(Jeb) Bush vetoes a record $448M

Gov. Jeb Bush, who has compared cutting the state budget to a mafia-style hit, went out with a vengeance Thursday when he signed his last state spending plan as governor and vetoed an unprecedented $448.7 million of it.

The big losers in the $71 billion budget: Miami's Jackson Memorial Hospital, which saw $20 million cut; and nursing homes, which had sought nearly $90 million to continue helping Medicaid's poor elderly.

...snip...

It's a little too conservative for Democrats such as Sen. Nan Rich of Sunrise. After all, she said, a budget is simply a document about values -- about who should get what -- and the Republicancontrolled Legislature already skimped on paying for a number of social services, despite the year of plenty. Add to this Bush's cuts to a variety of jail-intervention and youth-help programs, such as after-school tutoring programs in Hallandale Beach, Pembroke Pines and Miami-Dade.

...snip...

One Republican who broke with Bush was Sen. Alex Villalobos, a Miami Republican. After Villalobos blocked the governor's plans last year, Bush vetoed a spinal cord research project at the University of Miami backed by Villalobos. Villalobos said it was ''inexplicable'' because Bush initially had supported the measure as well.

http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/news/local/14670936.htm

Or worse.

and the Republican controlled Legislature already skimped on paying for a number of social services, despite the year of plenty. Add to this Bush's cuts to a variety of jail-intervention and youth-help programs, such as after-school tutoring programs in Hallandale Beach, Pembroke Pines and Miami-Dade.

You can't continually make cuts to diversion programs and other programs that are pro-active in helping at-risk kids and expect to not have a steady stream of prison-bound future adults. :think: Unless they want that...

CRIME AND PRISONS

- $72 million to complete construction of 2,284 prison beds.

- $18.4 million to accommodate expected increase in inmate population

- $25 million for prison maintenance and repair needs
http://www.heraldtribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060525/APN/605251018

Gotta plan ahead for housing those troubled 'youts' ('My Cousin Vinnie' reference)

Ass-backwards if you ask me.

Here's a related DU thread..

Jeb Bush + Wackenhut

and certainly provides jobs. Even if they are despicable jobs.

Anyhone?

The Repuke governor proposes wildly unpopular cuts or programs, and the
Repuke legislators stage a "fight" with the governor. They look
righteous, and the repukasheeple reelect them.

This happened in MI in 2002. Granholm (D) was elected governor,
but lots and lots of Repuke legislators were reelected.

Veto ax lands on dreams for river

If the city wants the Riverwalk project, it will have to be done without state money, Gov. Bush says. So be it, says the mayor.

By JONI JAMES, ALEX LEARY and JANET ZINK
Published May 26, 2006

TALLAHASSEE - Wielding his line-item veto power for the final time, Gov. Jeb Bush on Thursday slashed a record $449-million in projects from next year's $74-billion state budget, including $3-million for Mayor Pam Iorio's high-priority Riverwalk.

Iorio called the veto a bad decision and said she was extremely disappointed.

"He missed a real opportunity to invest in a project that was good for everyone," the mayor said. "The Riverwalk is going to be key to economic development. Anyone who's been to San Antonio can vouch for that."

>snip<
Bush took a different view toward the Salvador Dali Museum in St. Petersburg, which will get $4-million to help move it to a different spot downtown, bringing state money for the project to $8-million.

The governor acknowledged the money was a favor to fellow Republican and political ally St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Baker.

"I'm very pleased and thankful," said Baker, who lobbied Bush personally last week.
http://www.sptimes.com/2006/05/26/Hillsborough/Veto_ax_lands_on_drea.shtml

Mayor Pam Iorio (d)
Mayor Rick Baker (r)

If you're so upset take the R off your name, take the brown shirt off. You're a traitor to your people and all minorities, you punk.

You're only less of a pig when you oppose Bush but you're still a damn disgusting pig.

:grr:

Is this Jebby's gesture to GOP that he's "ready to run" for higher office...in the tradition of 'ignore/ starve the poor'...while lining pockets of his "Base."

Is this Jebby's gesture to GOP that he's "ready to run" for higher office...in the tradition of 'ignore/ starve the poor'...while lining pockets of his "Base."