Scott’s Budget Shift Takes Historic Turn

Editor’s Note – A good analysis of Gov. Rick Scott’s approach to the budget process and his relationship with Florida lawmakers and the media.

There’s a lot of talk about how much the Florida Legislature is willing to work with Scott and there’s certainly a trust factor at play.  Hopefully, all involved with be reminded that their ultimate responsibility is to the people of Florida.

As for the media, expect icy conditions to continue for the near future between the Governor’s office and the press.  Which means Floridians should absorb most stories with a discerning eye!

Scott’s Budget Shift Takes Historic Turn

By: Kenric Ward
Sunshine State News

Moving to the right of GOP icon Jeb Bush, Gov. Rick Scott is breaking new ground in his proposed state budget.

With a barebones spending plan to be unveiled Monday in the small Central Florida town of Eustis, Scott is “basically daring the Legislature to go counter to him,” says Susan MacManus, a public administration and political science professor at the University of South Florida.

Not only is Scott taking the novel step of rolling out his budget away from Tallahassee, he is staking out a more fiscally conservative position than any of his recent predecessors. And that includes Bush.

While Bush submitted conservative spending plans each year, he routinely signed off on budgets that were enlarged by the Legislature.

“The fact of the matter is, the budget increased in [Bush's] eight years, and increased dramatically,” said University of Florida political science professor Daniel Smith.

But those were the go-go days of Florida’s growth, and times have changed — fiscally and politically.

Full Story – http://www.sunshinestatenews.com/story/scotts-budget-shift-takes-historic-turn