House, Senate settle budget issues

House and Senate budget chairmen said Thursday they have reached common ground on several major spending differences, which likely sets the stage for smooth negotiations over the next week. Rep. Ray Sansom, R-Destin, the House budget chairman, said he and his Senate counterpart, Lisa Carlton, are in accord on the following issues:

* No increase in school property taxes to fund public schools (Senate agreed to House position). "There's not going to be a property tax increase," Sansom said. "They (senators) recognized that was an important position for the House."

* A scaled-back, seven-day back-to-school sales tax holiday in August on school items excluding books, which will reduce tax revenue by about $23-million (Senate agreed to House position).

* The diversion of about $333-million in transportation spending dollars to the general revenue fund for various uses (Senate met the House halfway).

* A $300-million borrowing program for Florida Forever, a land acquisition program (House agreed to the Senate position).

* An increase in various court system filing fees totaling about $83-million to alleviate cuts in the judicial system (House agreed to the Senate position).

The two budget negotiators have not come to terms yet on whether to use money from the health-care fund known as the Lawton Chiles Endowment to keep some Medicaid services afloat. The Senate wants to spend about $159-million from the fund.   

Comments

"The diversion of about $333-million in transportation spending dollars to the general revenue fund for various uses"

And we wonder why Floriduuuh's economy is in the tank.

so let's not even bothering conferencing and pass it out tomorrow!

[Omega83]

wow - raid the fund that builds roads and use it as a stop-gap for poor budgeting.

There are few things government truly has a responsiblity to do.

Creating and maintaining reliable infrastructure is one of them. Transportation drives the rest of the economy.

What good is medicaidspending if the drugs can't get to the pharmacies?

I guess an understanding of basic economics is too much for the Florida Legislature to handle.

We've settled our differences about who gets screwed: the kids, the elderly, services, and infrastructure.

We have agreed to hold our political patrons, the developers and big business who wrecked our economy and ruined our budget, harmless.

[RECALLRECALLRECALL!]

Translation:

* No increase in school property taxes to fund public schools, “Remember, Worst in the Nation is Goal”

* A scaled-back, seven-day back-to-school sales tax holiday, “See previous”

* The diversion of about $333-million in transportation spending dollars to the general revenue fund, “Transportation and Economy; We don’t need No Stinkin Transportation and Economy”

* A $300-million borrowing program for Florida Forever, “Hey, if Dubya can do it with China, why not us”

* An increase in various court system filing fees, “We’ll do this to make them think we’ins is got learnin”

The two budget negotiators have not come to terms yet on whether to use money from the health-care fund… to give to CSX or just freaking steal it!

$333m cut in transportation funding + $700m payout to CSX = $1.1b cut for other transportation projects.

And a Governor who wants to cut the gas tax on top of it.

When Florida's roads come to the quality of Kazakhstan, I'll remember why I got the hell out.

[Don Mott]

Yep we'll cut $333 million from road building funds but we'll spend $650 million plus for a train that goes from nowhere to nowhere cause CSX is good to us, wink wink nod nod. And God forbid we don't want to increase spending for schools. If these dang kids get smart enough they might put people in office who really care, there goes our free meals and tradition of ripping off the public. We have to guard our future. Dadgumit while we're at it lets give ourselves a raise for doing such a fine job. Double dippers get even more for being so darn smart.

Dockery, I mean Don Mott, get back to Charlie Dean and your whine at Clyde's.

So all in one day's blog, Dockery is noted has having lost the CSX battle as well as the Presidency. Better put her on 24 watch.

[Don Mott]

6:28 I am amazed at your ignorance but I do have to laugh at your anonymous stupidity. If you had any intelligence you would post constructive comments instead of drivel and if you were a real man or woman you would sign your name to it.

They have destroyed the state of Florida. Congrats.

Stop giving away my money to your private corporations. Stop taking my tax dollars and lining your pockets with these slick behind closed doors deals. I hope more independents run for office because I will never for for a Republican again.

6:37 The point is she had the
b a l l s to try. Bravo to her. Your kind, is the kind that has no spinal column. The kind that thinks they can take my money and just give it to the highest campaign contributor. You have effectively killed off the Republican party. Senator Dockery has tried to save it. The Democrats, despite their lameness, will win more and more because people are finding out what you are doing. You are the one who should hang your head low and be very ashamed.

CSX stock is doing great. Why do we need to give them $700 million when the state adequately fund a branch of government, college education, or anything else?

Why should taxpayers all over the state pay for this?

Because CSX won't contribute to their campaigns or the Republican Party if they don't.

Yep, the GOP has sold out children, the elderly, the handicapped, and the middle class.

GOP policies - changing the "middle class" to the "working poor" one Rubio action at a time.