Even with Barry's Bailout, Charlie is still pulling out the credit card

Gary Fineout has a good rundown on ten different overlooked pieces of Chalrie Crist's new budget proposal. Most of them are the reason why a lot of Democrats don't mind him: more money for disabled, teachers, and keeping Medicaid funding. First off, its not enough to make our schools as good as they need to be, to take care of those that need it, or to make healthcare better in Florida. But, if they don't see that, here's the message I'd like to send to everyone from Demcorats in Tallahassee to Indpenedent average Joe taxpayers across the state: It doesn't work to increase funding if you don't change the tax structure.

In other words -- if the increases are sustainable and come on the back of the people they are suposed to help they are just gimmicks ot get your vote, either in the state house or on election day.

In Fineout's article he talks about Charlie's love of debt:

8. Borrowing $2.5 billion: That's the total amount of bonding that Crist has included in his budget proposal. It includes bonding to build new prison beds, Florida Forever land-buying program, Everglades restoration, $400 million for Florida Turnpike construction projects, $70 million for Sunshine Skyway bonds, and $226 million to pay for the state's petroleum tank cleanup program. This amount of borrowing is higher than the Division of Bond Finance estimated would be authorized in the coming year. The state's total amount of borrowing in June 2008 was $24.3 billion and the state now annually pays close to $2 billion in debt service payments.

9. The Budget Stabilization Fund would remain as it is: Crist does not recommend paying back any money to the constitutionally-mandated Budget Stabilization Fund in the coming year. It would stay at $281.3 million. Likewise, Crist has made no plans to pay back the Lawton Chiles Endowment at this time.

So lets get this straight, he's increaisng funding on some things, but also increasing funding on debt service payments (he got this one from Arnold in CA and it didn't work for them) and of course the funds that are supposed to help us when we need it, if things get worse he's wiping them out. We need to fix the budget in Florida and we need to explain to people why -- Dan might talk about in his future tweets, but come on we can do better more than that. 

We will never be able to make this point unless the Democrats come up with a plan of their own. So let's get crackin'