Business Alliance Asks Rick Scott to Veto Transportation Trust Fund Raid

Bob Burleson, the president of the Florida Transportation Builders Association, led a coalition that presented petitions with more than 3,600 signatures to Gov. Rick Scott on Monday asking him to knock a budget line, which would take more than $150 million out of the State Transportation Trust Fund (STTF). Other groups behind the effort include the Asphalt Contractors Association of Florida, the Associated Industries of Florida, the Florida Engineering Society, the Florida Institute of Consulting Engineers, the Florida Public Transportation Association, Florida TaxWatch, Florida Trucking Association and Underground Utility Contractors of Florida They pointed to a study from the state Department of Transportation (FDOT) which found that more than 8,400 jobs would be lost by taking money out of the trust fund.

We applaud you on your efforts during your inaugural legislative session to push for policy which creates jobs and helps ensure Florida is a state companies want to bring their business to, wrote the signers. While there have been many successes, there currently is a job-killing budget appropriation that deserves your attention. We, the undersigned, believe the 2011-2012 General Appropriations Act (SB 2000) is a conservative appraisal of our states dire fiscal reality, but unfairly places a burden on Floridas ability to save and create jobs with a multimillion raid on the State Transportation Trust Fund (STTF). We encourage you to veto this portion of the budget and restore the $150 million back to the STTF.