Gov. Rick Scott on Monday afternoon will unveil a proposed state budget that includes deep spending cuts of an estimated $5 billion and will ask lawmakers to approved a dramatic reduction in property taxes.
He will announce his budget - his first as governor - before a crowd of tea party activists in this small central Florida town about 190 miles from Tallahassee at a rally, beginning at 1 p.m. He will then return to Tallahassee to brief reporters on his budget plan at about 4 p.m..
The budget blueprint, which must be approved by the Legislature, includes promises Scott made on the gubernatorial campaign last fall when he pledged to revolutionize government by running it like an efficient business. He said the leaner budget would set the foundation to create jobs throughout recession-weary Florida.
Scott, a former hospital chain executive, wants legislators to cut more than $1 billion in school property taxes and then transfer money from other sections of the budget. To offset the lost revenue, state workers would contribute to their pensions - for the first time - by contributing five percent of their salaries.
He also wants to trim about $700 million in corporate income taxes in Florida, which already has one of the nation’s lowest rates.
Another big target for savings: the growing health insurance program for the poor and financially challenged, Medicaid.
More than half of Medicaid’s $20.3 billion tab is picked up by the federal government, which can halt some wholesale changes. Scott and the Legislature can cut up to half of the program’s so-called optional services, many of which are popular and are designed to save money, however. Regardless, the state would lose hundreds of millions in federal matching money.
Slashing billions from schools and Medicare in order to give tax breaks to the wealthy and businesses, and making state and local employees pay the difference out of their own pockets. What a nice guy. Welcome to the realm of the "laboratory of democracy" there, Florida. Enjoy your stay.
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