2017-18 state budget – Page 5

Lawmakers, lobbyists begin to contemplate an extended session

Published on May 2, 2017 in Statewide by Michael Moline

House Speaker Richard Corcoran insisted Tuesday that he still hoped to complete a budget deal in time to adjourn on schedule Friday — but other lawmakers and Tallahassee’s lobbyists have begun clearing their calendars for next week. “I think it’s 90 percent likely,” Corcoran said of chances the negotiations with the Senate could be wrapped up that day, conceivably allowing a timely adjournment. Sen. Jeff Brandes wasn’t counting on it. “Monday — it’s my best guess. That’s my math,” Brandes…

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Joe Negron sees ‘good progress’ toward budget deal as session enters final week

Published on May 1, 2017 in Statewide by Michael Moline

Senate President Joe Negron held out hope Monday evening that he and House Speaker Richard Corcoran could resolve lingering disagreements about the state budget in time to present a bill Tuesday and adjourn as scheduled on Friday. “I know there was some real good progress made today on a number of issues, particularly in the environmental budget. If we work diligently through the rest of the afternoon and evening, I’m still optimistic that we can get it done,” Negron told…

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Tax breaks clear Senate Appropriations as session enters final scheduled week

Published on May 1, 2017 in Statewide by Michael Moline

The Senate Appropriations Committee approved some $75 million in tax breaks Monday, including repeal of Florida’s tampon tax, that would be central to passing an $83 billion budget and ending the Legislative Session on time Friday. The committee also approved across-the-board pay raises for state workers, with extra money for high-risk employees, plus an option to participate in a defined-contribution retirement plan instead of a traditional pension. “I am pleased to see a tax package advance to the Senate floor that…

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Big budget questions headed to House and Senate presiding officers

Published on April 30, 2017 in Statewide by Michael Moline

House and Senate negotiators agreed on $40 million in water projects and a $23 million higher education budget Sunday, but major decisions on charter schools, Lake Okeechobee restoration, and more remained unsettled. Carlos Trujillo and Jack Latvala, respectively the House and Senate budget chairmen, made progress during what Latvala said would be their last meeting — although Trujillo said they’d meet once more, possibly on Monday morning. “We are going to have another conference committee only for the conforming bills,”…

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Constitutional review panel money becomes a ‘bump issue’

Published on April 30, 2017 in Statewide/Top Headlines by Jim Rosica

The House and Senate is seemingly at odds over whether to pay for the Constitution Revision Commission. A Sunday spreadsheet that came out of the first 2017-18 state budget conference chairs meeting of the day had a line item for the commission, which meets every 20 years to review and revise the state’s governing document. That includes going around the state to hold public hearings for ideas on possible amendments. The item was among more than 40 statewide appropriation bump issues…

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Proviso language on Tampa airport audit ‘bumped’ to budget chairs

Published on April 29, 2017 in Statewide/Top Headlines by Jim Rosica

While Senate and House negotiators made progress on many tourism, transportations and economic development budgetary issues Saturday, a slew of line items will be “bumped” up to Appropriations Chairs Jack Latvala and Carlos Trujillo. Most notable was a bump of proviso language on an audit of Tampa International Airport’s master renovation plan. State Sen. Tom Lee, a Thonotosassa Republican, earlier this month had called for the audit, alleging “potential public corruption” over the facility’s billion-dollar-plus renovation. Another bump was whether to require the…

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Conferees bump university foundation-control question to budget chairmen

Published on April 29, 2017 in Statewide by Michael Moline

House and Senate higher education conferees agreed Saturday to trim cuts to developmental education programs at state colleges, but sent a disagreement about control of state university support foundations up the chain of command. Lead Senate negotiator Bill Galvano indicated at one point during an afternoon meeting that the developmental spending might have to be referred to the House and Senate appropriations committee chairmen — Carlos Trujillo and Jack Latvala, respectively. But House negotiator Larry Ahern agreed to a Senate…

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Life and politics from the Sunshine State's best city

2017-18 state budget - page 5

Lawmakers, lobbyists begin to contemplate an extended session

Joe Negron sees ‘good progress’ toward budget deal as session enters final week

Tax breaks clear Senate Appropriations as session enters final scheduled week

Big budget questions headed to House and Senate presiding officers

Constitutional review panel money becomes a ‘bump issue’

Proviso language on Tampa airport audit ‘bumped’ to budget chairs

Conferees bump university foundation-control question to budget chairmen

2017-18 state budget - page 5

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