Florida Republicans make drastic budget cuts, expect Obama's federal recovery to bail them out...

[madfloridian]

of their budget cutting quagmire. I find that just so ironic.

The tax-cutting, budget-cutting, corporation-friendly ways of the GOP have not worked, they are failing. They refuse to raise any taxes at all, refuse to do away with any corporate tax exemptions.

Florida Republicans have been in denial about the state's economy, and they have refused to do anything constructive about it. And now they wait for the Obama administration to step in and help them on the road to recovery. They refuse to help themselves, they wait for the new administration to do it.

They will consider no alternatives to cutting basic services, they wait for the federal government to help them.

The same federal government they wanted to make small enough to fit into a bathtub.

Recovery Package Could Help Florida

Federal money in the works could boost schools, roads, health care.

TALLAHASSEE | Florida could be a big beneficiary in the federal economic recovery package beginning to emerge in Washington. The U.S. House on Thursday unveiled an $825 billion plan that would provide a substantial boost in federal spending for Florida's schools, roads and health care programs.

The federal money comes at a critical time for a state government that has had to cut its spending by $7 billion since 2007, including the special session that ended this week with state lawmakers cutting more than $1 billion from their budget because of the slumping economy.

And although much remains uncertain, including the Senate version of the program, the federal funds could offset many of the recent budget decisions Florida lawmakers have had to make, ranging from cutting nearly $500 million from public schools to raiding a tobacco settlement fund for $700 million.

The $2.8 billion dollar cuts have been deep and drastic.

Drastic cuts to budgets and services

The following shows what Florida legislators decided to cut from the state budget during their session on Wednesday:

TOTAL CUTS: $1.3 billion reduction ($978 million in general revenue)

EDUCATION

■ Reduction of 2 percent, or $140 per student for FY08-09. Total reduction of $366 million. (statewide)

■ $79 million from class size reduction due to adjustments in enrollment. (statewide)

■ $1 million from Florida Gulf Coast University solar array project

■ $871,000 for Edison College

■ $1.9 million cut for FGCU

HEALTH CARE

■ $2.4 million in Medicaid reimbursements to hospitals/Lee County

■ $777,186 in Medicaid hospital reimbursements/Collier County.

TRUST FUND/RESERVE TRANSFERS

■ $700 million from the Chiles Endowment Fund, effective June 15, 2009. Moneys may be restored from a federal economic stimulus package.

■ $400 million from the Budget Stabilization Fund — Leaves a balance of $281 million.

■ $190 million from trust funds within the Florida Housing Finance Corporation. Of that, $10 million within the sweep will finance the Florida Economic Gardening Business Loan Pilot Program.

■ $297 million swept from trust funds across various state agencies.

SOURCE: Senate Bill 2A: Conference budget report.

The Legislators are coming back in March here in Florida to make even deeper and more drastic cuts.

Florida is losing edge

The typical M.O. for both of those strategies is to throw money at potential employers in the form of incentives such as tax credits, loans or even cash. It's no surprise, then, that rallying cries have gone out across the state for politicians to keep their budget-cutting hands off those pots of money, or Florida will lose its competitiveness against other states.

"We just can't cut our lifeline," said Ray Gilley, president of the Metro Orlando Economic Development Commission and chairman of the state's Economic Development Council. "Those things are critical to helping get deals done."

But Florida is already losing its competitiveness. The state's budget picture is so bad that lawmakers axed hundreds of millions of dollars for schools and social programs this week during an emergency midyear expense-slashing session.

Deeper cuts are coming in March, when the Legislature convenes to shore up a projected $4 billion deficit in next year's budget.

They will not listen to anyone. They will not listen to CFO Alex Sink when she warns them. They are waiting for the new administration to swoop in and save them from themselves.

[MichiganVote]

1. LOL!! ....said the people from Michigan. Good luck with that.

[w4rma]

2. I suggest that Obama handle them appropriately. No help for states that won't even try. (nt)

[Warpy]

3. Given the Florida GOP's role in installing Stupid in 2000

I'm thinking they're not going to get that bailout.

Maybe when there is enough pain in that state, people will wise up and vote their fat asses out of office forever.

[Wapsie B]

4. Hey gopers, let the free market take care of it!

Why on earth would any self-respecting republican seek a government hand out? Let their philosophy run its natural course and bring the utopia they preach about.

[enlightenment]

5. Here in Nevada they aren't counting on the feds -

instead they're just going to gut the higher education system (36% cuts) and force a 6% wage reduction (and suspend all merit pay/raises/bonuses) on all state employees - including K-12 teachers (who are already hurting). The K-12 system got a minuscule increase, not much good when you consider that Nevada ranks 45th of 50 in per capita spending for students.

But 'no new taxes' says our disgusting TOOL of a governor. Oh, no! We'd NEVER even consider closing the tax loopholes that allow the mining companies to pay 1/2 of 1 percent instead of the 5% they're supposed to pay. That would be bad for business, doncha know.

So instead, we'll gut education across the board, close regional mental health clinics, provide a little bit to help the children of destitute families (but nothing for the parents, so when mom dies of cancer because she can't get chemo anymore, oh well . . .)

And take an additional 4% of the counties property taxes from the largest counties (read that as Clark county, where Las Vegas is located) for state use (on top of what they already take). Nevada doesn't have a state income tax, of course . . .

The state Dems are in a righteous huff - but they knew this was coming; we all did. Yet they don't have an alternative proposal to submit . . . guess they were too busy with other things. All they can say is 'we can do better'.

[The Backlash Cometh]

6. I can't believe what they're doing to our education budgets.

This state is such a joke.

On edit: I hope Obama does bail them out, and as a requirement, removes all the Bush cronies from the Board of Regents and starts anew.

[madfloridian]

7. It's terrible.

They cutting back so much. Ruthless is the word.

[Dr.Phool]

8. Life in a third world country.

And to think I considered moving to Costa Rica.

[byrok]

9. Really a reply for all the Florida bashers...

There are many of us that work our asses off at changing this state. We worked our asses off to Elect Obama (and turned Volusia County blue), we work to assemble and figure out how we can stop Tallahassee from gutting our schools. We worked hard in 2000, 2002, 2004, 2006, and 2008. It always amazes me how 49 states can lump everybody in the state of Florida together and assume that we are all responsible for the things that happened in Florida. A few things come to mind:

1. You know that feeling you had in the pit of your stomachs when George Bush was put in office twice? So did we, right along side of everyone else.

2. You know all those rights taken from you? So do we.

3. We have all the same hatred for what has been done to this country like anyone else.

We do not go out and recruit every old, retired, religious, vote against your interest, Republican, to come retire to this state and destroy it for the rest of us normal people. Keep your parents and grand parents in your own damn states and we may just have a chance of one day pulling this state out of the dark ages.

A lot of us fight just as hard as anyone in any state for change. We just have to contend with everyone else's retirees.

[madfloridian]

10. I am a native Floridian. The people allowed this to happen here.

The Democrats had an identity crisis for years, thought they were Republicans, or weren't sure.

They still go along to get along.

I make no excuses for this state right now.

When the electorate keeps electing fools then this is what they can expect.

[byrok]

11. I know.

I'm simply stating that there are those like you and I. Those whose shouts from the rooftops are still not enough. I for one, will not except the blame for these elected officials. I've tried my best.

I just find it bizarre that some people choose to believe that every Floridian is an imbecile, and complicit in the terrible outcome of Florida's elections. Some of us keep fighting for change.

My wife has been a school teacher in Volusia County for 11 years. We have many children. The fight is personal to us, as I know it is for you also. I read all of your post here. Thanks.

[madfloridian]

12. Thanks, bur don't take the remarks too personally.

There's a lot of anger here about 2000, and the primary fiasco this year did not help either.

Most of them are sort of joking...sort of.

[tkmorris]

15. I think if we want to change Florida politics

We REALLY need to change the state Democratic leadership. I have never seen a more corrupt, complicit group in my life. They aren't Democrats as far as I'm concerned, they are Republican symbiotes.

[madfloridian]

16. Agreed, it's really bad.

I am continuously amazed at their complicity.

[fishnfla]

18. Welcome to DU: get used to the Florida bashing

We are responsible for 2000&Bush getting elected. Oh, and news of the weird only happens here. Caused by creeps and lowlifes that grew up somewhere else& got away with their shit 'cuz the cops back home are stupider than they are.

To the OP's point: the main culprit in this budget fiasco is Amendment 1, the so-called " Save Our Homes" which doubled the homestead exemption and obviously didn't work( Homes on the chopping block much?). Sounded good on paper, although just about every county sheriff in the state warned us about it ( take that you law-and-order types! cut taxes, cut school funding, eliminate sports and exrtracurricular activities, and gee, just why do teenagers keep breaking into my car now?)

I wish we had an admentment to the state constitution that would require amendments to the state constitution to be written on the ballot in plain English& with clear intent

i.e.,Not like that gobble-dygook that was amendment 2 this past election

[Chemical Bill]

13. We have a repuke governor in RI.

The "democrats" in the legislature are giving him capital gains tax cuts and a medicare restructuring that's sure to hurt people. He just slashed aid to cities, so here come the layoffs of police and fire personnel. Krugman warned about the 50 little Hoovers who are apt to unravel any Obama recovery.

Bill

[madfloridian]

14. FL Dems are pretty much Republican anyway,

but there are not enough of them to make a difference even if they did stand up.

[eomer]

17. Just to clarify, you are talking about FL Dem politicians, not voters

... since Obama won Florida, as did Gore.

What are your thoughts on why the disconnect between Floridians voting for Democrats for President and Republicans controlling the legislature?

[madfloridian]

19. Yes, the FL Dem leaders.

There are several reasons for the disconnect, but I am just guessing.

Gerrymandering is a big reason, esp. for the legislature.

An uninformed electorate is another.

Democratic leaders who do not speak, an important one. They even refused to speak out on Amendment 2.

Obama v McCain was their choice, and I think young people turned out in huge numbers for Obama.

But I will not say FL is blue, because it is not. It's like a state stuck in the mud and dirt caused by 10 years of Jeb and his cronies.

[louis-t]

20. Gee, that's the same thing that happened here.

Repugs leave state $4 billion in debt and expect the next guy to fix it.