Gov. Rick Scott rolled out his first budget proposal this week in Eustis with the tea partiers that brewed up his election. While that was sweet for the governor, when the tea budget got to Tallahassee the reception was iced, and bitter.
By: Kevin Derby
| Posted: February 11, 2011 3:55 AM
The House Appropriations Committee pondered Gov. Rick Scott’s proposed budget Thursday afternoon and began the long, difficult process of crafting a budget despite a large shortfall.
Some of Gov. Rick Scott’s most vaunted spending claims faded Wednesday, as the Republican chief executive’s budget director endured three hours of withering questioning from the Senate Budget Committee.
By: Kevin Derby
| Posted: February 10, 2011 3:55 AM
Gov. Rick Scott’s administration continued unveiling its proposed budget Wednesday, taking it to the Florida House Agriculture and Natural Resources Appropriations Subcommittee, chaired by Rep. Trudi Williams, R-Fort Myers.
By: Kenric Ward
| Posted: January 10, 2011 3:55 AM
As Rick Scott takes the reins of Florida government, some longtime political players find themselves marginalized or cut out of the decision-making loop altogether.
Multimillionaire Gov. Rick Scott is taking a single penny for his gubernatorial salary, but he’s stocking his staff with people commanding six-figure salaries while promising to cut state spending as the state faces a $3.5 billion shortfall and 12 percent unemployment.
Republican Sen. Mike Haridopolos’ overhaul of the Florida Senate not only is saving money – it has also eliminated some longtime Democratic staff while ushering in more GOP-leaning employees.
Talk of the Legislature heading toward overtime emerged Friday as House and Senate leaders struggled to reach agreement on how much money they have to spend in the 2010-11 budget.
With a mid-afternoon deadline looming for setting the start of negotiations this weekend, the two sides remained snagged over whether to include $880 million in long-anticipated Medicaid cash from the federal government.
The Crist administration continues to base its budget plan on unsecured funding sources -- in particular, $1 billion from Medicaid, which has not received final congressional approval, and $250 million from a proposed pact with the Seminole tribe.
Director Jerry McDaniel of the Office of Policy and Budget addressed House Democrats on Gov. Charlie Crist’s proposed budget Wednesday, saying he was optimistic these measures would soon be finalized.
