Mystery: Who left money faucet on?

Despite lawmakers' intent, a perpetual funds stream to FSU and an Alzheimer's center is still law. A slip or a sly gambit?

By LUCY MORGAN
Published May 18, 2005

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TALLAHASSEE - Sometimes it's hard to change a law, even when Gov. Jeb Bush and legislative leaders agree.

Take, for example, the $9-million for a chiropractic school at Florida State University and $15-million for an Alzheimer's disease center in Tampa.

Last year legislators gave the money to the two recipients in perpetuity, an unusual approach in a state where the governor and Legislature usually approve expenditures each year.

The FSU appropriation included a clause allowing the university to spend the $9-million even if the school didn't materialize.

When the state Board of Governors rejected the chiropractic school this year, the university spent the money on other needs, much to the displeasure of legislative leaders.

House Speaker Allan Bense, Senate President Tom Lee and Gov. Jeb Bush agreed to change the law so the appropriations would be approved annually.

But a bill to do that died in the House on the final day of the 2005 legislative session.

Now leaders in both chambers are trying to figure out a way to block the money.

Sen. Jim King, R-Jacksonville, got the initial measure passed when he was Senate president. But when the chiropractic school was rejected, King pushed to rescind the appropriation.

"I didn't know it wasn't passed in the House," King said Tuesday. "I've fought the good fight for FSU all my life and will continue to do so, but fair is fair and this is a money grab they are not entitled to."

Does FSU president T.K. Wetherell get credit for the continued appropriation?

"I'm sure that's true," said King. "But the chiropractic school was never meant to be a windfall for FSU."

Wetherell could not be reached.