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Scott Cautions Universities Over Spending Increases

U.S. Sen. Rick Scott said Sunday that he was never told by Homeland Security officials in 2016 when he was Florida's governor that Russian hackers had gained access to voter databases in two Florida counties ahead of the presidential election.
MyFloridaHouse.gov
Florida Gov. Rick Scott before the Florida House.

Gov. Rick Scott is cautioning university presidents over how they spend money that legislators gave them.

Scott on Wednesday sent letters to the presidents of 12 state universities regarding $120 million that was set aside for schools to revamp the state's higher education system.

The Republican governor vetoed the overhaul (SB 374) that was a top priority for Senate President Joe Negron. But he did not veto the money attached to the legislation.

Scott's letter asks universities to spend their share of $120 million "judiciously" on initiatives that will help students avoid debt and help them get a job. Negron's bill had called on universities to spend the money to hire top-quality faculty and to improve graduate programs.

The governor's letter warns that the money may not be set aside next year.

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