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Florida Ready For Stimulus Money As Crist Gives The OK

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By MIKE SALINERO

msaliner@tampatrib.com

Published: March 18, 2009

TALLAHASSEE - Gov. Charlie Crist signed authorization Tuesday for federal stimulus dollars to start flowing into the state by the end of the month.

Crist certified he will use money from the federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to create jobs and promote economic growth.

Much of the money will go to help Floridians suffering in the economic downturn. For instance, an additional $20 million a month in food stamp benefits will be available April 1, raising each recipient's allotment by 13.6 percent, said Don Winstead, the governor's stimulus czar.

Unemployed workers will see jobless benefits increase by $25 a week by the end of the month, Winstead said Tuesday.

Holly Benson, secretary of the Agency for Health Care Administration, said the state has $817 million in stimulus money available to shore up Florida's Medicaid program for the poor and disabled.

"What we have to figure out is whether we have to go back to the Legislature to get authorization to spend it," Benson said.

Much of the governor's plan for spending the $3.5 billion expected this year must be approved by the Legislature.

That could create problems. Crist's fellow Republicans in the Legislature have criticized his plans to use the money to plug an estimated $6.1 billion shortfall in next year's budget. State Senate budget chief JD Alexander, R-Lake Wales, said Monday the federal recovery plan should have concentrated more on transportation projects.

Altogether, the state is supposed to get $13.4 billion in stimulus money over three years, Crist said.

Reporter Mike Salinero can be reached at (813) 259-8303.

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