Floridians are about to see what they voted for, last November. Yesterday, Scott released his proposed budget far from Tallahassee in a carnival-like atmosphere manufactured for the purpose of showing just how radical Gov. Scott intends to be. A note from one observer: The Florida Department of Community Affairs – Loses $668 Million and 318 positions. Almost completely gone. The Florida Department of Environmental Protection – Loses $148 Million and 120 positions. The Florida Wildlife Commission – Loses $23 million and 97 positions
Florida is now defenseless against the job creation myth of the Growth Machine and fully in the hands of the Creation Myth embraced by the radical right. The grand experiment started by Gov. Jeb Bush in 1998 is now unveiled on steroids and the hopped up Tea Party/ Religious Right/ Corporate Welfare. Here is the Miami Herald: "Scott’s initial budget roll-out in Eustis had the look and feel of a highly partisan, heavily scripted campaign event. The venue underscored Scott’s eagerness to make what is normally a staid, policy-laden event into one that turned the budget into a political declaration. Inside the cavernous First Baptist Church of Eustis, Scott stood in front of a made-for-TV backdrop that said "Reducing Spending & Holding Government Accountable." The church, which seats 800, was filled to overflowing, and people waved miniature American flags and sang God Bless the USA and God Bless America. Warm-up speakers criticized President Obama, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson, and praised Roger Vinson, the federal judge in Pensacola who last week struck down the Obama health plan as unconstitutional. Before the public event, Scott hosted a private lunch for tea party activists at a nearby civic center. Activists said they would push for Scott’s budget in the same way they fought health care reform. Read more.
As I've written before, the corporations supporting the Tea Party don't care about health care or even taxes as much as they slather for the elimination of environmental regulations. Even though there is no demand for construction, the Growth Machine thrills at the prospect of regulators flushed down the drain. In a good economy, the Growth Machine chafed and roared against government regulators. In a bad economy the Growth Machine triggered, they have their wet dream. But wait, who will the lobbyists have to fight against if the most conservative legislature in Florida history passes the governor's budget? How will the lobbyists be able to gin their fees, once environmental regulators are gone? From the point of view of the environment, Gov. Scott's budget proposed blasts Florida back to the Stone Age. No clean water, no growth management, open hunting season on everything that is left. Congratulations, Tea Party: you got what you asked for.
14 comments:
Rick Scott, anti-environment, anti-worker, anti-education, anti-health care, anti-consumer protechtion, anti-progress. There's one thing and one thing alone that Rick Scott and his cronies value:
The Amighty $.
I could not find one person of color in pictures of this event. Can you imagine if he held this in a synagogue or a mosque? The outcry would be deafening, especially from all those lily-white teabaggers of his.
I have a question that maybe someone can answer. Since he has already sent back money from the federal government for some beginning funding of the Affordable Healthcare Act, is it possible to have a class action lawsuit against the state for denying us our rights as US taxpaying citizens?
Unions should be putting ALL their money and efforts towards Scott. Seijas is small potatoes.
Is it too early to initiate a recall effort?
All the tea party people will soon see Scott impacting them. Yes it is too early for a recall and I have heard paid petitioners are no longer allowed on State petitions.
Rick Scott is trying to balance the state budget defficit on the backs of dedicated state and municipal employees by stealing from their pensions and decimating one of the most fiscally sound pension programs in this country. His claim that FRS participants don't have to pay for their retirement could not be farther from the truth. We do pay, in the form of lower salaries and no raises for the past 3, 5, 7+ years depending on which agency you work for. FRS has earned anverage of over 14% a year on their investments and has nearly recovered all of it's losses since the economic slide began. FRS is now poised to move to higher ground and continue it's long held track record of double digit earnings and a payout ratio to asset value of somewhere less than 5%. FRS is a cash cow for the state and Mr. Scott wants to get his hands on it by changing the statues that protect it. Mr. Scott should be addressing the real missteps that got us a defficit to begin with instead of breaking contractual promises the state made to it's employees and FRS participants when they were hired. SHAME ON YOU RICK SCOTT!
This is what the voters wanted. Now they must pay the price for their wrong-headed votes against themselves. Talking about shooting yourself in the foot, this is a perfect example. Republicans are going to go for the people's jugular because they might not get another chance. Racism is always used as the cheeze in the trap. When the voters go for the cheeze, they always get hurt. Before its over, the people who voted for him are really going to suffer. It is a game the republicans play well.
Tea partiers - don't over mortgage your homes just yet, they may still be slashing prices.
Statistics on privatized prisons are not good.
Twitty Wik is at work.
Scott does not have the wherewithal to really address the problems, he campaigned with a single minded goal; sing for the tea party. What they lacked in intelligence they made up in mood. They woke-up one morning and their puppet-master Bush was gone, so what were they to do? Scott's only talent; taking the fifth.
recall, recall, recall. please.
Rick Scott should cringed at the very thought people would already be yelling RECALL after only a month or two in office. How pathetic that must make him feel.
Remember his (extremely) narrow margin of victory. Basically, half of us didn't want him in and didn't agree with him at election time.
Let's see how many of those that actually voted for him now realize what a slimeball he is.
It wouldn't take many of them realizing it to force a change, would it?
I think the other problem is people weren't too thrilled with Sink and actually didn't vote for either. Yep, I'm guilty of doing that.
For a great blog post, "Menace to Society: 7 Reasons Rick Scott is bad for Florida", see:
http://blog.reidreport.com/2011/02/menace-to-society-7-reasons-rick-scott-is-bad-for-florida/
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