(Jeb) Bush: Fund needy, cut tax

[Rose Siding]

TALLAHASSEE - On the eve of the 2005 Legislature, Gov. Jeb Bush proposed speeding up the elimination of an investments tax and fully funding a health care program for the gravely ill and uninsured.

....The Legislature has been chipping away for years at the intangibles tax - a tax on stocks and bonds - and eliminating it has been a priority of the governor's.
...
"Given the robust nature of our economy, this would be a good time to do it," Bush said.
...
Bush had proposed gutting most of the Medically Needy program but sought to avoid a political battle that could threaten his ambitious plan to convert Medicaid into a government-funded private insurance plan. "I didn't want the Medically Needy issue to get in the way of discussion about Medicaid reform," Bush said Monday. "I thought it was appropriate to take that off the table for the Legislature."
...
"Democrats are glad to see the governor finally embrace our position of caring for our state's most needy Floridians by restoring funding to the Medically Needy program. At the same time, it's a shame his change of heart had to accompany a proposal to give Florida's multimillionaires a larger tax break," said House Democratic leader Chris Smith of Fort Lauderdale.

http://www.sptimes.com/2005/03/08/State/Bush__Fund_needy__cut.shtml

[Mistress Quickly]

1. What's the catch?

There has to be a catch, it sounds too reasonable. Not great, mind you, but reasonable.

[Rose Siding]

3. He wants to clear the field to privatize medicaid

He's faced some GOP opposition because of the horrible services that resulted from some of his other privatization schemes, as well as questions about whether any money was saved.

And how can he consider MORE tax cuts for the wealthy when some of the poorest in his state are under assault by his brother's cuts?

snip>
Under the president's plan, the federal Community Development Block Grant program, on which cities rely to fight poverty, would lose about $2.3 billion. Span said the partnership plans to fight the cuts by using the national tour to expand awareness of poverty.

Miami City Commissioner Joe Sanchez said the reduction in funding would have a devastating affect on Miami.

"This is a crucial time for our city and senior citizens and there is a great need for these services in our community," Sanchez said. "We have gotten cuts in the past and we have managed but this will be tough."

A report released by Covering Kids & Families, a national campaign to provide health care for children and families, Florida has 593,000 uninsured children or 15.2 percent of the child population, the fourth-highest rate in the nation.

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/miami/sfl-dpoverty23feb23,0,3814039.story?coll=sfla-news-miami

[hatrack]

2. Yeah, I hear Florida's economy is really "robust" these days

:eyes: