In Florida it's grand parents verses grand kids, fighting for nickels

From the Orlando Senitnel

by Scott Maxwell

Per-pupil spending in Florida is still below average — and lower than when either Old or New Rick came to town.

Now, money alone won't solve everything that ails our education system. But when kids are seeing their classes cut, their teachers fired and eating lunch as early as 9:30 a.m. to make crowding issues work, it seems safe to say that funding is an issue.

But, hey, don't take my word for it. Take New Rick's! He's the one now saying school funding is our top priority.

Unfortunately, New Rick hasn't completely left Old Rick behind. Because, instead of looking for new revenue sources, he is talking about taking it from hospitals and Medicaid.

Senate Minority Leader Nan Rich described Scott's newfound passion for schools — at the expense of hospitals and Medicaid programs — as "pitting grandparents against grandchildren."

I actually like the idea of looking at Medicaid fraud and waste. There's a lot of both out there.

But randomly cutting money — without dealing with the fraud — makes little sense. Especially when there are untapped revenues such as tax loopholes for special interests and online taxes that go uncollected.

Still, even if New Rick does decide to gut Medicaid this year — the same way he gutted schools last year — that may not be the last word on the subject.

Because if enough folks complain, then next year Even Newer Rick may again reverse himself and argue that more money for Medicaid is "the single most important decision we can make today."

And on that point, he will not budge.

smaxwell@tribune.com or 407-420-6141

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/opinion/views/os-scott-maxwell-rick-scott-speech-011112-20120110,0,5856315.column?page=2