Gov. Rick Scott signed the state budget on Thursday, but used his veto pen to remove $615 million in line items, rejecting what he called “special interest” spending.
The amount vetoed by Scott was inflated dramatically by $300 million that wasn’t actually in the budget. Scott vetoed “spending authority” for Florida Forever projects, but the money wasn’t actually appropriated.
Among the items cut was a Brevard County program for homeless veterans living in the woods and streets, that had a price tag of $12 million.
Also included in Scott’s veto list is $4.8 million that would have gone to the state’s public television and radio stations.
Scott also vetoed legislation that would have eliminated the Correctional Medical Authority, which provides independent oversight of medical care of Florida prisoners.
