Gov. Rick Scott vetoed four budget-related measures Friday, including one designed to shore up the state hurricane catastrophe fund by selling tax credits to insurance companies.
Read more here: http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/04/21/2760503/scott-vetoes-four-budget-related.html#storylink=cpy

Scott vetoed less than he did last year, saying lawmakers had heeded his warnings to give him evidence of why the money is needed and what taxpayers would get in return.

Gov. Rick Scott will be at a Jacksonville school to boast about more state dollars going to education.

The bill which cuts government pension contribution rates for state workers is awaiting the approval of Gov. Rick Scott, who has made cutting state pension costs one of his top priorities. Scott, who has until Saturday to act on the bill, has not taken a position on the latest measure.

A research and advocacy group with close business ties urged Florida Gov. Rick Scott on Friday to veto $149.6 million in spending "turkeys."

The economic development package includes more than $1 billion in tax cuts for businesses over the next three years. It features broad cuts of the unemployment tax and the corporate income tax, and targeted reductions for manufacturers, private plane repairers, and fruit and meat packers. 

Florida's prison system is the third largest in the United States, with a whopping $2.4 billion annual budget. It has long been eyed for budget cuts and lawmakers want to privatize the state's prisons.

No state has worked harder to stop the federal health care overhaul than Florida. Hours after President Obama signed the Affordable Care Act into law two years ago, Florida led 12 other states in a federal court challenge. Eventually, a total of 26 states signed on. The Supreme Court will hear the case this week.

To level the playing field between governmentemployee unions and taxpayers, elimination of dues checkoff and the agency shop are possible steps to take. In fact, these may be more politically palatable, and ultimately more effective, avenues of reform than are restrictions on collective bargaining. Eliminating the public-sector union’s money advantage would let workers retain their right to negotiate with their employers but put them on a level playing field in the political arena. It is the way to restore fairness to the process.

Aero-base budgeting appeals to a serious and widespread desire to look at public budgeting in a fresh new way, free of old assumptions, not letting past experiences control the future. The zero-base budgeting bill in 2011 show, in various ways, a greater desire for information on how state agencies operate and how their work can be evaluated, and reflect lawmakers’ concerns that their budget enactments be well-informed.

The bill which cuts government pension contribution rates for state workers is awaiting the approval of Gov. Rick Scott, who has made cutting state pension costs one of his top priorities. Scott, who has until Saturday to act on the bill, has not taken a position on the latest measure.

Of 41 U.S. states that made significant pension changes in 2010 and 2011, at least 13, or almost 30 percent, have faced court challenges, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.

A Leon County court judge says the state breached its contract with public employees when it cut salaries to offset the state's pension expenses. Gov. Rick Scott vowed "a swift" appeal.

Florida Gov. Rick Scott, who was criticized for pushing school funding cuts a few months ago, is asking for a billion dollars more for education to come during an election year.

The long-term problem can be addressed by encouraging local governments to place all new employees in 401(k)-style "defined contribution" plans rather than General Motors-style "defined benefit" plans, and to encourage current employees to convert to defined contribution plans as well. This would help ensure that the present costs of government are funded in present budgets.

Policy makers across the country are considering scrapping guaranteed retirement benefits for public workers in favor of 401(k)-like plans.

Gov. Rick Scott called for overhauling Florida's Medicaid program, curbing its pension system and trimming government services as he detailed a budget proposal he had promised would be full of big cuts.

Florida's new governor said he wants state workers for the first time to contribute to the state pension system to help plug a $3.5 billion gap in the next state budget.

Aero-base budgeting appeals to a serious and widespread desire to look at public budgeting in a fresh new way, free of old assumptions, not letting past experiences control the future. The zero-base budgeting bill in 2011 show, in various ways, a greater desire for information on how state agencies operate and how their work can be evaluated, and reflect lawmakers’ concerns that their budget enactments be well-informed.

The long-term problem can be addressed by encouraging local governments to place all new employees in 401(k)-style "defined contribution" plans rather than General Motors-style "defined benefit" plans, and to encourage current employees to convert to defined contribution plans as well. This would help ensure that the present costs of government are funded in present budgets.

While several improvements have been made to bring Florida's tradition of "Government in the Sunshine" into the 21st Century, it seems appropriate that the year that marked the anniversary of the beginning of Florida's tradition of "government in the sunshine" also became the year in which
Florida took an important leap towards living up to its nickname of the "Sunshine State," particularly in the area of government finance.

Children with disabilities are often poorly served by public schools. In 1999, Florida created a school voucher for children with disabilities called the McKay Scholarship Program. This program allows children with disabilities to take a portion of the funding the state would spend on their education and use it at any school they choose - whether that's a traditional public school, a charter school, an online program, or a private school.

The bill which cuts government pension contribution rates for state workers is awaiting the approval of Gov. Rick Scott, who has made cutting state pension costs one of his top priorities. Scott, who has until Saturday to act on the bill, has not taken a position on the latest measure.

Of 41 U.S. states that made significant pension changes in 2010 and 2011, at least 13, or almost 30 percent, have faced court challenges, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.

A Leon County court judge says the state breached its contract with public employees when it cut salaries to offset the state's pension expenses. Gov. Rick Scott vowed "a swift" appeal.

Florida Gov. Rick Scott, who was criticized for pushing school funding cuts a few months ago, is asking for a billion dollars more for education to come during an election year.

The long-term problem can be addressed by encouraging local governments to place all new employees in 401(k)-style "defined contribution" plans rather than General Motors-style "defined benefit" plans, and to encourage current employees to convert to defined contribution plans as well. This would help ensure that the present costs of government are funded in present budgets.

Bob Williams' review of developments in pension legislation and law suits from around the country.

While some states are attempting to reform lavish pension plans, others are  still playing games with state finances.

Policy makers across the country are considering scrapping guaranteed retirement benefits for public workers in favor of 401(k)-like plans.

Someone should tell the unions (in Wisconsin, at least) that there is a new sheriff in town.  And he's not afraid to call in the National Guard to quell unrest among state employees.

This all boils down to who gets to pick taxpayers' pockets first, public pensioners or municipal bond investors? More people are waking up to the hard reality that when it comes to state and local government, somebody has to lose money over the next few decades. The National Association of Bond Lawyers is worried enough about it to issue "Considerations" for advising clients who think they're getting safe investments.

Despite an organized campaign to stop public pension reform, reality is beginning to break through.  One recent report outlines a possible path to long-term solutions and another details the necessity of states and municipalities finding their own way because federal bailout is impossible.  And Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel released a plan that could have been based on both reports.

Hey, young public employees, what are you going to do when your pension checks bounce after you paid in for decades? That is what will happen in many - maybe all - states and municipalities sooner or later if they do not reform right now. If you want to see the future, just look at Illinois. One citizen there did, and came up with a real reform plan that might work.

Public employees should take their pension money now and run to avoid risk of getting reduced benefits - or nothing - in the future. It's the best deal for them and for taxpayers. A growing chorus of credible voices including the Government Accountability Office, a Federal Reserve bank and now the Harvard Kennedy School Mossavar-Rahmani Center for Business and Government confirm state and local government finances are "spiraling out of control" and even draconian reforms only make it "more likely" that future benefits will paid in full.

Hey, young public employees, what are you going to do when your pension checks bounce after you paid in for decades? That is what will happen in many - maybe all - states and municipalities sooner or later if they do not reform right now. If you want to see the future, just look at Illinois. One citizen there did, and came up with a real reform plan that might work.

This is what it sounds like when the Federal Reserve Bank screams: "Much has been written about the various headwinds restraining economic activity over the near term. However, our economy also has other headwinds to confront over the medium- to-longer-term. ... the finances of some state and local governments are also under stress and in need of serious adjustments."  - Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland President Sandra Pianalto

In Florida, prison privatization has repeatedly surfaced as a potential solution - a very controversial one.

On February 14^th, we celebrate love, family, and our partners. When it comes to celebrating partners, state governments have a number of Valentines. Because state governments continue to award the sweetest deals to their sweethearts, big business, they are never alone in love on Valentine's Day.

The legislative session is only a few weeks old in Florida, but leaders in the state are already at odds over how to deal with the state's estimated $2 billion budget shortfall. Most officials, including the Governor and legislative leaders from both parties, are intent on a steep increase in K-12 education funding. Differences arise over how to pay for the spending hike, if at all. 

Last Monday, Florida Governor Rick Scott signed a bill that broadly reforms Florida’s unemployment compensation program. The new law makes Florida the only state in the country to tie state benefits to unemployment rates.

Bob Williams' review of developments in pension legislation and law suits from around the country.

While some states are attempting to reform lavish pension plans, others are  still playing games with state finances.

States are getting down to the nitty-gritty of budget cuts as they hack away millions of dollars in order to salvage their shortfalls. While some states are managing to balance their budget woes, others are still deliberating their budgets for the next fiscal year.

States take different measures to avoid layoffs and furloughs within the judiciary system. While Florida needed a lifesaver, New York took initiative to save jobs.

It's that time of year again; one by one, states are passing their budgets for the next fiscal year. Shortfalls still loom for some while others have used a variety of tools to balance their books. Some states have taxed, others have cut, and still others have just gotten creative with their accounting.

Someone should tell the unions (in Wisconsin, at least) that there is a new sheriff in town.  And he's not afraid to call in the National Guard to quell unrest among state employees.