1/23/2003
Jeb budget editorial roundup
Jeb's budget is out and the reviews aren't good. Editorials running in the state's larger dailies all say pretty much the same thing: take back the tax cuts, reform the sales tax and don't blame everything on the class-size amendment. A surprising number of papers pass on the subject.
+DAYTONA BEACH NEWS-JOURNAL -- Budget shuffle: Bush asks Florida to give ('til it hurts) . Put the whole picture together, and it isn't pretty. This budget leverages Florida's future and short-changes the vast majority of its residents, for the benefit of a selected few. In the months to come, lawmakers must set the priorities straight.
+GAINESVILLE SUN -- Gov. Bush's alibi. To justify budget proposals that victimize the poor, the sick, troubled teenagers and local taxpayers, among others, Gov. Jeb Bush parrots in rote fashion: Amendment 9 made me do it. +FLORIDA TODAY -- Governor's budget falls short of what's needed. During the campaign, Bush was caught talking about "devious plans" he had to undermine the class-size mandate. The budget is not devious, but it falls very far short of what's needed to seriously address the long-terms needs of Florida.
+ORLANDO SENTINEL -- State of denial. Mr. Bush and his fellow Republicans, who control both chambers of the Legislature, have retrenched far enough. Now is not the time for additional tax breaks for the wealthy or for feel-good sales-tax holidays on clothes, as the governor has proposed. Given the uncertain future, now is the time for the governor and lawmakers to talk seriously about the inevitable -- protecting the state's frayed safety net with a broader, stronger tax structure. (See also usually Jeb-friendly columnist Mike Thomas, Quit whining, Jeb, use cash to limit class sizes)
+PALM BEACH POST -- Bush dodges the check for what public ordered. Here's how Gov. Bush's budget works: Taxpayers will pay for his priorities. Counties, state employees, college students and sick people will pay for the taxpayers' priorities.
+ST. PETE TIMES -- Bush's shaky budget. It sells the people of Florida short to propose on their behalf a budget that imposes so many hardships at the same time it grants tax relief to investors. The Senate, to its credit, intends to hold extensive public hearings on the budget and is willing to entertain tax reforms that could make a more decent thing of it. Unfortunately, neither the governor nor the House seems disposed at this point to listen to reason. But so long as there is life, there is hope.
+S. FLA. SUN-SENTINEL -- Look To Boost Revenue. The governor's budget proposal is the starting point for a critical debate in the upcoming legislative session. While austerity is a given, lawmakers need also to look for ways to increase revenue. Eliminating a few antiquated tax exemptions would be a start.
+TALLAHASSEE DEMOCRAT -- State budget is sounder in Senate hands
. Unveiling his state budget proposal Tuesday, Gov. Jeb Bush made Florida's new class-size amendment the bogeyman. He pits the funding of Amendment 9 against critical needs and programs that have proven themselves socially and financially sound over time.
+DAYTONA BEACH NEWS-JOURNAL -- Budget shuffle: Bush asks Florida to give ('til it hurts) . Put the whole picture together, and it isn't pretty. This budget leverages Florida's future and short-changes the vast majority of its residents, for the benefit of a selected few. In the months to come, lawmakers must set the priorities straight.
+GAINESVILLE SUN -- Gov. Bush's alibi. To justify budget proposals that victimize the poor, the sick, troubled teenagers and local taxpayers, among others, Gov. Jeb Bush parrots in rote fashion: Amendment 9 made me do it. +FLORIDA TODAY -- Governor's budget falls short of what's needed. During the campaign, Bush was caught talking about "devious plans" he had to undermine the class-size mandate. The budget is not devious, but it falls very far short of what's needed to seriously address the long-terms needs of Florida.
+ORLANDO SENTINEL -- State of denial. Mr. Bush and his fellow Republicans, who control both chambers of the Legislature, have retrenched far enough. Now is not the time for additional tax breaks for the wealthy or for feel-good sales-tax holidays on clothes, as the governor has proposed. Given the uncertain future, now is the time for the governor and lawmakers to talk seriously about the inevitable -- protecting the state's frayed safety net with a broader, stronger tax structure. (See also usually Jeb-friendly columnist Mike Thomas, Quit whining, Jeb, use cash to limit class sizes)
+PALM BEACH POST -- Bush dodges the check for what public ordered. Here's how Gov. Bush's budget works: Taxpayers will pay for his priorities. Counties, state employees, college students and sick people will pay for the taxpayers' priorities.
+ST. PETE TIMES -- Bush's shaky budget. It sells the people of Florida short to propose on their behalf a budget that imposes so many hardships at the same time it grants tax relief to investors. The Senate, to its credit, intends to hold extensive public hearings on the budget and is willing to entertain tax reforms that could make a more decent thing of it. Unfortunately, neither the governor nor the House seems disposed at this point to listen to reason. But so long as there is life, there is hope.
+S. FLA. SUN-SENTINEL -- Look To Boost Revenue. The governor's budget proposal is the starting point for a critical debate in the upcoming legislative session. While austerity is a given, lawmakers need also to look for ways to increase revenue. Eliminating a few antiquated tax exemptions would be a start.
+TALLAHASSEE DEMOCRAT -- State budget is sounder in Senate hands
. Unveiling his state budget proposal Tuesday, Gov. Jeb Bush made Florida's new class-size amendment the bogeyman. He pits the funding of Amendment 9 against critical needs and programs that have proven themselves socially and financially sound over time.
