Fla. House Outlines Budget Allocations
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (CBSMiami/NSF) – Thursday, the Florida House released their overall budget allocations for the coming year where lawmakers will have to close a nearly $2 billion shortfall.
The budget outline showed that House members would give Governor Rick Scott a victory by going along with his proposal to boost state spending on public education by $1 billion.
"The House budget will prioritize K-12 education," Cannon wrote. "This subcommittee will receive the greatest percentage of the General Revenue allocation as well as the greatest increase in funding."
Education advocates said that won't be enough to cancel out other losses.
But, the likelihood of getting a budget passed remains in limbo. State Senate President Mike Haridopolos has previously said he wants the current session to be about redistricting and other laws and a special session be called to finish off the budget.
House Speaker Dean Cannon has said it is his preference, and the opinion of House members, that the budget should be completed during the current 60-day session.
In a statement issued moments after the release of the blueprint, House Appropriations Chairwoman Denise Grimsley, R-Sebring, underscored the need for the session to end on-time.
"There are many difficult decisions ahead, but those decisions should not be delayed with the hope that additional revenue will make tough choices easier," Grimsley said. "Florida's families don't have the luxury of delaying challenging financial choices and neither should government."
(TM and © Copyright 2012 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2012 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The News Service of Florida contributed to this report.)
