Senate Minority Leader Al Lawson is calling for the governor to veto the entire budget and "recall the Legislature to Tallahassee to get the job done right."

Lawson, a Democrat from Tallahassee, also protested the $10-million for the "gardening" program, an economic stimulus loan program, which he called a "risky gamble funded by axing existing jobs for iffy future ones.”

“The loss of 66 probation officers not only jeopardizes public safety, it puts more strain on law enforcement and our court system already stretched to the breaking point,” Lawson said. “These people are our first line of defense, the ones who monitor offenders released from prison, among them those charged with serious crimes including sexual offenders."

*