Scott playing budget hardball over repeal of EFI, Visit Florida, members say
TALLAHASSEE — Gov. Rick Scott’s staff is sending an indirect but unmistakable message to Florida lawmakers, according to several House members: If you support legislation abolishing two economic development entities strongly backed by the governor, you can kiss your budget items goodbye.
The governor’s office says the notion that it is tying the fate of House members' pet projects to how they vote on legislation that would shutter Enterprise Florida and Visit Florida is “absolutely false.” None of the lawmakers interviewed by POLITICO Florida have indicated that their discussions were held directly with the governor.
"The word ‘threat’ was not used, but the message was clear,” said a House member lobbied on the economic development reform bill. “It’s a pretty hardline approach so early in the process. If they want the House to work with them [governor’s office] in the future, they might want to rethink it.”
For veteran political observers, a governor using his line-item veto pen as leverage to muscle policy priorities out of the Legislature is nothing new.
more: http://www.politico.com/states/florida/story/2017/02/some-house-members-say-they-are-feeling-scott-squeeze-over-repeal-of-efi-visit-florida-109540