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Crist May Veto Part Of Budget-Deficit Proposal

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By WILLIAM MARCH and CATHERINE DOLINSKI

wmarch@tampatrib.com cdolinski@tampatrib.com

Published: January 13, 2009

TALLAHASSEE - Gov. Charlie Crist hinted Monday at a possible veto of part of the Legislature's budget-deficit package because of its education cuts.

Crist signaled that's he's prepared to accept the large withdrawal of money from the Lawton Chiles Endowment fund, also included in the package.

"Nobody likes to have to dip into savings, but there's a time to dip into savings," Crist said. "We're there."

Meanwhile, there were mixed signals from Chiles fund advocates about whether they will sue the state over the withdrawals.

Bud Chiles, son of the late Gov. Lawton Chiles, whose litigation against tobacco companies led to the creation of the fund, said Monday he's ready to sue to prevent money from being taken from the fund for other purposes.

Steve Yerrid, a prominent Tampa trial lawyer who worked on the anti-tobacco lawsuit and who has been negotiating with the state along with Bud Chiles, said suing "at this point is not in the best interest of our concern."

Crist recommended withdrawing about $600 million from the Chiles fund, while the Legislature intends to use $700 million.

The trust fund money is part of a $2.6 billion package of spending cuts and trust fund raids legislative leaders are expected to pass this week to balance the budget.

Yerrid, who backed Republican Crist for governor even though he's an active Democrat, said he wasn't aware of any preparations for a lawsuit against the state over the fund.

"We think it's important to work with this Legislature and with Gov. Crist," he said.

Chiles said several prominent lawyers, including Gov. Lawton Chiles' former general counsel, Dexter Douglas, are working pro bono on the issue and have a "very good case from a legal standpoint."

Yerrid and Crist agreed in a talk last week that money taken from the fund would be restored if the state gets federal money from the economic stimulus fund.

Yerrid, though, noted Sunday that the Legislature's budget package allows, but does not require, that the fund be repaid. He called the language in the legislation "smoke and mirrors."

Chiles said he has little faith that Crist "is actually going to roll up his sleeves and put his political capital on the line" to restore the fund.

Concerning the education cuts, Crist told reporters Monday, "The reductions I recommended were less than what we're looking at, and I'm going to look closely at them, and, thank goodness, because of the Florida Constitution I have the opportunity to tweak some of these things.

"So we'll take a close look at it and make sure that our education for our students is not sacrificed."

The Constitution doesn't give the governor the power to rewrite legislation but does give him a line-item veto.

Asked whether his comment was a hint he might use that power, Crist spokeswoman Erin Isaac noted only that, "The governor is reviewing the budget closely."

The Legislature's budget package cuts $466 million in kindergarten-12th grade education, Senate staff said. Crist had proposed a K-12 cut of roughly $370 million.

Even before the budget takes effect, Hillsborough schools cut $26 million from its budget because of Crist's request last summer that state agencies trim expenses.

The district expected to cut an additional $29 million because of the Legislature's budget package, but administrators said Monday some of that may be plugged by reserves.

So far, administrators have frozen hiring, cut travel, eliminated bus routes and added class periods to teachers' schedules.

Randi Weingarten, the president of the American Federation of Teachers, is to meet with Crist today to talk about education funding.

Reporter Adam Emerson contributed to this report. Reporter William March can be reached at (813) 259-7761. Reporter Catherine Dolinski can be reached at (850) 222-8382.

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