By Lynn Hatter
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/wfsu/local-wfsu-970296.mp3
Tallahassee, FL – Thanksgiving isn't coming until November but at least the turkeys have arrived early. Tuesday a Florida tax watchdog group unveiled its annual list of state spending projects that didn't go through the normal legislative channels, dubbed "turkeys". As Lynn Hatter reports, among the 203-million dollars worth of birds are several higher education construction projects.
Several university and college building projects are on Tax Watch's turkey list this year. More than 30 projects received the label. But TaxWatch's Kurt Wenner says that doesn't necessarily mean a project shouldn't be funded.
"This is more about the budget process, where the legislature hasn't followed its own policies and procedures. Where items are added in late in the session, where they circumvent established competitive processes. It's more about the system than the actual worth."
Governor Rick Scott identified those education construction dollars for potential vetoes. Many of the turkeys this year came out of the senate and are largely set in central and south Florida, where most of the state's legislative leadership is based.