Tampabay.com
JANUARY 31, 2008

Crist's budget priorities

Gov. Charlie Crist released the rest of his recommendations for a $70-billion budget today, which uses $740 million of trust funds and blows the constitutionally mandated 3 percent cap that limits using nonrecurring funds for recurring purposes. (Although his staff points out that the Legislature has blown that cap several times in recent years.)

Among some highlights, Crist suggests spending $12 billion in economic development, which would go to industries ranging from $100 million for alternative energies to $30 million for the film and entertainment industry. He also wants to spend $63.9 million to make low-cost health insurance options available to Florida’s uninsured population, but Buzz doesn't know much yet in the way of details about that. He also wants to spend $21.8 million to up reimbursement fees to dentists.

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For Florida political news today, the Buzz is your can't-miss-it source. Tampa Bay Times writers offer the latest in Florida politics, the Florida Legislature and the Rick Scott administration. Keep in mind: This is a public forum sponsored and maintained by the Tampa Bay Times. When you post comments here, what you say becomes public and could appear in the newspaper. You are not engaging in private communication with candidates or Times staffers.

E-mail Times political editor Adam Smith: asmith@tampabay.com

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