‘Stimulus czar:’ Fla. has met all deadlines
TALLAHASSEE (AP) – Florida has met all deadlines so far and is well ahead of schedule with the submission of a key document needed to obtain billions in federal recovery money, Gov. Charlie Crist’s “stimulus czar” said Tuesday.
Don Winstead provided Crist, Lt. Gov. Jeff Kottkamp and agency heads with an update on Florida’s stimulus progress. He also reported on a stimulus meeting in Washington last week with Vice President Joe Biden and other federal officials.
Crist, who has taken heat from some of his fellow Republicans for embracing Democratic President Barack Obama’s stimulus plan, said he found amusing Winstead’s recollection of how many states attended the meeting.
“I have colleagues that have at least intimated that this money from Washington is not something that they welcome with open arms,” Crist said. “Yet 49 out of 50 states show up and get it and the one that didn’t show up it was a logistics issue. Noted.”
In a letter to Obama, Crist certified Florida “will request and use” the stimulus money to create jobs and promote economic growth.
It was dated Tuesday, the 28th day since Obama signed the stimulus bill into law. The letter is not due by law until the 45th day, Winstead said.
Crist started the letter by noting Floridians historically have contributed substantially more in federal tax payments than the state has received in federal services and projects.
“Now, at a time when many families are facing extraordinary difficulties due to the decline in the economy, it is critical that we ensure that Floridians are able to access the federal resources made available by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009,” Crist wrote.
Winstead also announced Florida is one of 16 states the congressional Government Accountability Office will focus on to make sure the money is being spent properly. Florida officials asked to be included in that project.
The state next week also will launch a Web site tracking the cash coming into Florida. Some states have already made those sites available, but Crist said Florida is moving carefully to make sure everything is done right.
“We want to launch successfully as they do at the Cape,” Crist said.