Gov. Jeb Bush Vetoes Florida Library Appropriations

This is reprehensible...


As part of an unprecedented $448.7-million line-item veto of state funding, Florida Gov. Jeb Bush slashed a total of $5.8 million in grants to public libraries, pilot projects for library homework help and web-based high-school texts, and funding for a joint-use library in Tampa. Bush, whose term runs out in January 2007, said as he signed the $73.9-billion state budget May 25 that he was pleased to leave the state with a $6.4-billion reserve cushion against hard times, the Tallahassee Democrat reported May 26.
The biggest library cut was $2.2 million in supplemental library grants for 2006–2007, to be used for library books, materials, supplies, and services. According to the Florida Library Association, the appropriation would have helped make up for inflation and the cost of serving millions of new residents.

“We do not understand why the Governor would veto funding for Florida’s public libraries,” said FLA President Sol Hirsch. “Libraries work hard to support the Governor’s priorities, state agencies, and programs. We had no indication from the Governor’s Office that there were problems all session and frankly we were surprised.”

Bush cut $1.8 million for a statewide pilot project to provide one-on-one tutoring to school-age children in any subject area through an internet connection using library computers; $800,000 for a web-based library pilot project to provide electronic texts for high school students; and $1 million for a joint-use library serving students of the Hillsborough County school system and patrons of the Tampa–Hillsborough County Public Library System.

...more

http://www.ala.org/al_onlineTemplate.cfm?Section=American_Libraries&template=/ContentManagement/ContentDisplay.cfm&ContentID=128032

because he is an asshole that only cares for the powerful and wealthy. and they dont need the library.

Jeb uses his office to shill for crony's religious movie

TALLAHASSEE — Gov. Jeb Bush is encouraging Florida schoolchildren to read The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, a parable of the New Testament gospels, for a contest timed with the release of the movie version by a company owned by a prominent Republican donor.

The $150 million film opens Dec. 9, and three sets of winners will get a private screening in Orlando, two nights at a Disney resort, a dinner at Medieval Times and a copy of the C.S. Lewis children's novel signed by Jeb and Columba Bush.

The movie is being co-produced by Disney and Walden Media, which is owned by Philip Anschutz, a Colorado billionaire. Anschutz, his family, his foundation and his company have donated nearly $100,000 to Republican candidates and causes in the past three elections, according to the Center for Responsive Politics.

Bush's "Just Read, Florida" campaign worked with Walden earlier this year, when it sponsored a statewide contest centered on Florida novelist Carl Hiaasen's children's book, Hoot. The winner of that contest got a small appearance in Walden's film version of the book, which will not be released until next year.

More:
http://www.smirkingchimp.com/viewtopic.php?forum=10&topic=59858



See also:


Florida Governor Promotes Christian Book

Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, in conjunction with the release of a major motion picture, has launched a contest to encourage students to read C.S. Lewis’ Christian allegory, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.

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Barry W. Lynn, executive director of Americans United for Separation of Church and State, told the Post that the state should not promote religion.

“This whole contest is totally inappropriate,” Lynn told the newspaper, because of the religious theme of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. “This would be like asking children to watch the movie ‘The Passion of the Christ’ and to write an essay with the winner getting a trip to Rome.”

More:
http://www.au.org/site/News2?page=NewsArticle&id=7643&abbr=cs_

seems the GOP wants alot of Americans to be really dumb.

state library down here and move it to a private university down south.

I posted here all the time about it. It got ignored all the time. They are privatizing it, I fear, and turning precious records over to private colleges like Nova. We knew all about it.

I have files on my computer, an email list of records....we got nothing.

If they read they will learn the truth and possibly rebel against these facist assholes.

Keep 'em dumb....

Rp