By James Call
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/wfsu/local-wfsu-951486.mp3
Tallahassee, FL – Gov. Rick Scott's budget chief is assuring lawmakers his boss will be flexible about his spending proposal. James Call reports.
Budget director Jerry McDaniel gave a three hour presentation to a Senate Committee about the governor's spending proposal. Scott Monday rolled out a 65.9 billion dollar budget that makes deep spending cuts, sweeps money out of trust funds and rearranges parts of state government. Some lawmakers expressed skepticism and others wanted to know the level of Scott's commitment to the proposal.
"He asked us to be very flexible. We're not tied to every one of these trust funds. We like the concept of broadening the general revenue pie we think it's a good idea. But he is not absolutely tied to every tenet in this budget."
Education would take the biggest hit and Scott also wants to cut property taxes that support public schools. Both of those recommendations are drawing opposition. The chair of the senate budget committee, JD Alexander also turned thumbs down on Scott's proposal to pass a two-year instead of a one year budget.