The secrets of transparency, and the son of SB 6
Submitted by Brandon Larrabee on April 24, 2010 – 7:00pm Death, Taxes & Politics
TALLAHASSEE — This was to be the session of unprecedented transparency on state budget negotiations, in part because of the indictment of now-former House Speaker Ray Sansom related to accusations he manipulated the state’s higher education budget.
So it raised more than a few eyebrows in the press corps when Senate Ways and Means Chairman J.D. Alexander, R-Lake Wales, said at a budget negotiating session that the House and Senate had already agreed to more than $3.7 million in funding for “a Florida A&M line item.” And the upper chamber wanted to kick in $2.25 million more — something House budget chief David Rivera, R-Miami, quickly accepted.
The matter came up during a gaggle with Alexander after the meeting.
Reporter: What are those items for FAMU for?
Alexander: Well, some outreach missions that we thought were close to FAMU’s sort of niche in the world.
Reporter: Senator, we’re looking hard for the level of transparency that you promised earlier this session.