Welfare-laden

Governor Crist office sent out this bulletin regarding the Florida Legislature's expenditure of the federal stimulus plan. I read it over and really don't see any "shovel ready" projects but maybe you can find them buried in this WELFARE-LADEN piece of legislation which is sitting on Charlie's desk waiting for his signature:

Florida is slated to receive over $15 billion in federal stimulus funding during the next three budget years. Some of these funds will go directly to cities and counties, but the bulk will flow through the state budget and then be spent on state-administered programs, or be passed through to local programs.

The 2009-10 appropriations act, which has been passed by the 2009 Legislature and is under review by the Governor, provides $5.3 billion in urgently needed funds to strengthen education, spur economic development and help individuals and families affected by the economy. These federal funds will provide the stimulus needed to hasten our economic recovery. The proposed budget includes the following American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funding:

Education was appropriated $2.7 billion in FY 2009-10 of which half, or $1.35 billion, is the state fiscal stabilization grant that will come to Florida because of the long-awaited waiver that was granted to Florida this week by the United States Department of Education.

Public Safety received $110.5 million in FY 2009-10, including pass-through funds for the Byrne/Justice Assistance Grant Funding and Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) task forces in Broward and Polk counties and the City of Gainesville.

Health and Human Services received $1.7 billion in FY 2009-10, including the following:

***$1.443 billion in enhanced Federal Medical Assistance Percentage (FMAP).
***$8.3 million to provide meals to seniors age 60 and older, and to support employment opportunities for low-income seniors.
***$14.6 million to provide additional food assistance payments due to the economic recession.
***$44.6 million to help states deal with increased cash assistance caseloads and expenditures.
***$12.9 million to assist households who face the loss of their home or apartment due to the current economic recession.
***$5.5 million to provide funding for a community-based approach to combating domestic violence, sexual violence and stalking.
***$6.3 million funding for foster care.
***$6.9 million for adoption assistance.
***$1.6 million for additional reimbursement to hospitals serving a disproportionate share of Medicaid and uninsured persons.
***$11.5 million for early intervention services to infants and toddlers with significant developmental delays.

Environmental Programs received $391 million for FY 2009-10, including the following:

***$187 million funding for the Drinking Water Revolving Loan Program, the Wastewater Revolving Loan Program, Diesel Emissions Reductions, State Parks and the Petroleum Tank Cleanup Program.
***$12.5 million for Wildfire Prevention, Oyster Management and Restoration, and Emergency Food Assistance Program.
***$17 million for the removal of abandoned and derelict vessels from Florida’s waterways, restoration of seagrass and mangrove habitats, the removal of invasive exotic plants and supplements law enforcement salary and benefits for recent reductions or due to layoffs.
***$174.5 million for renewable energy technologies, reducing total energy use and improving energy efficiency, solar rebates and rebates for residential Energy Star products.

Transportation and Economic Development Programs received $374.1 million for FY 2009-10, including the following:

***Funding to continue to improve distribution of Unemployment Compensation benefit payments to Floridians.
***$73.3 million to increase the availability of child care and early learning services to low income families with children age 5 years and younger or at-risk children.
***$56.8 million to continue to assist individuals who are laid off or anticipate being laid off and $13.7 million to assist other individuals with training to upgrade their current occupational skills, learn a new trade, prepare for a job, receive adult education and literacy training, or receive on-the-job training. Also assists individuals with job search activities in careers experiencing economic and job growth.
***$7.5 million to award grants to small cities to help revitalize communities and expand economic development opportunities.
***$157.9 million in energy savings programs to assist low-income families (income up to $44,000) with energy saving home repairs and retrofits of up to $6,500 per home.
***$29.1 million to fund a broad range of services in the community to assist individuals and families to achieve self-sufficiency and make the community stronger.
***$19.3 million to continue funding for the new Summer Youth Employment Program. This program helps teens and young adults (ages 16 to 24) who are interested in obtaining a job this summer and earning a paycheck. Wages varies by region, from $7.25 to $9 per hour for up to 35 hours a week.
***$15.5 million to continue to provide employment and re-employment services to job seekers and employers.

In addition, other federal recovery dollars may come to Florida as state agencies, local governments and non-profit organizations are successful in securing competitive grants in various federal programs.