Alex Sink, Showing the Boys How It's Done

Since it's girl-crush day here at friedgator, I have to stop, take a minute, and applaud Alex Sink. In full disclosure, I've had a girl crush on Alex for a while; it's even live on the web at draftalex.com.

Alex held a press conference this morning to release a report regarding federal aid for Florida and the stimulus bill. And let me just say, it contains some seriously strong medicine, not even a spoon full of sugar will help go down.

Did you know Florida is 45th in the nation in regards to per capita federal funding? How is that even possible? We're the 4th largest state! Florida receives $1,098 per person, or about $20 billion, in federal grants. If it got the national average per capita, $1,429, the state could have spent another $6 billion in 2007.

We're not getting our fair share, the tax dollars that we in Florida send to Washington ought to be coming back to us.

Sink did note that this is more of a state issue than federal problem: Florida does not always spend the state money required in matching funds to get federal grants.

But, in true lady leader form, Alex offers some ideas to help solve the issue.

Pursue federal grants more aggressively, including requiring the state's Washington office to report each year what it has done to enhance federal funding, and move the state's federal grant clearinghouse from the Department of Environmental Protection to the governor's office.

Anyways, you go, girl!