Crist to sign budget, but very quietly

So little will be vetoed from next year's budget that Gov. Charlie Crist won't even bother with a public signing ceremony for the media Wednesday. But with the first cuts in per-pupil spending in decades, deep cuts in vital health care programs and the elimination of hundreds of state jobs, maybe Crist is taking the politically prudent course.

"There will not be a signing ceremony tomorrow (Wednesday)," spokesman Sterling Ivey confirms. Florida TaxWatch has fingered about $100-million worth of questionable pork or "turkeys" in the budget, but Crist signaled to reporters that he considers most lawmakers' stuff to be valuable job-producing projects that help jump-start the economy (Pssst.: It's also an election year). Last year, his first as governor, Crist axed a record $459-million in spending, partly to emphasize his fiscally conservative side.

"If I think they're meritorious, if they're worthy, if they help clean up rivers, for example -- things like that are very important to me," Crist said of this year's projects. (The budget ihas more than $66-million in state-funded water and wastewater projects). Clearly, Crist found little to veto from the shrunken $66-billion budget. But when was the last time he passed up a chance to appear in front of the cameras?

Comments

Governor Crist should veto the $5.25 tax increase that Lee County residents will have to pay because of the state's plan to close the DMV office in North Ft. Myers, which by the way, generates $1 million in net revenue for the state. So the state loses money through the closing, Lee County residents pay more taxes and money-losing DMV offices in affluent communities like Gulf Breeze remain open.

"$100-million worth of questionable pork or turkeys"

After all abused kids, abandoned kids, and kids in general don't vote - so Republicans don't give a darn about them!

Lots of turkeys. What a sham.

That tax increase won't play well with the base. McCain best look elsewhere for a running mate.

Remember in November!

Who wrote this Borowitz! No way Chuck passes on a photo-op… no way!

I thought he was the People's Governor, the Governor of Transparency? then why is he signing the budget "very quietly?" What does he have to hide?

And if the 7:36 comment is correct, why would the state close an office that is generating money? That's just brilliant!

How's that $240 working out for ya'll?

Hahahahahahahaaaaa...

Tight budget year, but the Charlie is taking a summer vacation to the UK, France, Russia and Spain all on our tax dollars. He says its a trade mission to help our economy, but is the expense of this trip with all his staff really worth it??? Your the people's Governor? Then listen up and stop wasting the people tax dollars on your so-called trade mission.