A tale of two budget proposals leaves Gov. Rick Scott’s tax cuts, education spending at risk
TALLAHASSEE —
Less than two months ago, an enthusiastic Gov. Rick Scott, fresh off his reelection victory, unveiled his plan to spend Florida’s $1 billion surplus.
Tax cuts to the tune of $673 million. A record level of per-student spending. More money for Bright Futures scholarships.
But as the release of the House and Senate budgets showed on Friday, Florida’s financial picture has changed dramatically since then. And Scott, who has become accustomed to having much of his agenda endorsed by the Republican-controlled Legislature in past years, could be due for a disappointment.
Now that lawmakers might be facing a potential $1.3 billion hole in the healthcare budget, many of Scott’s once-attainable goals are in sudden limbo as money gets shifted around to cover gaps.
Senate Appropriations Chair Tom Lee, R-Brandon, said matching Scott’s tax-cut package is far less certain in an $80.4 billion Senate budget that now includes $2.8 billion in federal money to pay for expanded healthcare coverage and $2.2 billion earmarked for uninsured and under-insured patients through what’s called the Low Income Pool, or LIP. The federal government has said the LIP program is ending this spring.
http://www.miamiherald.com/news/
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$673 Million dollars in tax cuts?!?!?! This is what you call return on investment if you're a Koch!
