Florida Senate President Calls For June Special Session

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TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (CBSMiami/AP) — Florida Senate President Andy Gardiner is offering to hold a June special session to reach a deal on a new state budget just days after the Florida House abruptly adjourned.

Gardiner on Thursday sent a letter to House Speaker Steve Crisafulli asking for the session. The House abruptly adjourned the regular session due to a disagreement over health care spending and Medicaid expansion.

The Senate is pushing to expand health care coverage to 800,000 Floridians because of the expected loss of more than $1 billion in federal aid for hospitals.

Gardiner said holding a special session in June will give the state time to hear whether the federal government would approve a new hospital funding proposal.

A spokeswoman for Gardiner, however, said the Senate is not giving up its support for expansion.

Crisafulli in a statement hailed the offer as "progress." He said he would respond soon.

Gardiner proposed holding the session from June 1st to the 20th.

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