Crist Will Veto Some Budget Cuts

by David Royse
The News Service of Florida

In his most forcefully worded warning yet, Gov. Charlie Crist on Thursday said he will veto some parts of the revised budget lawmakers passed earlier this month as they tried to balance the state's spending plan against falling tax collections.

{sidebar id=1}Crist said he is looking closely at education spending, a cut to the Department of Corrections that resulted in more than 60 probation officers getting laid off, and possibly some environmental cuts, particularly a one-year break on the Florida Forever land buying program.

Crist noted he has hinted about vetoes, but said Thursday that he is acknowledging that next week he will veto some line items in those areas.

Crist said in a speech to the Associated Press Legislative Planning Session - a gathering of newspaper editors - that he is particularly concerned about public safety, and that he is worried that the Florida Forever program could fade into history if its allowed to lapse even for a year.

The Legislature's cut to the state's criminal justice budget led Crist's Department of Corrections to lay off 66 probation officers, which Crist said troubled him. The move also angered some lawmakers, who had included intent language in the budget-cutting legislation indicating that administrative employees should be cut before front line workers.

“We're looking most closely at the public safety issues,” Crist said.

Crist stopped just short of commiting to vetoing any of the programs, but said he was going to veto something and then talked about his concern about cuts to education, and the cut to Corrections that led to the layoffs.

He then brought up what lawmakers have said is a one-year break from the Florida Forever land buying program.

Crist said he believed lawmakers were genuine in their intent to only suspend land purchases under Florida Forever for a year, but was worried that such moves sometimes become permanent.

{sidebar id=1}“Maybe it takes on a repeat performance,” he said. “I'm concerned about Florida Forever, and I'm looking very closely at what we can bring to bear on that.”

He'll get support on keeping the land buying program going from the environmental lobby.

"We're going to strongly back him and help the governor make the case that this program should have never been cut," said Eric Draper of Florida Audubon. "Why do you take down the most successful program in Florida history for $5 million?" Draper said. "It doesn't make sense. .... Crist has an amazing ability to look through the smoke and see the truth. In this one he's seen the truth.”

During his talk to editors and reporters Thursday, Crist also waxed on how moved he was by this week's inauguration of President Barack Obama.

“It's pretty inspiring stuff,” said Crist, who was seated on the platform at the Democrat's inaugural, despite his having campaigned for John McCain. “I think it gives our people great hope.”

Crist also defended his administration's plan to try to purchase a good piece of sugar land for Everglades restoration despite the economic slow down, arguing that the economic and other conditions are right in a way that they may never be again.

“We're at a very unique opportunity in Florida history to have a chance to restore the Everglades,” Crist said.

This article originally published on January 23, 2009.

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