Florida university officials fear budget vetoes - BILL KACZOR, Associated Press

State university officials Wednesday said they'll shift lobbying efforts from the Legislature to Gov. Rick Scott, who has been eying the schools' construction projects for possible budget vetoes. The 11 public universities, meanwhile, are looking for ways to avoid deficits after lawmakers cut their operational spending by $140 million, or 4 percent, for the budget year that begins July 1. Board of Governors chairwoman Ava Parker told the panel during a teleconference meeting that she will write a letter to Scott outlining the importance of those projects. She also directed State University System Chancellor Frank Brogan to work with the governor's office on the issue. At a Cabinet meeting Tuesday, Scott questioned the state's ability to take on more debt to finance $137 million in university capital outlay projects appropriated by the Legislature.