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      A day after lawmakers delayed a special session to cut more than $1 billion from the state budget, Governor Charlie Crist unveils his own plan to deal with the shortfall.  As Chris Casquejo tells us, the governor is banking on a better economic outlook next year.

Hear it here:  Crist’s Budget Proposals 

     State lawmakers and the governor are at odds on how to cut more than a billion dollars from the state budget. The disagreement has postponed a planned session in September and created more uncertainty among agencies.  Democrat Curtis Richardson is disappointed in the delay.
      “Our only constitutional responsibility is to develop a state budget,” he said.  “And it’s our job as legislators to accomplish that and not wait for the executive branch.”
      A day after the postponement, Governor Charlie Crist suggested a roadmap for shaving spending.  One suggestion, letting workers at Motor Vehicle offices stop wearing uniforms.  The savings $350,000.  But that’s not all he has in mind.
      “What we’re suggesting is that we spend about a billion dollars that’s just sitting in reserve right now,” Crist said.
      The governor is banking on a better economy next year, which he believes will spare education, programs for the poor and public safety from the budget ax.
      Democrats in the House hope that when lawmakers finally do meet, they look at ways to increase revenue, not just cut programs.
      But except for a tuition hike, tax increases aren’t likely.  The real challenge is for lawmakers to decide whether to make cuts, or dip into the state savings account.