Floridians: Here's How You Can Help Avoid State Budget Cuts for Critical Services

Floridians: Here's How You Can Help Avoid State Budget Cuts for Critical Services | Press Release

Deep budget cuts, totaling $2.8 billion dollars (YES, that is billion with a "B"), were enacted during the special meeting of the Florida legislature.

Without thoroughly considering the consequences to their actions, some short-sighted state leaders have proposed tapping the Lawton Chiles Endowment Fund in order to balance the budget. This is an unacceptable proposition because the Chiles Endowment provides critical funding for Pre-K Education, Medicaid Nursing Expenditures, Higher Education, Criminal and
Civil Justice services, Agencies for Persons with Disabilities and many, many more services Floridians desperately need now and for years to come.

In 2008, Florida's Governor Charlie Crist was given the power to use $354 million of the funds, and given an ounce (which was already a BIG mistake), the Governor now would like to take a pound...$600 million from the Chiles Fund.

Rather than jeopardizing Florida's essential education, health care and law enforcement programs, Senator Ted Deutch (D) District 30, has proposed a one dollar per pack cigarette tax which would bring in $800 million annually.

Among the lowest cigarette taxes in America, Florida has not seen an increase in its cigarette tax in more than fifteen years.

Please also consider a couple of the wonderful benefits to supporting Senator Ted Deutch and enacting the $1 per pack cigarette tax. New cigarette smokers will be discouraged from ever starting and existing cigarette smokers will be encouraged to end this life endangering addiction.

Because of the current economic downturn, the Chiles fund has lost almost 50% of its $1.2 billion value. If Florida's Governor Crist decides to rape the Lawton Chiles Fund, securities will have to be sold at crushing losses and the Chiles Endowment may never be able to recover.

Take Action Today! RIGHT NOW, pick up your phone and call the office of Florida's Governor Charlie Crist and tell him two things:

(1) LEAVE THE LAWTON CHILES ENDOWMENT FUND ALONE, and
(2) SUPPORT SENATOR TED DEUTCH'S $1 PER PACK CIGARETTE TAX.

Governor Charlie Crist
(850) 488-7146
Email: charlie.crist@myflorida.com

Please act quickly.

You can also take quick action by using the links below. Florida's legislature is in session right now and is likely to make decisions on the budget any day now. Legislators and Governor Charlie Crist MUST hear from concerned citizens as soon as possible.

Sign the Petition!
http://civicconcern.org/r/949/103613/

Join other Floridians in demanding that the legislature protect the Chiles Fund and the citizens it serves, and ask that they instead find more far-sighted options to address the budget crisis.

Sign the Petition, and please encourage your friends and family to join you in building a better Florida by signing, also.

http://civicconcern.org/r/950/103613/

Use this simple tool to email your legislators and tell them your thoughts on this issue. Your elected officials need to know you're watching their actions in Tallahassee.
Email your legislators:

http://civicconcern.org/r/954/103613/

Learn More. Read the article on CIVIC's website for more information:

http://civicconcern.org/r/955/103613/

LET'S TURN FLORIDA BLUE IN 2010!!!

Rick Neuhoff
www.RickNeuhoff2008.com
Co-Chair Palm Beach County DEC - Web & Technology Committee
Palm Beach County DEC - VOICE Committee
Palm Beach County DEC - Legislative Committee
United South County Democratic Club - Legislative Committee
Greater Boynton Democratic Club - Legislative Committee
Palm Beach County Democracy For America - Co-Secretary

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