Palmetto Bay hit with the LINE ITEM VETO!

The Florida Legislature giveth, but the governor took it away (line item Veto). The Palmetto Bay appropriation for the Multi-Modal project was vetoed by Governor Scott today (Friday, March 16, 2018).  

The entire veto list can be viewed online.  Governor Scott Vetoed $64 Million worth of line items.

This is why we don't count our chickens.  This post is in follow up of the prior post of March 14, 2018, Governor Scott to decide if Palmetto Bay receives State Money for its Multi-Model project.

Thank you to our State Representative Michael Bileca and State Senator Jose Javier Rodriguez for their assistance.

We move on, living within our budget means.

Governor Scott to decide if Palmetto Bay receives State Money for its Multi-Modal project

The legislature placed the money in the budget, but the final decision belongs to Governor Rick Scott.

The money made it into the budget, but do NOT start counting the chickens. The question is whether the multi-model money will survive Governor Scott’s line item veto pen.

The Multi-Modal line item was discussed at our March Regular Village Council meeting when I set up an extraordinary telephone call in report from our State Senator Jose Javier Rodriguez.  We also thank our Representative Michael Bileca who sponsored this appropriation in HB 3821.

See Miami Herald, Which local projects in the state budget will survive? It’s up to Gov. Scott’s veto, by Elizabeth Koh And Steve Bousquet, March 13, 2018.

As stated:

Scott’s pen is the final hurdle for hundreds of local projects sponsored by lawmakers for constituents back home — but it is a high hurdle to vault. The governor has slashed more money from the budget — about $2.3 billion in line-item spending, not counting last year’s school budget — than any other Florida chief executive, calling much of that spending unnecessary or wasteful.

Many of those local projects are standard municipal fare, including money for water and sewer projects, housing, transit, emergencies, and local cultural and educational projects. They are also a fraction of the projects proposed by legislators every year during session — others never even make it into the state budget, blocked by legislative leaders who have final negotiating power on its contents before it is sent to the governor.

We are working to try to survive the 2018 veto pen. 

Here is a link to the 2018 legislative priorities that I prepared and sponsored this year. It was approved unanimously  See: (CLICK HERE) Palmetto Bay Resolution 2018-17.

Florida Governor Rick Scott declares a State of Emergency in response to Hurricane Irma.

NAPLES, Fla. – Today, Governor Rick Scott issued Executive Order 17-235 declaring a state of emergency in all 67 counties within the State of Florida in response to Hurricane Irma – a major Category 4 storm approaching Florida. By declaring a state of emergency in all 67 Florida counties, Governor Scott is ensuring that local governments have ample time, resources and flexibility to get prepared for this dangerous storm and are not hindered, delayed or prevented from taking all necessary actions to keep communities safe.

Governor Scott said, “Hurricane Irma is a major and life-threatening storm and Florida must be prepared. I have continued to be briefed by the Florida Division of Emergency Management on Hurricane Irma and current forecast models have Florida in Irma’s path – potentially impacting millions of Floridians. Today, given these forecasts and the intensity of this storm, I have declared a state of emergency for every county in Florida to make certain that state, federal and local governments are able to work together and make sure resources are dispersed to local communities as we get prepared for this storm. In Florida, we always prepare for the worst and hope for the best and while the exact path of Irma is not absolutely known at this time, we cannot afford to not be prepared. This state of emergency allows our emergency management officials to act swiftly in the best interest of Floridians without the burden of bureaucracy or red tape.

“In Florida, we know that the best way to protect our families in severe weather is to have a plan. I urge all Floridians to remain vigilant and stay alert to local weather and news and visit FLGetAPlan.com today as we all prepare for Hurricane Irma. We will keep monitoring and issuing updates on Hurricane Irma as it approaches Florida.”

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