have set wheels in motion to get a share of the $700 billion Troubled Asset Relief Program, or TARP, intended for ailing financial institutions, and the economic stimulus package now before Congress.

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Budget cuts to hit Fla education even further, WFTV, Channel 9

January 12, 2009

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- State lawmakers were able to fix a $2.3 billion budget deficit, but our children will be paying the price for it. The biggest hit in the budget cuts was education.

The state will reduce funding by $140 per student. Florida already ranks 41st in the nation in per-student funding and this is on top of a series of other funding cuts in our schools.

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Florida budget agreement reached, Orlando Business Journal

January 12, 2009

State lawmakers agreed Jan. 11 to raid state trust funds and proceed with deep cuts to health care and education to balance the $2.4 billion deficit.

Budget writers decided to tap trust funds, including the tobacco settlement fund, to the tune of $1.6 billion and cut state spending by more than $1 billion annually. Legislators agreed to cut an extra $400 million to pad the state’s budget ahead of the regular session in March, when state officials expect continued revenue declines.

Medicaid faces cuts of $170 million to $180 million, although the state’s 460-plus nursing homes were spared. Public schools are facing a loss of about $140 per student.

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