Crist Takes Aim at GOP in Veto Message

Gov. Charlie Crist had harsh words for the Republican-controlled Legislature in the media event a few moments ago where he announced his veto of teacher performance pay.

Crist said he vetoed the bill due to its impact on special education, its encroachment on local control and the way legislators sped the measure through committee without including the input of teachers, students and parents.

This bill has deeply and negatively impacted the morale of teachers, parents and students, said Crist, who added that the recently failed attempt to win Race for the Top backing from the federal government underlined the need for shareholder participation.

I find the creation of SB 6 and the manner of its adoption significantly flawed, he said.

Crist said that Republican assurances that they could better the bill once it was passed into law did not impress him. Such assurances are not enough for me to sign it, he said, even comparing the way Republicans handled the measure in Tallahassee to the way Democrats rammed health-care legislation in Washington.