Gov. Rick Scott, who plans to sign the budget on Thursday, had vowed to go through it line by line and veto any unnecessary expenditures. But on Tuesday, Florida TaxWatch identified 105 projects worth $203 million as budget turkeys Scott should veto.
The Tallahassee-based group highlighted a series of education, transportation and economic development projects in its annual list of items that should not have been included in the state’s $70 billion spending plan.
Included in the list of “turkeys” are projects within the districts of House Speaker Dean Cannon, Senate President Mike Haridopolos and other lawmakers, many of which were added during last-minute budget conference meetings.
It’s the most expensive turkey list since 2007, despite a $3.8 billion budget deficit that forced other painful cuts.
“While our leaders should be commended for making many tough, unpopular decisions in the best interest of Floridians this year, their achievements make the high number of Turkeys disappointing,” said Dominic Calabro, president and CEO of Florida TaxWatch. “In one of the toughest budget years on record, our leaders should have been as disciplined and consistent with taxpayer money as Florida families are forced to be with their own budgets.”
