Sansom sets stage for conflict with Crist

House budget chief Ray Sansom issued a not-so-subtle response to Gov. Charlie Crist's budget proposal, criticizing the use of non-recurring money and calling for spending cuts.

"Less than two years ago, the people of Florida voted and told their state leaders to practice fiscal responsibility and not balance the state’s budget using one-time and non-recurring dollars," Sansom said in a statement. "Keeping in mind our constitutional requirements as we consider the Governor’s budget recommendations, we will consider their impact on our state’s fiscal health, not just this coming fiscal year, but also in the future.   

This is going to be a very challenging budget year. With current estimates showing a $2 billion shortfall in upcoming years, the House believes that thoughtful spending reductions would best serve Florida long-term, not tax increases, accounting transfers, or a new reliance on one-time or stagnant revenue sources.

We have also committed to not borrow or bond ourselves out of this situation because we refuse to take the easy way out and pass these tough decisions onto future state leaders.  And while optimistic about our state’s future, we believe that we should continue the practice of maintaining the state’s reserves, because it is fiscally prudent to be prepared in case of hurricanes or other emergencies.

As we work to strengthen our state’s future and diversify our economy, the House is committed to making sure that we balance our budget responsibly.  We look forward to partnering with our colleagues in the Senate and with the Governor to recharge our economy and help make Florida affordable once again."

Comments

Sansom has probably actually read the budget unlike the great Governor.

WAY TO GO RAY!… at least someone up there has a set!

Send "The People's Mistake" a basket of oranges for his bus ride with McAmnesty!

Oh, that's right...

Samson - lead by example - cut the Legislature's budget - how about starting with Rubio's "consultants" at $10,000 a month?

Hey, how about getting rid of another one of the state jets and you guys flying coach or driving like all the other state employees.

our reserves are sinful. It's a rainy day fund. Guess what folks? It's raining!! This is why we have them. Quit taxing us and hording the money. If you don't need it give it back--- what is so hard to understand? It is our money not yours!!

[terminator]

looks as if the house isn't down with Charlie's fairy tale budget.

6:44
Charlie better save the rainy day fund for when the big one hits and Florida taxpayers are on the hook for $28 billion.

Mr. Crist has led a charmed life up until now. He's pushing his luck.

6:44 I never thought of it like that. You are right! It is a rainy day fund and it is raining. Great analogy. Plus, I understand that there are 4 BILLION in reserves and this budget only takes 1 billion.

Even the House budget estimators believe the budget will start rebounding next year. The wise approach would be to use a small portion of the reserves to bridge the gap until next year. Deep cuts could cause real harm to the state economy and are completely unnecessary. Sansom wants to cut now, so he will have far more money to spend when he is Speaker.

Every modern governor prior to Jeb and his knee-jerk Legislatures has rolled out a budget with lots of fanfare only to see it ignored by the Legislature. Jeb was unique in that his governorship reflected the first modern confluence of Republican control of the governorship and the Legislature and everyone wanted to stay in lockstep with their New Republican Hero.

Charlie ain't new nor is he a hero. He'll get his one-day story about his budget then it, too, will hit the legislative recycling bin and we revert to business as usual.

8:41...Right on! Everybody will be fighting over money just like usual.

Actually, 8:01 a.m.,

Most of the economists think that it will be two entire years before the state really recovers.

I do agree that it is raining. Some portion of the rainy day fund and other reserve accounts (formally called working capital) should be spent down to bridge the gap. I always hear conservatives say that just like a family, when your salary goes down you need to make cuts. But in most families, when your salary goes down, you also spend down your savings to bridge the gap while you reset your budget priorities.

I disagree with the headline for the blog. Sansom told his members nearly two weeks ago that they needed to cut $2 billion more from the base budget during the second week of February so that they could meet lowered revenue projections and fund mandated (federal or state constitution) issues in 2008-2009. This is just reminding his members that they are still going to go through that painful process. He didn't pick a fight. He was just making sure that his members didn't get excited about the prospect of not having to vote for more mid-year cuts.

Finally, I would point out to terminator that while he may think that Charlie is just lucky that he is by far more successful than terminator. If I am going to be that lucky, I guess I wouldn't have to be good. Which is terminator hanging his hat on? If he went to a Vegas book and just bet against himself on every political issue, he could be a billionare without being "lucky" at all. With the new gambling in Florida, he may not have to go all that way in a few years; we can only hope.

Amen 9:57 regarding the headline. The press is spoiling for a fight between the Governor and the House, even when there isn't one brewing. Its a press bias toward reporting conflict - without a care towards its political and social consequences.

6:44 - use the rainy day fund if you must, but I would suspect that the (and I hate that it is called this) deficit can be addressed by doing away with un-needed programs.

But the problem with Crist's budget is that it also hits trust funds that have fees collected to perform specific functions - like health inspections, etc.

I find it odd that Alex Sink was quoted in yesterday's Tampa Tribune (sounding more like a republican than our republican governor)...

"But Sink said Crist’s proposal to take money out of the workers’ comp trust fund amounts to a “tax incrrease.”

Employers pay premiums for insurance to cover their workers’ compensation costs, the costs of compensating workers injured on the job. An assessment based on the premiums feeds a trust that covers uninsured costs.

In June, Sink ordered a 50 percent reduction in the assessments that she said would save employers $19 million. That resulted in a total 91 percent reduction since workers’ comp reform was passed in 2003, after years of howls from employers about the growing cost of the program.

“Efficient management and reform of the Workers’ Compensation system” led to the big reduction, she said.

But, “A trust fund sweep of this magnitude will require the state to raise Workers’ Compensation assessments—taxes—on Florida businesses as early as January 2009.”

“I look forward to working with the Governor and the Legislature to prevent assessment increases on Florida’s business owners, many of whom are struggling to balance their own budgets.”

Ha ha ha. Cristi gets Amendment 1 passed by promising people that he'll make up education cuts from the rainy day fund. When the Big One hits, where is he going to steal money from to make up for Citizens Insurance's losses? Hopefully, he'll be McCain's VP by then and outta here.

[terminator]

11:18
yup, that's Cristi's plan alright!

9:57
you may be tooting Charlie's horn but from the looks of the bloggers on Buzz these days apparently a lot of others feel the same way about our fair Governor!

Go Marco. Time to kick some butt this session!

I wish I could create my budget by using funds that I wish I'd win from the lottery... After all, he's also including revenue from the gambling pact that is current being challenged and also from slot machines that aren't even built yet in Miami.

terminator,

As you certainly know (sarcasm), the best way to gauge the real opinions of our citizens is by reading the blogs. OR, you COULD look at the results of the recent elections (ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha). What was it that you predicted again? I can't remember. ha ha ha ha ha ha ha.

On another note, when should the Rainy Day Fund be used? There is over $5 BILLION in state reserves right now. That is our tax money that isn't being used for anything. They took my money, and I got a savings account that they won't touch instead of roads, schools, police, etc. Hey, bud, its raining dude. I had to listen six year ago to Lacasa tell the House floor that you don't use the Rainy Day fund when you are in the middle of declining revenues. I was left to wonder, "They when the hell do ever use the fund?"

[terminator]

1:49
you better hope a big old Hurricane doesn't come along and blow your double wide away come August/September, then you'll find out why we should save the money from the rainy day fund (you know especially since your buddy "the people's Governor" put Florida taxpayers $28 billion behind the eight ball and property insurance still went up)!
I can't wait to see your tax bill next year (you know the one that will save you $240)-the increase the locals will tack on by raising millage due to Charlie shifting $340 million over to the RLE.
When you get done, you can take your family to Shoneys over there in Thonotasassa.
But hey, you still won the election. Doesn't that make you feel better?

1:49 - Rainy Day = unexpected - act of God... the economy has been tanking, it is and ebb and flow thing... it happens...

It would be like saving money for a rainy day fund - for items like a transmission blowing out, new air conditioner for your home...

They are not used to pay your mortgage payment...

terminator,

I am sorry that Charlie did not pass a better insurance bill and my rates went up, but wait, the Governor doesn't pass bills. That is reserved for the Legislature and its leaders to get done. Maybe, you are the reason that Charlie is proposing millions for civics education. You see, if you wanted better insurance laws, you would talk to (or about) the Legislature instead of the Governor.

As to winning the election making me feel better, I would have to say that I always feel better than you, but the election didn't hurt one bit.

[terminator]

wasn't that one of Charlie's major campaign pledges?
And the state's chief executive does possess the bully pulpit.
Not to mention Chuck has GOP advantages in both chambers. Seems like he could do better than that.
What's the matter? Insurance executives too tough for your buddy Charlie the tuna?
He should stop campaigning for his next elected office and get to work solving Florida's problems.
I hate to say it but even Jeb set a lot better example than CC with his part time job as Governor of the nation's fourth largest state!

Actually, I thought that both the executive branch and the Senate have done things within their own powers to enforce the current law or at least bring information to light about why rates haven't gone down. Things like trying to block a major company from writing any auto policies or holding sworn hearings with the threat of mandatory appearances. It seems that only the House leadership is afraid to talk about the insurance issue. Was that based upon your advise to them, or are they just not listening to you? Hey, that sounds like a good idea that I might try.

What is up terminator with you calling people by animal names? It seems like a really weird fetish to always be thinking about sheep, fish, pigs, etc. Personally, I have other things on my mind.

[terminator]

6:33
your answer is probably the best example of bloviating I've ever heard.
So, let me get this straight, even though Charlie made this his #1 campaign priority and the Senate is in lockstep somehow it's the House's fault?
that's beautiful my friend. now if only all those homeowners paying 3x as much as they should for property insurance actually would buy into that theory.
sorry but your buddy Charlie is on the hook for this deal. Don't think anyone is going to go around blaming Marco.
funny how we didn't have these kind of problems with Jeb and Gallagher because they actually knew what they were doing!
remember, it was Charlie at the Cabinet meeting that didn't know what the CAT fund was.
face it, the tan man is in way over his head and now he's stuck like a bug on flypaper. can't wait to see how he's going to get out of this one.
I'm sure he hopes he's long gone by the time the next major hurricane blows in.
He better hope so, cause that's when his jig will be up.