(UPDATED with VIDEO below)

Original post 5-26-11:

Rick Scott claimed that he was going to The Villages for his budget signing ceremony in order to allow people to ask questions about his budget, and the veto items that were cut.

However, according to the St. Petersburg Times, taxpayers were actually blocked from the event, and those who had Democratic-leading signs were escorted away from the property:

Aaron Sharockman reports from Sumter County that some people aren't allowed into the event. A group from The Villages Democratic Club was kicked across the street, told by Florida Republican Party staffer Russ Adams that the event was private. The event space was leased by the Republican Party and sheriff's deputies are escorting from the property people with Democratic-leaning signs. The move raises questions about whether taxpayer money was used for the private event and why Scott would sign a budget that affects all Floridians at a private event. "We came here to say what we support," said club president Lawrence Shipley, 68. "We support the police. We support public education." "Signs that support the governor are allowed to stay, signs that don't are told to leave?" said Bud Webber, 73, of Orlando, who watched the event unfold. "Come on. That's ridiculous."

So much for Scott's claim praising "government in the sunshine" in his speech. This follows Scott's pattern of holding events that are a part of "doing the state's business" in private where only supporters of his, members of the Tea Party and businesses he favors are allowed to attend.

Taxpayers and voters who don't favor the Governor can apparently take a long leap off of a short pier into the Gulf as far as Scott is concerned.

UPDATE 5-30-11:

Below is video showing Democrats being thrown out of the budget signing ceremony:

(video h/t The Reid Report)