Former Florida Governor Bob Graham slams Rick Scott over education

[seafan]

Lucy Morgan writes in the St. Petersburg Times via the Miami Herald:


March 11, 2011

.....

“This idea of selling Florida as the cheapest state — well that’s what we’ve got now,’’ Graham said in a lengthy telephone interview with the St. Petersburg Times. “To drive it (costs) down at the expense of young people’s education is wrong.’’ ..... Graham, 74, said he fears measures proposed by Scott and supported by the Republican-led Legislature will not only damage education and the quality of life for Floridians, but hurt efforts to attract new business.

.....

Scott has proposed cutting education funding, zeroing out Florida Forever and dismantling the Department of Community Affairs, along with layoffs, pension and health care payments for state employees. The Legislature appears to be following his lead in most respects.

“I’m discouraged at a lot of things that are happening,’’ he said. “It seems so short-sighted, the idea of cutting education by 10 percent seems unbelievable. To cut Florida Forever (the state’s land buying program) to zero and cut down spending on the Everglades — it all damages education and the environment.’’

Of plans to force state employees to pay more for their pensions and health care, he said, “It’s dismissive, like a head coach telling all the players they are lazy and overpaid.

.....

If only this man had been elected to the White House in 2004. We would be in a different place today.



Florida is a bleeding hostage of criminal ideologues, rogues and defrauders of the US Government.

[DirkGently]

1. There's a blast from the past. He is absolutely right, of course.

[onethatcares]

2. I'd prefer Lawton Chiles to speak out

but those days are long gone.

In order to attract high technology business and financial/commerce markets Floriduh is going to teach its' kid to make beds and
cut lawns. One can never have too many maids or landscapers (as long as they are independent contractors exempt from workers compensation and
healthcare, that is).

[Dappleganger]

3. He's probably rolling over in his grave right now...

we have gone so far downhill since he was governor, we are headed for Somalia-status.