Tell Jeff Atwater: NO MORE CUTS

You know, it's one thing to advocate (however misguidedly) for less government, or even less government spending. But it's another altogether to push for reductions in schools and services that already are depleted beyond reason ... yet that's exactly what Florida Senate president Jeff Atwater (R-North Palm Beach) wants to do. Predictable enough for a Florida Republican, but it's still despicable.

Lawmakers on [January 14] concluded a 10-day special session - their second in the past 15 months devoted to budget cuts - by eliminating $480 million from the public school budget, shrinking the Department of Environmental Protection by $240 million and draining $1.6 billion from reserves and other trust funds to avoid deeper cuts. The budget, if Crist approves, would be nearly $7 billion less than last year and the lowest spending plan since 2005-06.

Republican majorities in the House and Senate on Wednesday led partisan votes - 74-43 and 27-13, respectively - to approve the changes. The only Democrat in either chamber to support the package was Sen. Gary Siplin of Orlando.

In assembling the cuts, lawmakers ignored Crist's suggestions to approve a gambling compact with the Seminole Tribe, which would add an estimated $135 million to this budget.

The total cut was more than double the $561.5 million reduction Crist suggested in December.

For public safety budgets, Crist proposed a $26.5 million cut to the Corrections Department, which is in line for a $48.7 million hit from the legislature. Juvenile Justice Department programs would be trimmed by $16.6 million, or $7.5 million more than Crist suggested.

Granted, our state, like so much of the nation, is in a serious financial crisis. But it's no answer to, as Progress Florida says, "balance Florida's budget on the backs of our children, the elderly, and the needy."

There are plenty of ways to increase revenue, such as the proposed compact with the Seminole Tribe mentioned in the above quote, as well as a cigarette tax, gas tax, and so on. But, true to his "I've got mine, screw you" GOP mentality, Atwater keeps pushing for more cuts in programs that help regular Floridians, while protecting the wealthiest citizens (who, not coincidentally, make up a large portion of his south Florida district).

It's time to tell Sen. Atwater that, as his name suggests, he's all wet. I'm normally not one for online petitions, but this one really matters. Please sign Progress Florida's petition to Sen. Atwater, and make a difference.