Bob Sparks: 2015 leaves Florida Republicans in a dangerous place for 2016

The Florida Senate and several communities hoping to receive state money for local projects or programs are unhappy. The public food fight between legislative chambers and the governor was an embarrassment that could have serious ramifications.

A governor’s use of line-item veto authority is often likened to a surgeon conducting delicate surgery with a scalpel. On Tuesday, Gov. Rick Scott drew the curtains and brought out the chain saw.

There is nothing wrong with cutting items that have little or no statewide benefit and did not go through the committee process. Jeb Bush and Charlie Crist used similar criteria, but this budget surgery seemed to have taken place in a M.A.S.H. unit.

The speed and scope at which the governor and his team carried out this budget reduction exercise surprised some and angered plenty. The governor even defined and slashed budget “turkeys” before Florida Tax Watch had the chance to identify them as such. Tax Watch determined only $167 million met that definition.

Perhaps the chief executive had similar thoughts in mind, but his actions followed the recommendation of House Appropriations Chairman Richard Corcoran to “veto boldly.” Those reacting negatively to the “bold” vetoes did not mince words.

Agriculture and Consumer Services Commissioner Adam Putnam, mentioned as a contender to succeed Scott in 2018, said he was “profoundly disappointed.” Putnam was lamenting the veto of pay raises for Division of Forestry firefighters.

State Sen. Jack Latvala lashed out at the “kids from Louisiana,” a.k.a. members of the governor’s senior staff who formerly worked for Gov. Bobby Jindal. For good measure, Latvala announced Scott had “declared war on the Legislature.”

Senate President Andy Gardiner said “(I)t’s unfortunate that the messaging strategy needed to achieve the governor’s political agenda comes at the expense of the most vulnerable people in our state.” The veto list with reasons for the vetoes is 85 pages long.

Any praise for Scott came from the House. Corcoran tweeted a “well done, governor” message to his followers. Speaker Steve Crisafulli said “this is a good budget that meets the needs of Florida families.”

The cuts came slightly more than three days after the Legislature passed the budget, but the ax was expected later in the week, a few days before the next fiscal year begins. Waiting just three more days would have fit the lesson plan for Politics 101. Those seeking to avoid discussion of controversial subjects often do “document dumps” on a Friday afternoon as people begin the weekend and often tune out politics.

What was the governor’s strategy of doing this on a Tuesday, but out of view of the public and the news media, who had plenty of questions? If he was going to take such an aggressive approach, he had ample opportunity to proudly sell it.

This episode in governance is not about the righteousness of the vetoes or the vetoed projects. It is more about the different agendas of the House, Senate and governor.

As we head into the second half of 2015, Florida Republicans are in a troubling place for 2016. Not that they are in any danger of losing majorities in either legislative chamber. The stakes are even higher.

The fledgling Republican presidential campaigns thinking long term are likely doing three things: 1) trying to raise their name recognition; 2) trying to raise millions of dollars and 3) begging Florida to get its act together.

Florida Republicans are giving the Democratic National Committee a layup of an opportunity to portray both legislative chambers and executive leadership as dysfunctional. All they need are news clips from the past four months.

The message of their coming ads, rightly or wrongly, is simple: “the GOP can’t govern” in Florida. There are far more than 30 seconds of visuals available for use as content.

Repairing the Republican brand had better start with repairing Republican relationships in Tallahassee. The 2015 session amounted to a legislative civil war. The special session was at least more outwardly collegial, but then came the Florida Chainsaw Massacre.

Republicans cannot have another session, or sessions, or the aftermath, in a presidential election year when Democrats already perform better than at any other time. As politicos and legislators from both sides know, if Republicans lose Florida, they lose the White House.

Again.

Bob Sparks is a business and political consultant based in Tallahassee. Column courtesy of Context Florida.