Budget politics in bloom

A proposed drop in the state corporate income tax from 5.5% to 4.5% is a bit mind boggling for Senate Democratic Leader, Sen. Al Lawson, D-Tallahassee.

Lawson, Republican Gov. Charlie Crist, and other state leaders spoke to a group of reporters at the Associated Press annual gathering of government reporters in the Capitol recently.

When asked about Crist's proposal to cut the tax from 5.5% to 4.5% on the first $1 million of taxable income, Lawson's response departed from the usual politically correct comments, saying, “I think it's kind of insane.” Lawson then added, “You just can't camouflage people. It's going to take more money from the budget.”