"PROGRESS" FLORIDA'S REPLY TO RICK SCOTT'S BUDGET CUTS (SPIN ALERT)

www.progressflorida.org | 02/08/2011 | Via Email from Bob Rackleff, new Progress Florida Progressive Partner

[Allthegoodusernamesaregone]

Friend,

The response to Progress Florida's email last week has been incredible! Progress Florida supporters responded with more than $8,000 in 48 hours.

I just signed up to be a Progress Florida Progressive Partner because I believe we need to build a stronger progressive movement here in Florida to aggressively fight back against the extremism of Gov. Scott and the ultraconservative majority in the legislature. Yesterday, Progress Florida quickly reacted to the announcement of Gov. Scott's reckless budget cuts. Click here to see TV news coverage of Political Director Damien Filer responding to Scott's plan to cut $3 billion from Florida's public schools.

Will you join me in supporting these critical efforts by contributing $15 per month as a Progress Florida Progressive Partner? Their new goal is 50 monthly sustainers. Click below to sign up, or read about Progress Florida's efforts below.

Yes, I can give $15 a month.

Sorry, I can't.

Thanks for your help.

Bob Rackleff, new Progress Florida Progressive Partner

***FORWARDED MESSAGE***

Friend,

Teacher layoffs, state parks closed, health care access and reproductive rights denied: This is the vision of Gov. Scott and the ultraconservative leadership in the Florida Legislature. It's up to all of us to speak out, fight back, and push for progressive solutions to the challenges we face.

Progress Florida is engaged in rapid response communication strategies and relentless online organizing to turn back the right-wing crusade against progress and will continue to build a stronger foundation for people-powered change here in Florida.

Will you give us the ongoing resources we need by contributing $15 per month? It’s easy, and you can cancel at any time.

Yes, I can contribute $15 a month.

Sorry, I can't.

Here's what we're working on:

Collaborating with other progressive groups and allies on critical issues such as improving public education, access to quality health care, and environmental conservation, among others. We've launched ambitious campaigns opposing Gov. Scott's private voucher scheme, and supporting a woman's right to choose by helping build a coalition against a radical constitutional amendment that would give a fertilized egg the legal rights of a living person. Holding Gov. Scott and right wing majorities in the Florida legislature accountable, and making Floridians aware of their harmful, extremist agenda. Progress Florida recently teamed up with progressive allies around the state to crash Gov. Scott's "Twitter Town Hall" and demand real answers to real questions. Protecting our communities from disastrous budget cuts to classrooms, local health clinics, and critical public services by closing unfair tax loopholes and special interest won exemptions. Building the progressive communications infrastructure to fight misleading and factually innaccurate conservative talking points and ensure the public consistently hears the progressive perspective on key issues. Recently, we stood with allies and working families in shining a light on the state's failure to follow the constitution and raise the minimum wage to keep pace with the rising cost of living. None of this will happen overnight - this is a long-term campaign - but the extremist proposals in Tallahassee provide us an opportunity to show Floridians who's on their side, and who is on the side of insurance companies, big banks, and developers. This is our moment: will you help us seize it?

Yes, I can contribute $15 a month.

Sorry, I can't.

We appreciate your support as we fight for a more progressive Florida.

For progress,

Mark, Julie, Ray and the rest of the Progress Florida Team.

PS: Your monthly contribution can be cancelled at any time. But your commitment will ensure we have the resources to build the progressive movement and fight the threats to Florida's working families from Gov. Scott and a reckless, right wing legislature.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[Allthegoodusernamesaregone]

Note the spin in the email, where the lying, deceiving progressives claim that cuts are being made to the public schools budget. Note that there are NO cuts which will affect the school so they are just lying through their teeth.

The new budget introduced by Governor Scott cuts $4 billion in property and corporate income taxes. Public employees would also have to contribute 5% for their pension benefits, which will save $2.8 billion over two years. Calling his spending plan "Florida's first jobs budget," Scott said he would reduce corporate income taxes from 5.5% to 3% over two years, before eliminating the levy in 2018. He would also reduce $1.4 billion in property taxes. And he would spend $800 million on economic development projects and incentives that promote job creation. The governor also wants to reduce Medicaid costs by shifting to a system where the patients direct their care. This will reduce their health care usage and save $4 billion over two years, he said.

Also, he hopes to save $500 million by making changes to the state prison and juvenile detention systems. And some 8,700 jobs would be eliminated, with the greatest numbers coming from children and family services and corrections.

[Dr. Sivana]

The response to Progress Florida's email last week has been incredible! Progress Florida supporters responded with more than $8,000 in 48 hours.

That's good for 4 TV ads in medium sized markets, one week of a tier B lobbyist, or a radio campaign in ONE large market (Miami, Tampa Bay).

Hardly incredible.

[mozarky2]

Elections have consequences...

[nagdt]

I like your user name!

ping

[The Iceman Cometh]

reproductive rights denied:

Oh, right. What's the amendment number in the constitution that forces my to pay for someone else's abortion? The number slips my mind.

[sten]

progressives to Americans*

are like the KKK to blacks
or nazis to jews

they just don’t mix. at all. ever.

*Americans defined as those that believe in freedom and small government.

[Frantzie]

He needs to do more about illegals. No drivers licenses, no jobs for illegals, no benefits, ne medicaid, no ther stuff.

[UCFRoadWarrior]

“Ultraconservative legislature”? Where...in Florida?

That caught me....as Florida usually has a liberal GOP legislature. Weak on Illegal Aliens (thanks Marco Rubio!)...weak on environmentalists...and weak handling Terri Schiavo. You have to be really delusional to think FL has an ultraconservative legislature

The cuts by Scott make a lot of sense....and probably the best he can do. Only problem is the hundreds of millions being given to business....that is Business Socialism and not a conservative idea. Scott needs to take that out.

Even the big bugaboo with the contribution to the State Pension funds is minimal. A state employee making 50K per year would only be contributing an extra $250 per year towards the pension. The state contribution just goes from 9.8% of annual salary to around 9.0% of annual salary.

[bill1952]

“Reproductive rights.”

Since when is non reproduction, ie, abortion, considered “Reproduction?”

[Allthegoodusernamesaregone]

I like your user name!

Thank you! It happens to be quite factual :)

[Doc Savage]

May I suggest this DemonRat asshole contribute all his money to taxation, sell his stinkin’ cars and house and give the $ to Obamabuttboy!

[Allthegoodusernamesaregone]

He needs to do more about illegals. No drivers licenses, no jobs for illegals, no benefits, ne medicaid, no ther stuff.

Within 17 minutes of his inauguration, he signed off on mandatory use of e-Verify. It is more than all the previous governors have done, here and in the rest of the country. He is definitely starting out with a conservative bang. I hope he stays the course!

[The Iceman Cometh]

Since when is non reproduction, ie, abortion, considered “Reproduction?”

Liberals aren't really concerned with details.

Just STFU and give me my free crap. Take it from the evil corporations. I demand it!

[Allthegoodusernamesaregone]

“Ultraconservative legislature”? Where...in Florida?

Remember, they are progressives so for them Republicans=conservatives=ultra conservatives=racists=Boogy Men.

[GeronL]

There probably should be school budget cuts though

[Nervous Tick]

What I want to know is:

How can Gov. Scott cut five to ten billion out of ONE STATE government budget — good for you, Governor! —

but the jackwagons in the House can barely find $30 billion in cuts to the MASSIVE $1,100 BILLION Federal budget?

What is wrong with this picture?

[Presbyterian Reporter]

Here are some back of the envelope numbers for school costs in Florida.

The teachers cost about $5000 per kid and the BUREAUCRATS, BUSES, AND BUILDINGS are costing about $10,000 per kid.

When the “progressives” send out the teachers with their sob stories, we need to counter by telling the taxpayers that the big cost savings will be in reducing the cost of BUREAUCRATS, BUSES, AND BUILDINGS.

[davidosborne]

Very good point indeed.. I am looking forward to the budget debate.

[davidosborne]

I would love to see what would happen if all of us homeschoolers/private school kids insited on getting a seat in the public school we are zoned for and then get a tax credit for OPTING OUT !