Posted on 06/21/2002 6:00:24 PM PDT by summer
Jeb Bush rips Davis for state of budget
President's brother on fund-raising trip
By Philip J. LaVelle
STAFF WRITER
June 21, 2002
Florida Gov. Jeb Bush yesterday blamed Gray Davis for California's record $23.6 billion budget shortfall and told a San Diego audience it would be "unconscionable" for the Democratic governor to be re-elected in November.
Bush's remarks, denounced by the Davis campaign, were made during a breakfast at the U.S. Grant Hotel, one of several stops on his fund-raising swing through California.
"Don't let Gray Davis talk about how his $23 billion, or soon-to-be $30 billion, budget deficit somehow is because of osmosis or some third party that came down and made this happen," the Republican governor told about 280 listeners, most of whom paid $150 to $500 to attend the breakfast.
"It would be unconscionable to allow a guy who has mismanaged a budget of the magnitude of California's . . . to be re-elected for four years," said Bush, who is seeking re-election in his home state.
Florida is coming out of a budget crisis of its own, albeit one less severe than that in California, where the total proposed budget is $98.9 billion.
Bush signed a $50.2 billion state budget this month after slashing reserves and cutting $107 million in projects sought by legislators. Yesterday, Bush said Florida's budget is projected to grow modestly in the fiscal year beginning July 1.
Davis campaign press secretary Roger Salazar said Bush is in no position to criticize Davis on fiscal affairs, especially since the federal deficit has ballooned to more than $100 billion.
"Wow," Salazar said facetiously when told of Bush's comments. "Was he referring to Gray Davis or George Bush?"
Citing offshore oil drilling as an example, Salazar said Florida has benefited from having the governor's brother in the White House. The Bush Administration recently agreed to buy back oil leases off Florida but not off California.
"If we in California were as lucky as Jeb Bush was in getting favors from the federal government, we'd be a lot better off," Salazar said.
Former U.S. Attorney General Janet Reno, vying for the Democratic nomination in the Florida gubernatorial contest, is scheduled for a Del Mar fund raiser Tuesday. Admission to that event, closed to the media, reportedly ranges from $1,000 to $25,000.
That makes me question just how much money she will get in a state where she is not running for office.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.