Yesterday, Gov. Rick Scott line item vetoed a record $615M from Florida’s budget. The sum included $2,014,769 for building maintenance on FAMU’s campus and $500,000 for FAMU’s Public Health Entomology Research and Education Lab in Panama City.Scott’s actions could lead the Florida Legislature to call a special session to override the vetoes.
The governor cut a total of $220M in college and university building dollars. He defended his actions by stating that the bond-financing required for such projects would add to Florida’s $23.1B debt.
Scott did notably retain $35M for a new campus for the University of South Florida-Polytechnic in Lakeland.
"The polytechnic concept ensures that even graduates in degree programs outside of the science, technology, engineering and mathematics areas will have training and education in those areas and develop skills applicable to the 21st century economy," Scott said.
Polytech still experienced its share of pain. $10M for a School of Pharmacy and $1M for an Interdisciplinary Center for Excellence at Polytech both fell to the governor’s veto pen.
The Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel reported that Senate President Mike Haridopolos is currently asking his fellow members whether they want to schedule a special session to address the governor’s budget actions. House Speak Dean Cannon has expressed some concern over the line item vetoes but has been quiet about the possibility of a special session.
He has no plans to call a special session at this time," Cannon spokeswoman Katie Betta told the Sun-Sentinel.
A special session would likely attract support from the Florida Democratic Party. Senate Democratic Leader Nan Rich (D-Weston) issued one of the most critical responses to Scott’s vetoes.
“Beyond the destructive cuts to our children in pre-K through high school, Florida’s universities and community colleges, hospitals and nursing homes, our police officers, firefighters, and teachers, remains the outrageous claim that this is a ‘jobs budget,’” Rich said. “Only tea partiers under the control of billionaire right wingers could cheer such propaganda. Only the supporters of voodoo economics could honestly believe that firing 4,500 state workers followed by thousands more public school teachers in a state already drowning in pink slips will somehow create jobs.