Rather than waiting on legislative approval for his most recent budget cut push, Florida Gov. Rick Scott has issued an executive order slashing the state budget for social workers and group homes for the disabled. #
The cuts would affect between 30,000 and 35,000 Floridians with severe developmental disabilities. They go into effect Friday and will remain in place at least through June 30, the end of Florida?s fiscal year. #
The news comes at the same time as a report that the Agency for Persons with Disabilities has received approval for a federal Medicaid waiver program that is designed to help stabilize the budget. Nevertheless, the agency is now expected to operate with 15 percent less funding. #
Bob Wright, a board member and former CEO of Winter Park?s Threshold Center for Autism, told the Sentinel that the most practical way to make do with less funding ? cutting staff accordingly ? would be an impossibility because it would put the Treshold Center in violation of state laws on staff-to-patient ratios. ?This may break our backs,? he said. #
Wright went on: #
If this were any other workplace, you would consider it a war zone. ? My staff gets bitten, hit, kicked, spat upon, defecated on, urinated on ? for $8.23 an hour. And every time we start talking about giving our guys a pay raise, the governor comes along and cuts the rates. #In an ironic display of temerity, governor?s office staff happily tweeted about an appearance Scott made at a fundraiser for the Special Olympics on the same day he authorized the order. #
this speaks for itself...this man has no shame!
GoodWitch58GoodWitch58Beach Fanatic4,810 postsJoined View profileMessageBeach Fanatic
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Scott slashes budget for Floridians with disabilities | The Florida Independent
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Bob WellsBob WellsBeach Fanatic3,380 postsJoined View profileMessageBeach Fanatic
Bob WellsBeach Fanatic3,380 postsJoined View profileMessageBeach FanaticLess government should mean more local control.
No truer words. Well let me give you a scenerio. The State is turning over the Driver Licences places over to the Local Governments. Much like the Clerk of Courts they will fund it, but much like the Clerks of Courts they start cutting funding and and Local goverment has to pick up more of the tab.
When the lottery was sold to the people of Florida, the money was to be used for education. What they failed to tell you was it was to be used for Capital Improvements, at the same time the State was reducing per student funding for education and then increasing the burden on the local School Board to raise taxes. oh IMO.
No truer words. Well let me give you a scenerio. The State is turning over the Driver Licences places over to the Local Governments. Much like the Clerk of Courts they will fund it, but much like the Clerks of Courts they start cutting funding and and Local goverment has to pick up more of the tab.
When the lottery was sold to the people of Florida, the money was to be used for education. What they failed to tell you was it was to be used for Capital Improvements, at the same time the State was reducing per student funding for education and then increasing the burden on the local School Board to raise taxes. oh IMO.
idlewindidlewindBeach FanaticWalton/Okaloosa County and a little south alabama 2,687 postsJoined View profileMessageBeach Fanatic
Less government should mean more local control.
No truer words. Well let me give you a scenerio. The State is turning over the Driver Licences places over to the Local Governments. Much like the Clerk of Courts they will fund it, but much like the Clerks of Courts they start cutting funding and and Local goverment has to pick up more of the tab.
When the lottery was sold to the people of Florida, the money was to be used for education. What they failed to tell you was it was to be used for Capital Improvements, at the same time the State was reducing per student funding for education and then increasing the burden on the local School Board to raise taxes. oh IMO.
You have hit on another major problem. The RINOS and liberals "give control" of operations to local government but retain control over the funding mechanisms. So the locals like the Clerk have all the responsibility but no control over the purse strings. For us to have true local control, the local entities must have control over operations and funding.
Just me talking, but I do not think most of us are that far apart on what we want and believe once you get past the labels and the accusations that are fostered by mainstream media.
30ashopper30ashopperSoWal InsiderRight here!6,845 postsJoined View profileMessageSoWal Insider
30ashopperSoWal InsiderRight here!6,845 postsJoined View profileMessageSoWal InsiderAfter talks with the House and Senate, Gov. Rick Scott said he'll reverse his deep rate cuts to the Agency for Persons with Disabilities because legislators said they'll fill the deficit. Scott issued an emergency order earlier this month to cut rates by at least 15 percent because APD was scheduled to go into deficit in mid May. Projected budget hole: $174 million.
Because the state forbids deficits, Scott said he had little choice but to cut rates.
The House planned to deal with the situation by plugging this year's budget deficit in next year's proposed budget. The Senate had no such language. But Senate President Mike Haridopolos said last week that his chamber wanted to fill the hole.
Senate budget chief JD Alexander said earlier today that the Legislature would fill the deficit, but APD is on notice: "No agency will ever over-spend its budget authority. It will not happen again."
Gov. Rick Scott reverses developmental disabilities cuts | Florida politics blog: The Buzz | tampabay.com & St. Petersburg Times
The legislature back filled it, and warned them on doing it again. :roll:
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