A pair of local state representatives are claiming Governor Rick Scott purposely vetoed projects in certain districts whose reps voted against his wishes. Venice’s state rep, Republican Julio Gonzalez, voted against Enterprise Florida, the state agency that hands out economic incentives to businesses looking to expand or relocate in Florida. He told the Herald-Tribune Scott vetoed $3 million to improve River Road, $1 million for road improvements in Venice and $500,000 for a water main replacement project in the city. Gonzalez went on to say the Governor had “political considerations” in his line item budget vetoes. GOP state Rep. Jim Boyd, who represents much of Manatee County in the Legislature, also voted to abolish Enterprise Florida. The governor cut $2.5 million from Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine’s Lakewood Ranch campus and $1 million from emergency room diversion program run by the Palmetto nonprofit MCR Health Services.
