Budget Negotiations Continue
January 9th, 2009 by flanewsState lawmakers will work over the weekend to reach an agreement on how fill the 2.3 billion dollar budget deficit.
Both chambers will pass their budget balancing packages before the day is out. The plans include a billion dollars in education, health care, and social service spending cuts. House and Senate Democrats opposed the cuts and asked leadership for a chance to look at new revenue sources. Senator Larcenia Bullard said the state should close tax loopholes like those on dry-cleaning and bottled water, before they cut more school spending.
“We continue to allow for millions of dollars in tax breaks and tax cuts but, we can’t find the money that’s needed to fund education,” said Bullard.
Agreement is expected on Monday. Once the budget is printed, lawmakers will have three days to review the plan. Then they’ll take a final vote Friday and send the budget on to the governor.
Posted in Charlie Crist, Education, Health, Legislature, State Budget, State News | No Comments »