Sansom turns off the local pork faucet

Speaker Ray Sansom just announced that he and Senate President Jeff Atwater have agreed that there will be no community budget issue requests this coming legislative session. Not a huge surprise given the budget situation, but the edict is likely to cause a statewide groan.

The local project money, much of it going to worthwhile projects like water plants but some for dubious reasons, is as much a staple in Tallahassee as it is in Washington. (background here.)

"It's going to be sad, it's going to be unsettling, it's going to be unfortunate to the people at home. But we have no money," said Rep. Ron Reagan of Bradenton.

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Comments

sounds like a good start to me.

That's why we need to raise local property taxes. We can't depend on the state while it's run by irresponsible Republicans. First they ruined our economy; given their way, they will destroy our infrastructure as well. Time for the GOP to leave or we'll be living in a ghetto state before too long.

Broward County is run exclusively by Democrats and they can’t even account for billions of dollars over the last 8 years. But you’re right, we should raise taxes and blame everything the legislature. Dumbass.

4:26 how about we just raise YOUR?

FOOL!

[sam]

Does this mean that Marco Rubio's high paying non-job at FIU is not going to be funded?

The American Revolution began out of a local tax revolt.
Tax hikes have never been the answer. Whatever happened to not spending more than you make, saving, and taking risks?

How will David Rivera make a living?

Fausto Gomez may be out of business if he can't bring home turkeys.

How about the legislative pork of providing lunches and dinners for all the members....how much does that cost or is that also paid for with "party funds"

Taxes are required for society to survive. When does it end? When will the cut taxes at all cost Repubs realize that we need the services that these taxes provide?

Don't care which Party, just get this done:

Frank Brogan for Governor
______________

FAU's Brogan gets rave evaluation, refuses $50,000 bonus

By KIMBERLY MILLER
Palm Beach Post Staff Writer
Wednesday, November 19, 2008

Florida Atlantic University President Frank Brogan scored a near A-plus on his annual evaluation Wednesday, but refused a performance bonus citing the faltering economy and possibility of more state budget cuts.

FAU's Board of Trustees awarded Brogan a score of 3.93 on a 4.0 scale and wanted badly to give him a bonus upwards of $50,000.

"I want the world to know how much we appreciate what he does," said trustee Sherry Plymale, during a meeting held at the Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute in Fort Pierce.

Brogan, who left the room while his evaluation was discussed, has accepted just one performance bonus in his nearly six years as president of FAU, although previous offers have been made.

One trustee was so adamant about giving Brogan a bonus, he asked if the board could force it on him despite his objections.

"What are our rights to supersede his desires and reward him in some fashion?" asked trustee Bill Bryant.

Brogan's evaluation included 29 performance areas that were evaluated based on a 4-point scale of "strongly agree" to "strongly disagree." The categories included whether he inspires others, demonstrates leadership, and seizes opportunities to increase university resources.

In only six of the categories was he not awarded the highest accolade.

Trustees ranked Brogan the lowest in his ability as an effective fundraiser - a consistent complaint on previous evaluations.

FAU is trying to raise money to build a 30,000-student football stadium on the Boca Raton campus, but has struggled in the current economy to find donors.

In September, the trustees negotiated another six-year contract with Brogan, which awards him a 10 percent base salary increase beginning in March. That raise will bring his base salary to $357,000.

A Chronicle of Higher Education survey released this week showed Brogan was one of the lowest earning public university presidents in Florida during the2007-2008 school year, ranking him seventh among the 11 schools.

"If anyone wants to challenge his compensation right now, I'll look them right in the eye and say, 'You must be crazy,'" said trustee Scott Adams.

"Try sitting in his seat everyday."

Brogan isn't the only university president to turn down extra pay recently.

University of Central Florida President John Hitt told his trustees that he would not accept a raise because of the budget cuts. University of South Florida President Judy Genshaft has said she doesn't intend to accept a bonus, or pay increase this year.

[Realist]

This is just one example of very painful cuts to come. We have no money and the repubs will not raise more revenue from corporations or through closing tax loopholes. We get the govt we elect and we elected these guys. Get ready for some real pain over the next few years.

[The Economy]

The Bush/Republican economy in action:

* The Dow, as Bush takes office: 10,587.59
* The Dow, eight years later: 7,997.28

That's GOP economics for ya'. You betcha'.

How does the President control the Dow? What a joke.

The Dow tanked twice under Bush. The conservatives caused a recession and now a depression. Vote the rest of them out ASAP!

Quit trying to destroy our local government with tax cuts. Vote the Republicans out in Tallahassee. When will we stop putting in government fools who hate government? What do you expect when you do?

http://online.wsj.com/public/article_print/SB122039890722392873.html

- Economic growth. U.S. output has expanded faster than in most advanced economies since 2000. The IMF reports that real U.S. gross domestic product (GDP) grew at an average annual rate of 2.2% over the period 2001-2008 (including its forecast for the current year). President Bush will leave to his successor an economy 19% larger than the one he inherited from President Clinton. This U.S. expansion compares with 14% by France, 13% by Japan and just 8% by Italy and Germany over the same period.

The latest ICP findings, published by the World Bank in its World Development Indicators 2008, also show that GDP per capita in the U.S. reached $41,813 (in purchasing power parity dollars) in 2005. This was a third higher than the United Kingdom's, 37% above Germany's and 38% more than Japan's.

- Household consumption. The ICP study found that the average per-capita consumption of the U.S. population (citizens and illegal immigrants combined) was second only to Luxembourg's, out of 146 countries covered in 2005. The U.S. average was $32,045. This was well above the levels in the UK ($25,155), Canada ($23,526), France ($23,027) and Germany ($21,742). China stood at $1,751.

- Health services. The U.S. spends easily the highest amount per capita ($6,657 in 2005) on health, more than double that in Britain. But because of private funding (55% of the total) the burden on the U.S. taxpayer (9.1% of GDP) is kept to similar levels as France and Germany. The U.S. Census Bureau reports that 84.7% of the U.S. population was covered by health insurance in 2007, an increase of 3.6 million people over 2006. The uninsured can receive treatment in hospitals at the expense of private insurance holders.

While life expectancy is influenced by lifestyles and not just access to health services, the World Bank nevertheless reports that average life expectancy in the U.S. rose to 78 years in 2006 (the same as Germany's), from 77 in 2000.

- Income and wealth distribution. The latest World Bank estimates show that the richest 20% of U.S. households had a 45.8% share of total income in 2000, similar to the levels in the U.K. (44.0%) and Israel (44.9%). In 65 other countries the richest quintile had a larger share than in the U.S.

Let's see how quickly we become a 3rd world country over the next 8 years...

Let’s hold local governments accountable. Cities and counties continue to waste millions of dollars.

[Vote out the RePIGlican's NOW!]

Now that the Repiglican's are in power, let's see how fast the econmy goes down the tubes. Pigs! Oink Oink! Pork! McPig, McSame, McTerrible! Pigs! More pork for the piggies!

[The Economy]

9:08
Keith Marsden, the author of the article you posted is a Right-Wing Economist, usually described in biographies as an "economics consultant to several UN agencies".

You cannot Spin or hide the Economic Depression America is sinking further into with your Propaganda any longer.

Republican party policies are a complete and utter failure that have put America where it is now...in the economic toilet.

I guess this is going to lead to a conflict between Sansom and Crist, because investment in local infrastructure is not "pork", but bailing out your pals at US Sugar sure is.

what about that Nicaraguan festival? What will they do?

Great, so the people who pay taxes and may need certain services like senior centers, or important community services, who are telling their legislators how they want their money spent, can just go jump in the lake because the legislature needs to spend the money on things like CSX and stuff they want. Super!

What short memories you have!
Rubio and Pruitt said the same thing about local projects before they started, and look how that turned out. Why should anyone believe it this time?

8:33 Why would anyone want to believe it? Who cares what Rubio and the other selfish neocons say? As if they cared about anything besides their corporate welfare developers and Big Business pals.

8:11 FACTCHECK; The DOW lost most of those points between 2006 - and last month - a period during which the Democrats were solidly in charge of Congress - both Houses - and Congress controls the pursestrings.

This lousy economy? Another Democrat egg.

[Republicans destroyed our economy.]

9:14 Good luck peddaling that load of BS. Deregulation is the reason for the meltdown. Conservatives practice deregulation like it was a religion. You are to blame 100%.

[chuck]

The bushies sure took credit for the state of our economy and how it got there up to just recently.All the pundits,neocons,right through to the local parrots all spoke of how this was a cyclical movement and just a natural movement for the markets.Now of course,the brainwashed fox watchers did a 180 and claimed,,,ITS THE DEMS THAT ARE RESPONSIBLE!!!
As for blaming the "do nothing" congress,
why was this congress so impotent? The brain washed far right extremist will forget to say anything about new records set for blocked/filibuster votes by the republicans.

Sounds like the brainwashed far left extremists forgot to take their meds this morning.

Why all the anger? Democrats have been in control of Congress for over two years now and have done absolutely nothing to address worsening economy.

Dow Jones when Democrats take control of Congress in 2006:

12,200

Dow Jones two years later:

8,800

Why would anyone invest in the market right now when Obama has promised to double the capital gains tax?

What you are seeing is a run on the market as people, especially those close to retirement, pull their investments before Obama takes office.

The best thing Obama could do at this point is to say he is going to temporarily suspend the capital gains tax for a period, let's say 2 years. That would encourage investment and start the economy going in the right direction.

The very worst thing he could do is follow through with his promise to double the capital gains tax. That will tank the market for good.

[Republicans ruined our economy.]

Sounds like the same blathering Troll still refuses to admit that the conservatives and their tax cuts for the rich and deregulation and lack of oversight completely ruined our economy. Yeah, that's how we fix it; more of the same.

Let me ask you again 11:17, since you didn't answer the first time...

Why would anyone invest in the market when Obama and the Democrat Congress have plans to raise the capital gains tax considerably?

Why not cash out now and pay a lower rate?

What incentive is there to invest?

You can't argue economics with leftist...they know that they have no idea what they are talking about, so they resort to personal attacks.

Barney Frank and Nancy Pelosi are doing a wonderful job!

No, you cannot have an idea exchange as this troll clearly does not have any basic understanding of economics.
All they do is repeat empty slogans and chants.
McSame, ooo, McSame!!

Hey Lenin, got news flesh for you:
Clinton deregulated our banking system back in 99. He was a firm supporter.
Stop embarrassing yourself with your anti-republican spews, learn some facts first. Put down your crack pipe and take your Prozac.

Does this include the "pork" of his own job at the community college, or is it only the pork from the "other" members who don't count as much as him?

[This is ironic!!!]

Have some ham, professor!