No, it’s not second-guessing.
This space and others have long urged Governor Charlie Crist to make the future solvency of this state more of a priority. More of a priority, that is, than his own popularity and empty-suited ideology of self interest. No, an onerous recession is obviously not Crist’s fault, but keeping Florida woefully unprepared for an inevitable day of reckoning is on him.
Recall that he never exhumed the bully pulpit his predecessor had used for FCAT-shilling and bullet-train killing to bring Florida revenue-raising in line with something other than growth and sprawl forever. Florida had become a Ponzi state, fueled by ever-more move-ins. And a revenue formula that was good enough for LeRoy Collins wasn’t a good enough rationale.
And the beat goes on. Crist’s $69.2 billion budget proposal would once again rather rely on the sunniest of scenarios. These include Fed money, a gaming agreement and local-option school district taxes. He would also — again — tap into Florida’s dwindling reserves, which can adversely impact this state’s bond rating, rather than look at alternatives that might upset key special interests.
Sales-tax exemptions, for example, are too numerous and ill-allocated – especially services. He’s never made an effort to work with other states on an internet retailers tax compact. He’s never made the case – or tried to raise the political consciousness – about what unfettered trade with Cuba would mean for Florida. Now more than ever. Why should Washington change its policy of feckless incrementalism when the chief executive of the biggest beneficiary state remains cowed and quiet?
But before long that will all be somebody else’s watch and worry. He assumes most voters won’t even remember that he gutted growth management laws and appointed his former chief of staff as Mel Martinez’s senate-seat warmer. Right now Crist’s concern is getting through one more hurricane season and hoping a Marco Rubio love child turns up before the August primary.