Looks like it’s time for our favorite dead-eyed, Voldemort-impersonating governor to backtrack.
Gov. Rick Scott proposed his budget Monday, and he changed his tune by Wednesday. Politicians from both sides of the aisle were left scratching their heads about the governor’s radical changes, no doubt worrying about the deep cuts he had planned.
On one hand, he may be an idiot who didn’t understand the state’s situation thoroughly enough to compose a reasonable plan. On the other hand, however, we can see a spark of genius. Evil genius.
Scott may be following a Machiavellian mode of bargaining, not unlike an old woman negotiating the price of a yard sale trinket. By offering a ridiculous budget that looks unfeasible to nearly everyone, he puts the ball in the legislators’ court as they carefully dissect his suggestions. They may take the bait and meet him halfway on his proposals, and Scott is probably looking for the resulting concessions, not the approval of his whole budget.
Was the governor just too idealistic and hazy on the details? Is he making a smart business move by saying, “You never get the deal you want”?
Or maybe someone explained to him how arrogant “Just pass it” sounds to lawmakers.
We just hope the budget made Scott realize Florida doesn’t work like a company.
