Sen. Negron Takes Aim at TaxWatch's 'Turkey' List

Florida TaxWatch released its annual list of state budget "turkeys" Tuesday, totaling $203 million in potential savings, but Sen. Joe Negron, R-Stuart, the vice chair of the Budget Committee, has taken issue with the list, labeling it a "fading media gimmick."

He criticized the list, which includes notes on several items highlighting that many of the line items were not requested by a particular agency, which he said placed too much faith in the executive branch to make wise budget decisions, instead of in the collaborative process of duly elected lawmakers in the Legislature.

For his part, Gov. Rick Scott applauded TaxWatch's efforts, and has promised "additional savings" through line-item vetoes ahead of his planned signing of the budget Thursday.

"Taxwatch is on the right track. There are far too many tax dollars in this budget that could be put toward more important priorities. Education is a good example of an area we could better use our limited tax revenue, rather than shipping it off for special-interest earmarks," Scott press secretary Lane Wright said.

Here is Negron's statement in full:

Todays Florida TaxWatch Turkey List exposes a complete misapprehension of the legislative appropriations process.This hackneyed annual list of ostensible turkeys and pork is based on the mistaken rationale that budget decisions originating from the executive branch come clothed with a presumption of correctness while ideas from the elected representatives of the people should be viewed with suspicion.

Lets take a closer look at the criteria TaxWatch uses to reach its opinion that $203 million in the 2011-12 state budget represent turkeys.TaxWatch charges that a funding item was not requested by agency, not on PECO list, not in DOT work program or added in conference.

TaxWatchs deference to the executive branch is entirely misplaced. Under the Florida Constitution, the Legislature has the exclusive authority to budget. The governor can veto a budget line item, but the executive branch cannot spend one dime of the peoples money without the express authorization of the Legislature. Likewise, added in conference is a flimsy basis to disparage a budget expenditure. The conference process is a meaningful and significant component of the appropriations enterprise.Conference provides an open and transparent opportunity for the House and Senate to negotiate an agreed-upon budget and to take a concluding look at the Appropriations Act to determine final priorities. Many proposed funding items are reduced or eliminated during this review process.

TaxWatch calls $500,000 appropriated for the Loveland Center in Sarasota County a turkey because it was not requested by an agency. That is true.It was, however, requested by Senator Nancy Detert, who was actually elected by her constituents to write the state budget. The Loveland Center offers adult day training, supported living and group home services to adults with severe developmental disabilities.I know Ive been to the Loveland Center myself to observe and admire the 125 students who overcome their disabilities and participate fully in community life, including working at businesses from Siesta Key to Englewood.

Try telling Marc Buoniconti or the thousands of Floridians confined to wheelchairs and the dozens who will show up at emergency rooms this week with spinal cord injuries that the money appropriated to the Miami Project to Cure Paralysis is a turkey. Marc suffered a devastating spinal cord injury during a college football game and responded by co-founding the Miami Project, the worlds most comprehensive spinal cord injury research center, where promising clinical trials are underway to find cures that will one day alleviate the multiple consequences of injury.

I am proud of Floridas balanced budget, which reflects the Legislatures thoughtful judgment and principled commitment to live within our means, the same way families and businesses do.Thankfully, the Legislature has not funded every project requested by the agency through the years or the taxpayers we represent would have been saddled with billions of dollars of unwise spending. The Florida TaxWatch Turkey List is a fading media gimmick that crumbles under constitutional scrutiny.