House sweep drawing heat

A Florida House of Representatives original plan to sweep $880 million out of the State Transportation Trust Fund (STTF) to shore up the state's $3.75 billion budget gap was termed “Willie Sutton decision-making” by Floridians for Better Transportation. (“'Why do you rob banks, Willie?' 'Cause that's where the money is!'”)

Doug Callaway, the group's president, handed out flyers last week to legislators at the Capitol showing Sutton in a penitentiary photo next to the above caption.

The transportation funding advocacy group and its allies have now widdled down the amount to $330 million. That's part of $518.4 million the House Transportation and Economic Development Subcommittee would take from various trust funds, including affordable housing, highway safety and workforce accounts.

Once the funds, which come mostly from fuel taxes, move into the state's general fund, they can be used for any purpose.

Although it's a big improvement from the original number, Bob Burleson, president of the Florida Transportation Builders Association, says it would cost the state 25,000 jobs. That's because the Florida Department of Transportation estimates that taking the $330 million would impact $900 million of transportation projects out of a $5.8 billion work program.

Auto Club AAA has also weighed in to oppose. Kevin Bakewell, senior vice president of AAA Auto Club South, says: “This raid on the STTF would halt the much needed construction and maintenance of our deteriorating roads and bridges which, in turn, reduces traffic safety.”