Gaetz opposed Crist plan

From our sister blog, The Gradebook: Gov. Charlie Crist's heavy reliance on new gambling revenue to boost education funding doesn't impress Senate Education chairman Don Gaetz, who tells the Gradebook he won't support that idea.

"I fear the bait and switch," said Gaetz, who was in Pasco County to talk about career education. "This is what we saw in the Florida lottery...I just think that if what I would call hard gambling becomes the new drug that our budget gets addicted to, we will form a dangerous addiction and there will be an eventual bait and switch," Gaetz said. "So I will vote against the expansion of gambling as a primary method of supporting education in the state."

Comments

Thank you, Senator Gaetz, you are correct.

Gaetz... what an effing arrogant know-it-all.

[terminator]

Senator Gaetz not buying Charlie's snake oil?
Pruitt and Geller better have a talk with him.
That was Chuck and the Donald's plan all along. Slowly open up Florida to casino gambling. Why do you think he goes to NY every chance he gets (not just to hobnob with wealthy divorcees and the other snobs from the Hamptons).
Well, at least one Senator has some cajones.

5:02
You must not know the man. He stands by his priciples, and is attuned to his constituents.

5:06: You must not know the man. He is an arrogant blowhard who can't be told anything. He always knows best and has all the answers. He has quickly made a number of enemies since coming to Tallahassee because of his pompous style and his "better-than-thou" attitude.

If he were to take a couple steps down from his high horse, he might be a bit more effective for his constituents and the State in the long run. It doesn't help that he has a tendency to condemn ideas with sweeping generalizations based on his personal life history, as if he is the sole authority on how to properly do things just because he had some success in a backwards Panhandle county. There are a thousand Gaetz's, and they usually amount to nothing.

I agree that Gaetz is extremely intelligent and has some good ideas, but until he learns how to be a statesman, he will enjoy little success.

It doesn't help his cause that the ever-wrong terminator is coming to his defense.

6:42
Ooooh, did he shoot down one of your ideas?
And he was a very successful businessman in Miami, before ever moving to the Panhandle.
But, I do agree on one thing, if terminator is coming to his defense, we are headed for a new ice age.

[Maverick]

Let's hear Sen Gaetz out. I have a feeling he is right.

I'm going to have to agree with 6:42 on this matter. Saying the Governor's education budget is funded primarily by gambling is a BIT of a stretch. Shame on you Senator Gaetz.

I'm fairly sure Gaetz has accomplished more than 6:42.

Whatever Don wants, Don Gaetz

how do you manage this one Heff?

Hugh Heffner manages Don Gaetz?

Gaetz is a real conservative. Its a dying breed in the Florida Senate.

Gaetz is probably the most accomplished memebr of the Florida Legislature. He actually has done something with his life before becoming a public servant. He has been a success in business, a self-made man. He has been successful as a county elected official. He is already a leader in the Senate after just one session. 6:42 - you will be shining his shoes soon, if not already!

Gaetz gives Republicans hope. Strong on education, pro-family, anti-tax, anti-gambling. Gaetz for Governor!

[peggy arvanitas]

So why are we mad at a self made congressman for saying the truth? There is no FIX for Crist and our budget without looking at the rich friends he PLAYS with (hey Donald) and making their companies PAY more in taxes.
We should ABOLISH Enterprise Florida. I dont want another give a way to a rich snob company to come to Florida. I have done real estate since 1988. How about we GIVE MONEY like a lottery to the companies too stupid to leave? Or hanging by an investment thread?

I dont want another friendly $100 MIL to an Oregon research university so Senator Pruitt can have some CONSTRUCTION work in St Lucie. Cut Enterprise Florida's NON TRANSPARENCY (hello Crist and the open Govt Commission we paid $2 MIL a year for).

No more give a ways...Business needs to pay, and gambling for our future, we will go in the toilet, because whether we like it or not, big business needs to pay more for Florida opportunities to charge the HECK out of the poor people that stay, and we might need a service tax.

We are in a recession. We cant SPEND our way out of it, or visit Jeb Bush's brother and see how that is working nationally for him...

Who the heck is Gaetz? He has hardly been around in the legislature that long so who cares what this newcomer thinks?

Gaetz is an arrogant rookie who is becoming one of the most hated members of the legisalature. He has the biggest mouth in the south.

Hey Gaetz - wait your turn.

[terminator]

you all haters are just mad cause Gaetz isn't a typical sheep like most of the others in that spineless body they call the Florida Senate.

for those unintiated, Gaetz was a self made millionaire who became Superintendent of Okaloosa County (Ft. Walton Beach).

Gaetz is presently Chairman of the Senate Education K-12 committee which means all public education matters go through his committee.

He also sits on the Education Appropriations Committee, so if you have children in the public schools, he's a pretty important guy.

8:11 - care to leave your name? I didn't think so...because the truth is that you fear Don Gaetz. His turn is coming fast and I am quite certain you will be in line to kiss his rear end.

There are some really jealous and scared people on this blog. Gaetz has been a major player since the day he walked into the Senate and some lobbyists are very, very fearful of him because he doesn't take any crap from them.

[chewyandbert]

Gaetz is probably the most sensible proponent of education in the state.....and more. He's not only been a successful businessman, he created the Choice program which finally puts high school priorities right.....on career education. He has measurable statistics and produced results as sup of schools. He is a warm and engaging man who doesn't suck up to fools. Any time someone tries to change the horrid school system for the better, they'll be roadblocks. Gaetz is intelligent and understands fully how to fix our educational system.

11:01- are you talking about Rhett O'Doski?????

Gaetz Resume: Self made multi-millionare in the health care industry; Best School Superintendent in FL; Record breaking fundraiser for the Senate (ran Holly Benson out of the race); Chairman of Education as a freshman; Top Atwater Lt. @ RPOF for fundraising.

Why the backlash? The guy seems to do everything that is asked of him. He is smart and solidly conservative. I think he is a rising star in Florida politics.

11:57 is absolutley coorect. You lobbyists that don't like Gaetz are the same ones who hated the good looking girls in high school because none of them would give you a second look.

Sanford