Back to SoWal Lounge

Florida's Budget Proposals...Unenlightened, Shortsighted and Irresponsible.

GoodWitch58Beach Fanatic
1,023 views
Florida budget plans are shortsighted, irresponsible - St. Petersburg Times
A more enlightened Legislature would take a more balanced approach to lessen the pain. It could make it easier to collect the state sales tax on Internet sales as a House committee approved on Tuesday. It could start closing sales tax exemptions on goods and services. It could attract more federal matching dollars in health care, social services and unemployment compensation. It could free millions in private gifts to universities waiting for public matching dollars. Instead, Gov. Rick Scott and the Republicans who control the Legislature have backed themselves into a corner by focusing solely on cutting spending and refusing to raise revenue.

Florida will never cut its way back to prosperity. Businesses and families cannot be expected to invest their futures in a state that cares so little about investing in its institutions and its people.

I wonder what it will take before voters wise up?

Edited

Replies

27
Bob Wells avatar
Bob WellsBeach Fanatic
#2
With all these cuts for the medically needy, and medicaid the cost of hospital care will be going up. So those who use the hospital services will be paying more to cover the losses imposed by the Legislature and Governor. IMO
If you don't think there will be a trickle down look at it this way. Folks who would normally use Tri County or Okaloosa transit to go to doctors appointments may end up using ambulances to go to the ER instead. Now the taxpayer is on the hook for the transport for a higher amount. It also takes an ambulance out of service for emergencies. Its cheaper to fund a van transport than ambulance transport, and visiting a physician in an office is much cheaper than visiting one in the ER. IMO

Edited

GoodWitch58Beach FanaticAuthor
#3
To Legislature, the enemy is us - Fred Grimm - MiamiHerald.com
It must be a struggle for dutiful legislators just keeping track of who to punish: teachers, judges, foster children, environmentalists, state workers, prison guards, probation officers, the mentally disabled, school kids, immigrants, college students, school board members, nosy doctors, the poor (especially if they?re sick), state regulators.

So many adversaries. It?s as if the wild and vengeful 2011 Legislature has adopted the old Pogo observation as the state motto: ?We have met the enemy and he is us.?



Read more: http://www.miamiherald.com/2011/04/06/2154375/to-legislature-the-enemy-is-us.html#ixzz1IwYMJAVa

Edited

Matt J avatar
Matt JSWGB
#4
This is going to be bad for many many people, and unfortunately it's probably going to get worse. Reinstating the funds for medical needs will be next to impossible once cut. On the bright side Sacred Heart can gobble up Bay Medical for pennies on the dollar.
Bob avatar
BobSoWal Insider
#5
keep cashing those checks generational warrior-poets of tetley
idlewindBeach Fanatic
#6
To Legislature, the enemy is us - Fred Grimm - MiamiHerald.com




Looks like they are spreading the pain around pretty good. Seriously, what would you suggest they cut differently in order to achieve a balanced budget? Without further damaging the economy? We allowed the government to go so far into fiscal insanity and now the bill is due. It will be painful for whoever takes the cuts because cuts are always painful.
30ashopper avatar
30ashopperSoWal Insider
#7
Looks like they are spreading the pain around pretty good. Seriously, what would you suggest they cut differently in order to achieve a balanced budget? Without further damaging the economy? We allowed the government to go so far into fiscal insanity and now the bill is due. It will be painful for whoever takes the cuts because cuts are always painful.

They don't want to cut, they want to raise revenue through increased taxation and pull more income from [strike]the federal government[/strike] China. (But apparently Gov. Scott is the irresponsible one, go figure. :roll🙂 All this liberal gnashing of teeth is rather entertaining really. In the end, the budget will pass and the state and it's residents will be just fine. They may even be better off.
beachmouse avatar
beachmouseBeach Fanatic
#8
How the holy hell does losing your subsidized prescription for anti-rejection drugs after a kidney transplant make someone 'better off'? Or the disabled elderly person left sitting in a soiled two day old Depends because the money that used to pay for a person who changed that has been slashed?

Edited

30ashopper avatar
30ashopperSoWal Insider
#9
Nothing like that will actually happen. It's just a bunch of horror stories cooked up by liberals in an effort to scare people.
beachmouse avatar
beachmouseBeach Fanatic
#10
Yeah, yeah, keep trying to pretend it isn't true. In the meantime, here's the latest column by well known local non-liberal Del Stone:

DEL STONE JR. Our most vulnerable citizens will suffer because of state cutbacks | mcdaniel, vulnerable, most - Northwest Florida Daily News


She lies in her bed at her Elliott?s Point home, a 23-year-old infant. She receives her meals through a tube. She is utterly dependent on round-the-clock care. ...

... care that may soon end.

Natalie?s mother, Vanessa McDaniel, got the call at 3 o?clock on April 1 ? a nasty surprise on a day known for harmless pranks. Natalie was being discharged by her care provider because the state agency that helps foot those bills was ordered by the governor?s office to cut payments to providers by 15 percent.

Fifteen percent doesn?t sound like much, but 15 percent will probably make the difference in Natalie receiving professional home care, Vanessa having a job, and Vanessa?s care provider remaining in business.

I an utterly sickened that you think this is no big deal.
Andy A avatar
Andy ABeach Fanatic
#11
They don't want to cut, they want to raise revenue through increased taxation and pull more income from [strike]the federal government[/strike] China. (But apparently Gov. Scott is the irresponsible one, go figure. :roll🙂 All this liberal gnashing of teeth is rather entertaining really. In the end, the budget will pass and the state and it's residents will be just fine. They may even be better off.
30ashopper, it is useless for you, Idlewind and I to express our views or opinions any longer on this board unless we are doing so for our own solace or to just vent. No one but the few of us and the members on the opposite side reads any of it. We aren't going to change our position, for the most part, and they certainly show no inclination to change theirs. As of last view, 20 members were on the board. Only 5 were in this forum. Guests cannot view what we say. IMO, the forum, for the most part, is now useless as far as creating a difference of opinion to be analyized by people who do not already have a standing position because they are not here and cannot read what is written by either side.
Matt J avatar
Matt JSWGB
#12
Actually Andy A. the simply fact is that the right went after very small budget items that were clearly social issues. Planned Parenthood isn't going to bankrupt this country. If you want me to take your panicked screams that the country is going to implode seriously then start with the real stuff. Tomorrow we pack up and get the heck out of dodge in Iraq and Afghanistan. Then cut the military spending in half, that'll still leave us five times bigger than the next military might.
30ashopper avatar
30ashopperSoWal Insider
#13
Yeah, yeah, keep trying to pretend it isn't true. In the meantime, here's the latest column by well known local non-liberal Del Stone:

DEL STONE JR. Our most vulnerable citizens will suffer because of state cutbacks | mcdaniel, vulnerable, most - Northwest Florida Daily News

I an utterly sickened that you think this is no big deal.

The state was spending at a level equal to the current proposed budget just a year ago (2009-2010) and spent the same in the fiscal year prior to that as well. So please explain to me why suddenly everyone will suffer now that we've dropped all the stimulus money from the budget and cut back to those levels. (Especially considering the state's population numbers have dropped since then.)

$51 Billion (2000-2001 Fiscal Year)
$47 Billion (2001-2002)
$50.4 Billion (2002-2003)
$53.5 Billion (2003-2004)
$57.3 Billion (2004-2005)
$64.7 Billion (2005-2006)
$73.6 Billion (2006-2007)
$71.2 Billion (est) (2007-2008)
$66.2 Billion (est) (2008-2009)
$66.5 Billion (2009-2010)
$70.4 Billion (2010-2011)

est. $66 Billion (2011-2012)

Edited

30ashopper avatar
30ashopperSoWal Insider
#14
30ashopper, it is useless for you, Idlewind and I to express our views or opinions any longer on this board unless we are doing so for our own solace or to just vent. No one but the few of us and the members on the opposite side reads any of it. We aren't going to change our position, for the most part, and they certainly show no inclination to change theirs. As of last view, 20 members were on the board. Only 5 were in this forum. Guests cannot view what we say. IMO, the forum, for the most part, is now useless as far as creating a difference of opinion to be analyized by people who do not already have a standing position because they are not here and cannot read what is written by either side.

Personally I think Kurt made a mistake there - I used to find political forum threads in google search. With those hidden, I'd bet SoWal traffic was hurt somewhat by it. But it's Kurt's site, he can do what he pleases. I like the interaction even if nobody changes their mind. It's fun. 😀 Sort of like Soduko, it keeps the mind sharp.
Matt J avatar
Matt JSWGB
#15
The state was spending at a level equal to the current proposed budget just a year ago (2009-2010) and spent the same in the fiscal year prior to that as well. So please explain to me why suddenly everyone will suffer now that we've dropped all the stimulus money from the budget and cut back to those levels. (Especially considering the state's population numbers have dropped since then.)

$51 Billion (2000-2001 Fiscal Year)
$47 Billion (2001-2002)
$50.4 Billion (2002-2003)
$53.5 Billion (2003-2004)
$57.3 Billion (2004-2005)
$64.7 Billion (2005-2006)
$73.6 Billion (2006-2007)
$71.2 Billion (est) (2007-2008)
$66.2 Billion (est) (2008-2009)
$66.5 Billion (2009-2010)
$70.4 Billion (2010-2011)

est. $66 Billion (2011-2012)

Okay, we'll go over this one more time. People rely on social services when times are bad. Currently times are bad so there is a much higher strain on social services. I know I know you don't care about other people and they should just buck up and get a job, but that's not always an option for everyone.
30ashopper avatar
30ashopperSoWal Insider
#16
Okay, we'll go over this one more time. People rely on social services when times are bad. Currently times are bad so there is a much higher strain on social services. I know I know you don't care about other people and they should just buck up and get a job, but that's not always an option for everyone.

Unemployment Rate in Florida (Graph)

Well maybe we should have thought of that back in 2005->2007.

The correlary of course is that when times are tough there are fewer people out there capable of providing tax revenue to fund all those social services you think people need. You can't squeeze blood from a turnip.. and money doesn't grow on trees. Hard times are hard times, for everyone.

Edited

poppyBanned
#17
Unemployment Rate in Florida (Graph)

Well maybe we should have thought of that back in 2005->2007.

The correlary of course is that when times are tough there are fewer people out there capable of providing tax revenue to fund all those social services you think people need. You can't squeeze blood from a turnip.. and money doesn't grow on trees. Hard times are hard times, for everyone.

:shock: Everyone?
beachmouse avatar
beachmouseBeach Fanatic
#18
Well maybe we should have thought of that back in 2005->2007.

Jeb! actually had some moments of responsibility then- he was the first one to say that the budget surpluses should NOT go to operating expenses, only things that would be non-recurring. The state ended paying cash for a lot of capital projects it would have normally issued bonds to pay for, and is now in a better position than it would have been if we were having to make bond repayments on top of the current financial deficits.
idlewindBeach Fanatic
#19
Jeb! actually had some moments of responsibility then- he was the first one to say that the budget surpluses should NOT go to operating expenses, only things that would be non-recurring. The state ended paying cash for a lot of capital projects it would have normally issued bonds to pay for, and is now in a better position than it would have been if we were having to make bond repayments on top of the current financial deficits.


All in all Jeb was a pretty good Governor.
30ashopper avatar
30ashopperSoWal Insider
#20
Jeb! actually had some moments of responsibility then- he was the first one to say that the budget surpluses should NOT go to operating expenses, only things that would be non-recurring. The state ended paying cash for a lot of capital projects it would have normally issued bonds to pay for, and is now in a better position than it would have been if we were having to make bond repayments on top of the current financial deficits.

Jeb was an excellent governor, and Scott will follow in his footsteps. One thing though I'm curious about, the 2006-2007 was a budget blow out. Not sure what happened there, I haven't found much about it on the interwebs. I'm guessing it was the fault of our free spending repub.legislature, they tend to get drunk on the money when times are good.

Checking your forum account

Please wait while we verify your forum account.

New posts