FL Gov Rick Scott 's budget signing: RPOF "private event"; bus in charter students; eject Democrats

[seafan]

Not including the heavily-skewed conservative venue of The Villages; the corporate groupies in tow; and the mini-red "veto" Sharpie pens Scott handed out, signifying his veto of $615 million in budget spending.



Gov. Rick Scott signs autographs for children after signing the state budget. (AP)

Because he cannot face questioning adults. This guy is a coward with a lot of money.



Aaron Sharockman reports in the St. Petersburg Times:

May 27, 2011

.....

Typically, state budgets have been signed in Tallahassee at a low-key ceremony with little pomp. Not this year.

Representatives from the Florida Chamber of Commerce, the National Federation of Independent Business, Bitner and Republican legislators Alan Hays of Umatilla and Marlene O'Toole of nearby Lady Lake warmed up the crowd before Scott bounced onto the stage after 1 p.m.

He was surrounded by red, white and blue bunting as Elvis Presley's A Little Less Conversation blared from the speakers.

After remarks, Scott moved to a smaller stage where he sat at a wooden desk and formally signed the budget.

Charter school students were bused in to surround Scott for the signing and were handed homemade signs to wave. When Scott was finished, a man in a tea party T-shirt began encouraging the children to chant Scott's campaign slogan, "Let's get to work."

Scott then handed out tiny replica red Sharpie pens, symbolizing his decision to veto $615 million in spending.

The entire event was broadcast over the Internet by the Republican Party, and in many ways mirrored Scott's budget proposal unveiling in Eustis in February.

Thursday's crowd of mainly white retirees and tea party activists loved it.

Senate Democratic Leader Nan Rich:

Gov. Rick Scott’s signature on this Republican-crafted budget seals the fate of the middle class in Florida.

Beyond the destructive cuts to our children in pre-K through high school, Florida’s universities and community colleges, hospitals and nursing homes, our police officers, firefighters, and teachers, remains the outrageous claim that this is a ‘jobs budget.’

Only tea partiers under the control of billionaire right wingers could cheer such propaganda. Only the supporters of voodoo economics could honestly believe that firing 4,500 state workers followed by thousands more public school teachers in a state already drowning in pink slips will somehow create jobs. .....

Just another example of doing public business in a private setting from Governor Rick "Mr. Transparency" Scott.


This charlatan is an abomination and an affront to the people of Florida.



More details of yesterday's disgusting event here.

[madfloridian]

1. He's shameless.

[HillbillyBob]

2. Saw this crap coming in 99 when jeb bush started cutting into

medicaid and forcing HIV providers out of business, mine included..they were having too much success keeping us alive, then send me to a gynecologist and cut off my medicaid when I refused...I did go once to talk to the dr and receptionist and he said he would send a letter of protest for wasting his time to the administration.I am male by the way.

They act like nazis then whine when you hang it on their sorry collection of saggin asses and for shit attitudes.
Fl is Gods waiting room for the feeble and crazy..I know I lived there long enough.

[Obamanaut]

3. . nt

[lpbk2713]

4. What a weasel.

The Floridians who voted for this thief and liar are complicit in his shameful misdeeds.
The Jebster was bad enough but this lowlife creep is worse by far.

[seafan]

5. Three and a half more years of this charlatan and Medicare fraudster are unacceptable.

Scott budget vetoes dominate Florida front pages, May 27, 2011


Michael Bender compiles a list.

.....

Miami Herald: Scott vetoes a record $615M; Rick Scott vetoed a record amount of spending at a campaign-style event that some Democrats were forbidden from attending.

Orlando Sentinel: Governor's vetoes rile legislators; Line-item cuts total $615.3M

Palm Beach Post: Scott's vetoes total record $615M; The governor's signature eliminates money for FAU, PBSC, Belle Glade.

Naples Daily News: Scott lightens budget by $615M; Governor vetoes spending on homeless veterans, education and health care.

Florida Today: $615M in vetoes a first for Florida; Scott signs $69B budget in name of education.

Tallahassee Democrat: Scott slashes $615M before signing budget

Tampa Tribune: Scott vetoes $615M; Line-item paring includes USF, TBARTA, Tampa PBS

.....

The Villages Daily Sun: Scott inks budget here (---:eyes:---)

Florida has awakened.

[Peregrine]

6. The student with the glasses right in the middle

of the picture is one of my students. Teachers here weren't even told that some students were being taken out of class, much less for this event. A bunch of us were pretty pissed, especially when they returned carrying those signs.

[seafan]

8. That is infuriating. We are headed for major confrontation with these @$$*%#!$.

I hope these students will learn how much this guy is cutting from education in this state, while plying them with his lies on a school day.

This rises to another level of disgust, which looks to be an infinite supply from Tallahassee.

[seafan]

7. Rick Scott on the defensive over his budget vetoes.

Scott urges supporters to battle ‘misinformation’ about his budget vetoes

Gov. Rick Scott, sounding a tad defensive about the record $615.3 million in budget vetoes that he announced yesterday, is turning to social media to rally support for what he’s calling his “Jobs Budget.”

In an email to supporters this morning, the governor urges them to visit his website and social media sites to express support for him and his budget.

“The special interests are organized and will be spreading all sorts of misinformation about these vetoes; however, you and I know that this money is better spent on our kids than special interest earmarks. Over the next few weeks, I will need your help to share the facts about our budget by calling your radio stations, writing letters to the editor, and spreading the facts on Facebook and Twitter. Please visit my website to learn more about how you can help.(")

No, Mr. Scott.


We want you and your entire corrupted party out.

[DirkGently]

9. He's a monster. He's done more damage in less time than would seem possible.