Funny how though Tallahassee has been in the death grip of complete Republican control for more than a decade, the state still finds itself year after year with billion dollar budget holes to close. In order to shore up this year's $3.6 billion shortfall Gov. Rick Scott, several Republican politicians, and the perhaps too-influential Florida Tax Watch are taking aim at the benefits and retirement plans of public employees including teachers and police officers.  

"They don't contribute and that's wrong," Sen. Jeremy Ring, D-Margate

.

"Government service comes at a price," says Senate President (and probably US Senate Candidate) Mike Haridopolos, R-Merritt Island.

Words that should really inspire Florida's best and brightest to aspire to teach in public schools or patrol our streets.

While bringing Florida's retirement plan into alignment with that of other states' may not be in and of itself so controversial it's unlikely that the workers would receive a raise to offset the cost. In fact, The Heat Lightning reports that amongst Florida Tax Watch's suggestions is the idea of severely cutting or completely eliminating the amount the state pays into the retirement plans at all.

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