Fla. legislature leaders ax budget ‘turkeys’

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) _ Just in time for Thanksgiving, Florida legislative leaders say they're axing budget “turkeys.''

Turkeys are legislative parlance for what most folks just call “pork.'' They're local projects that make constituents back home happy at the expense of all taxpayers.

They're now called “earmarks'' in Congress, but Florida's current crop of lawmakers have come up with a fancier term for the whole mess: “Community Budget Issue Request System.''

Whatever it's called, though, House Speaker Dean Cannon and Senate President Mike Haridopolos say there'll be none of it in the next budget.

Both sent memos Monday to lawmakers citing “continuing fiscal challenges.''

That means there won't be enough money in the pot to cook up their turkeys.