[bbronston]

So, that is the answer. No "stimulus money" (talk about a completely wrong name) means that the state has to come up with more money to keep the schools at a minimal level of function. And, to do that, other areas will have to be cut. Everyone complains but no one has a solution for raising more money. If he proposed raising taxes, I wonder how that might be received?

[chopchop0]

Originally Posted by hiknapster

The rest of the story:

So you expect Scott to magically continue the temporary Obama stimulus funding for education?

[hiknapster]

Originally Posted by chopchop0

So you expect Scott to magically continue the temporary Obama stimulus funding for education?

My post had nothing to do with expectations. It was a direct quote from the article and I put it there since there seemed to be some confusion on whether Scott was flip-flopping. Not one person had mentioned that he was giving more money to the schools but that there would still be a shortfall. Where in there do you see an opinion, an expectation or magic?

But since you brought up stimulus funds, oh the irony. Your boy campaigned against stimulus funds yet signed a budget, last May, that kept at least $369 million from the stimulus.

So while I was simply adding a quote that seemed to answer some forum members questions I am certainly game to revisit Scott trying to wiggle out of the question: Why did you take stimulus money when you spent some much time railing against it?


Rick Scott bungles stimulus answer - YouTube

[Kevin from Tampa]

I consider myself a fiscal conservative...but I think this just shows that Scott doesn't know what he's doing. Even state Republicans last year decried his education budget. Now he's backtracking...why didn't he listen last year?

I guess this is better than cutting again, but my take is that it shows that he doesn't really have much of a clue about "good" government spending.

[gypsychic]

Originally Posted by Kevin from Tampa

I consider myself a fiscal conservative...but I think this just shows that Scott doesn't know what he's doing. Even state Republicans last year decried his education budget. Now he's backtracking...why didn't he listen last year?

I guess this is better than cutting again, but my take is that it shows that he doesn't really have much of a clue about "good" government spending.

That is an understatement! LOL! No clue is right!

[bbronston]

I'm not real pleased with him, either, but I don't see your logic here. There's only X amount of money available to spend. Last year, he was able to supplement that money with 'stimulus' money for the schools even though he thought the principle was a bad one (if the other posts here are correct.) If nothing else, that shows me that he has at least some degree of flexibility in his ideology. I don't see much of that same flexibility in some of the comments I read here. This year he still has X amount of money with no supplement so, yes, he's budgeting a higher dollar amount for the schools but that only means that he must cut more somewhere else. That shows me that he understands that education needs a baseline amount at the expense of other budget lines that won't be able to get their baseline amounts. Again, it appears to me that he is showing his belief that education is a priority but within the constraints of the limited amount of money available to fund ALL of the state's expenses. There's a very real limit to what they can do for any budget item when there is such a huge drop in available revenue. Again, I have to ask everyone who is upset with the budget choices if they would be willing to pay more in taxes (either on a state or local level) to further fund their causes of choice or do they just prefer to complain about the decisions made in Tally? Do you really think the money is available but those mean politicians just won't part with it? Sheesh....

[chopchop0]

Originally Posted by hiknapster

My post had nothing to do with expectations. It was a direct quote from the article and I put it there since there seemed to be some confusion on whether Scott was flip-flopping. Not one person had mentioned that he was giving more money to the schools but that there would still be a shortfall. Where in there do you see an opinion, an expectation or magic?

But since you brought up stimulus funds, oh the irony. Your boy campaigned against stimulus funds yet signed a budget, last May, that kept at least $369 million from the stimulus.

So while I was simply adding a quote that seemed to answer some forum members questions I am certainly game to revisit Scott trying to wiggle out of the question: Why did you take stimulus money when you spent some much time railing against it?

He isn't my boy, but I just thought I'd post something to rile up all the people on here who hate him. I actually voted 3rd party in the election because between medicare-fraud Scott and BOA-fraud Sink, I thought it made the most sense.

He did what anyone in his position would do. Kinda like the lefties who proclaim higher taxes on the wealthy until the taxes hit them, or the righties who proclaim cutting spending but then protest when their medicare or SS payment gets cut.

[vaughanwilliams]

Originally Posted by bbronston

Again, I have to ask everyone who is upset with the budget choices if they would be willing to pay more in taxes (either on a state or local level) to further fund their causes of choice or do they just prefer to complain about the decisions made in Tally? Do you really think the money is available but those mean politicians just won't part with it? Sheesh....

I have no problem with paying more in taxes as long as it doesn't end up in some slush fund in Tallahassee to be used for pet projects (Taj Mahal court houses).

[crazynip]

Ok, so he is increasing spending for education. I dont give a **** because I dont have kids. Is he doing anything else positive? I still see nothing but negatives

[bbronston]

Originally Posted by vaughanwilliams

I have no problem with paying more in taxes as long as it doesn't end up in some slush fund in Tallahassee to be used for pet projects (Taj Mahal court houses).

Ditto...but I doubt it would ever get past an election.