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This is the second year In a row lawmakers have failed to complete the budget in time to end session in 60 days.

The failure was highlighted by Democratic Gubernatorial candidate Chris King Wednesday morning.

“I believed one-party state government was not working. I am more convinced of that today than I have ever been,” said King.

The sticking point… healthcare spending.

“Not surprisingly the Hospital part of the budget is proving to be difficult,” said Senate Appropriations Chair Rob Bradley, Tuesday morning.

But negotiations started to gain momentum early Wednesday

“Our budget chair is continuing to negotiate with the House and we hope that in the next few hours we’ll get some resolution,” said Senator Wilton Simpson.

And after countless closed door negotiations, a deal was announced early afternoon.

But the budget needs 72 hours to cool off before lawmakers can call it a year, meaning session will be extended.

Each extra day will cost tax payers roughly $60,000.

Governor Rick Scott seems to be leaving it up to the Legislature to determine how session will be extended.

“I look forward to the session finishing, getting the budget done, having an opportunity to go through the budget,” said Scott.

Senate Minority leader Oscar Braynon has his bets on lawmakers choosing to extend to Monday.

“If we’re going to do it we’d probably do a come back versus stay until Saturday and Sunday,” said Braynon.

On Tuesday, House Speaker Richard Corcoran said the best case scenario would be lawmakers staying in town through Saturday to wrap up the session.

Although agreed on, the details of the budget have yet to be released.

During the annual Ringing of the Bell Ceremony for Fallen Firefighters, Governor Rick Scott announced he plans to sign legislation to require workers comp for first responders cover mental health the same way it covers physical injuries.

The bill addresses the high suicide rates of fire fighters and other first responders that results from the tragic incidents they witness on a regular basis. The legislation was a priority of Chief Financial Officer and State Fire Marshal Jimmy Patronis.

“To ensure that our firefighters needs, those silent needs that we don’t hear about are truly addressed and those benefits that they needed in order to get the help possible will become a reality and the Governor just concluded with that, he’ll sign it, so it’s actually a really great day of celebration of life too,” said Patronis.

Two fire fighters who lost their lives in the line of duty were honored at the ceremony. James F. Dorminy with Reedy Creek Fire Department and Joseph T. DeMarinis with Clermont Fire Department.

The Florida House began talking about School Safety and Guns before lunch today, and is expected to continue the discussion into the early evening, but as Mike Vasilinda tells us, a final vote is not expected until tomorrow.

House members asked probing questions about arming teachers.

Rep, Kionee McGee (D-Miami) asked:  “Where in your bill does it prevent a school guardian from possessing an AR-15?

In response, House Speaker-to-be Jose Oliva said many of the questions were more about delay than information.

“But the idea of guarding in a classroom, and having the last line of defense should probably rise above political theatre” said Oliva.

Speaking of theatre.

“Hands Up, Don’t Shoot.”

A handful of activists laid down..for 17 minutes…in the rotunda outside the House, Name cards identified the 17 dead in Parkland. Amber Martin is an FSU Student who participated.

“I don’t think they are really listening to us. We didn’t want more guns on school campuses” she told us.

Inside, Democrats filed 90 amendments… All expected to fail on party lines,

House Democratic Leader Janet Cruz got her fellow Democrats to take a caucus position against the legislation.

“Hope springs eternal. We’re going to keep fighting to the last minute” says Cruz.

The expectation  here is that the bill will pass exactly as it was sent from the Senate. That will allow the Governor to get it on Wednesday.

And the PTA is already looking to the Governor to find a way to kill the provision arming teachers, but Angie Gallo says the PTA is not looking for a veto.

“We don’t want him to veto the bill. We don’t want a veto of the bill because there is just too much good stuff in there for our schools, and our students and families need that, especially in Parkland” she told us.

And at least one victims father was in the Capitol working behind the scenes to change no votes to yes votes.

And if any amendments pass, changing the bill in any way, sending it back to the Senate could mean its death.

After three hours of debate this afternoon, the State Senate response to the Parkland shootings that claimed 17 lives was approved by a vote of 20 to 18. Sponsor Bill Galvano, a republican from Bradenton told Senators that had this legislation been in place, the shooter in Parkland would not have gotten a gun and if he had, it would have been taken away.

“This bill will make a difference now. When it becomes law, things will start changing” Galvano said in closing on the legislation.

“Lock the Board and announce the vote.”

20 Yeas, 18 Nays, Mr. President”

“So by your vote, the bill passes.

3 Democrats voted for the bill, Four Republicans against. One of them, State Senator Tom Lee of Brandon says lawmakers could have done more.

“I don’t think it went far enough. I thought it was too political. I think the solutions on the gun stuff are not strong enough. If you really are going to do some sort of gun control, then don’t create a model where all you have to do is sell guns to 18 year old on a three year lease, like you do on an automobile, and they can still buy them. You know, close those loopholes” says Lee.

Others promised not to forget the 17 who died, insisting they would address more issues during the 2019 Session. The legislation now goes to the House, and because of the tight Senate vote, any changes could jeopardize the bills passage.

Bullied public school students will be able to get a scholarship funded by taxpayer dollars to transfer to a private school under legislation approved 71-41 by the Florida House Monday.

50,000 public school students experience bullying each year in Florida. For some it might be a single incident, but for others the problem can be chronic.

“When there are children who are in real need, who are in dire straights, when they’re not getting the resolution that they are looking for from the public school system we still have an obligation to help those children,” said bill sponsor Representative Bryron Donalds.

Democrats say the bill doesn’t do anything to address the bully.

“In this instance the bully just moves on to another victim. So he bullies someone or she bullies someone. That victim is then moved to another school. That bully stays; bullies another kid. It’s a never ending pattern,” said Representative Jared Moskowitz.

If the bullied student chooses to stay in the public school, both the student and the bully will receive counseling services.

The move to include counseling helped bring some Democrats to vote yes.

“It doesn’t go as far as I’d like it to, but I’m going to stand with you,” said Representative Sherivn Jones.

The scholarships would be funded by the sales tax on automobile purchases, if the buyer agrees.

Sponsors estimate $40 million will be generated. It’s money education advocates say should go to public schools.

“We’re going to send students who are bullied to a private institution that we have no guarantee that it’s a safe place because private institutions have to report zero incidents,” said President of the Florida Education Association, Joanne McCall.

The issue is so important to House leadership the language is included in serval bills in hopes one will clear the senate.

6,000 petitions signed by Floridan’s were delivered to the Governor’s Office Monday morning..

They urge Rick Scott to prioritize the needs of working class families during his final months in office. Supporters of the petition point to Governor Scott’s slashing of Medicaid and underfunding of public education as examples of Scott’s failure to stand up for working class Floridians.

Damien Filer with Progress Florida says the number of Floridians who qualify as working poor has also grown to 45% since Scott was elected.

“There’s something wrong with these numbers. It’s Governor Scott’s last year in office, it’s his last session it’s the last week of the last session and we’re here today on behalf of 6,000 Floridian’s who are calling on him to do something about this while there’s still time,” said Filer.

Supporters of the petition are asking Governor Scott to veto the House’s education package as a first step. The bill allocates more state funds to private schools and threatens some teachers unions.

A pro gun rally that began organically with a post on Facebook  drew an estimated 300 gun advocates to the state Capitol this afternoon. As Mike Vasilinda tells us, the rally comes on the eve of a Senate vote which will have little impact on those who were there.

The social posting drew people for every corner of the state.

“Parker Florida”

“Ft. Lauderdale, Flordia.”

“Crystal River.”

“I came from Navarre to protect our second amendment rights.”

“So gallantly streaming” sand the crowd.

Their shirts and signs proclaimed their patriotism and their allegiance to the second amendment. “One nation Under god.”

Emotions were high as the names of 265 people, killed in mass violence attacks since Columbine, were read aloud.

“Parkland, Florida”

The people here are taking an oath to the Constitution.

State lawmakers are poised to vote on increased school security by allowing some personnel to be armed.

“I don’t want to add any more damn names to that list” said co-organizer Nathan Buraux.

Hands shot up when the crowd was asked who would volunteer.

“If they want to stop the killings, allow the teachers who can carry, to carry” says James Morris of Parker, FL.

Also included in the legislation are better background checks and more focus on mental health, but the legislation will have little impact on most who came. The exception, those under 21 could no longer buy a rifle.

University of Florida Student Tiffany Berkley says she would feel less safe. “People are living away…for the first time they are living away from their parents homes. And they need to know how to defend themselves, as long as you have the proper training, and everything.”

Some, like James Calkins of Navarre, call it a slippery slope.

“They’re going to try and move it up to 30. That’s what we are afraid of” he says.

The rally also brought at two long shot candidates for Governor and one Pensacola State House Candidate.

The Florida Senate will take a final vote on its school safety package when it meets at ten Monday morning.

Before the Senate convened a group of protesters gathered in the Capitol courtyard, urging lawmakers to forego the Marshal Program included in the School Safety bill.

It would allow trained teachers to carry a gun in the classroom if a school district chooses to allow it. 1st grade special ed teacher, Kristin Mackay was among the protesters.

“This being passed would not only make me want to quit as a young teacher who’s just starting out, but also my coworkers would be standing by me as well,” said Mackay.

In debate, Democrat Senator Gary Farmer expressed concerns over a lack of state oversight, saying too much authority is given to locals sheriff to determine how the programs are implemented.

“If the sheriff were to authorize the marshal to carry an assault weapon,” asked Farmer. “That would be allowed?”

“That would be left to the sheriffs,” said Senator Bill Galvano.

The Senate briefly adopted an temporary ban on the AR-15 but then backed off.

An attempt for an all-out ban also failed.

Other gun restrictions included in the bill stand in the way of some Republican’s support.

“If it has the age increases and the waiting periods in it I will not support it,” said Senator Greg Steube.

And the greatest threat to Democrats’ support is the Marshal program.

“Some of us who are all about true safety and not arming teachers or any other personnel that would be inside of a classroom,” said Senator Audrey Gibson.

The full Senate will vote on the proposal Monday.

Legislative Leaders are counting votes and twisting arms to get a school safety package to a vote. The State Senate has scheduled a rare Saturday session to begin taking up amendments, but as Mike Vasilinda tells us, the House vote may be too close to call.

Friday began with more than two dozen students lining the hall to the House Chamber. They’re protesting plans to arm teachers. They were joined by the Principal  Billy Epting from Leon High, the oldest public school in the state

“I can not agree to arming teachers to be a part of this discussion” he told reporters.

And former Marjorie Stoneman Douglass Student Body President Barrington McFarley.

“The last thing we ned to do is weigh them with the additional burden of training and carrying weapons” says McFarley.

The House, however, remains deeply divided on the issue of arming teachers.

State Rep. Rep. Sean Shaw (D-Tampa)  says  “I will not vote for it under any circumstance”

But Rep. Larry Ahern (R-St. Petersburg) supports it. “I think it stays in and is part of the again, a deterrent.”

Rep. Heather Fitzenhagen says the House is in the process of retooling its bill while waiting to see what comes from the Senate…She says the Marshals program is being misunderstood.

“You may, if your school wants you to be.and you fit the criteria, be a marshal. No school has to have  a marshal” says Fitzenhagen, as House leaders try new messaging about the idea.

Some Democrats were told they would have to give up raising the age to buy a rifle if the Teacher Marshall program is stripped from the bill.

GOP members are being told to stick with the plan or lose hometown funding in the budget. Ahern says that nothing new.

“That’s part of the process we go through sometimes, but look, at the end of the day, you have to decide what’s important.”

More than a thousand people are expected at the Capitol Sunday for a pro gun rally.

The House and Senate are continuing efforts to pass a gaming package this session.

The Senate’s proposal extends the Seminole compact until 2040 and allows dog tracks and certain horse tracks to decouple, which means they can stop running races and still hold card games

“It’s good that the two chambers are working on a bill, it’s good that they’re talking an negotiating,” said Carey Their with Grey2K USA.

The Senate wants to to allow the 8 counties where voters have approved slot machines to get them. The Supreme Court has said the referendums were not the final say.

“We are like I said, one of the poorest cities in the state of Florida I believe and we need your help. We desperately need this casino to help bring us up,” said Mayor Pro-Tem of the City of Gretna, Helen Franks-Reed.

A proposed constitutional amendment on the the November ballot would require voters to approve any future change to the state’s gambling laws…potentially making this lawmakers last chance to pass something on their own.

But the House doesn’t allow decoupling or the expansion of slots.

“If the help was coming in the way of slot machines, this bill does not do that,” said House sponsor, Rep. Mike La Rosa.

Last month Senate sponsor Travis Hutson said the potential for a gaming package passing was about 50-50.

“Timing is everything right now so it’s probably a little less than that,” said Sen. Hutson.

With the two Chambers moving further apart chances of anything passing are dwindling.

“It’s not over until it’s over so we’ll go into conference optimistic and see what happens,” said Sen. Hutson.

If the bills keep moving, lawmakers will have just a few days to mend the vast divides between the two proposals..something they haven’t been able to do in a decade.

Barrington McFarley, the former student body president at Marjorie Stoneman Douglass High School was in the State Capitol today, pleading for the state to spend 30 million dollars to tear down the building where 17 people were murdered.

“We can’t expect students to go back in that building, and look at the spots where their dead classmates were. Video’s they’ve seen over and over. Tragedies repeated in their dreams time and time again. We need the funding.”

The funding remains up in the air as lawmakers negotiate the budget. A final version of the spending plan has to be done by next Tuesday if lawmakers are to go home on time.

A half dozen counties are considering enacting stricter gun laws in the wake of the school shooting that left 17 dead, even though enacting them could violate state law and result in fines or removal from office. But local officials are getting encouragement  from U-S Senator Bill Nelson, who says they should roll the dice and take their chances in the courts.

“If the NRA rules the roost and won’t let common sense legislation be passed in Tallahassee or Washington, I would certainly encourage local counties and cities to enact their common sense gun legislation” says Nelson.

Q:”But they would face potential removal from office or a five thousand dollar fine?”

“Well, you take that to the Supreme Court and they might find out that’s unconstitutional.”

Hillsborough County is considering an assault weapons ban, prohibiting large scale magazines in being discussed in Coral Springs, and Leon County is drafting an ordinance closing the so called gun show loophole. Others are also considering local actions.

Opposition to arming teachers is building at the State Capitol tonight, delaying a vote on comprehensive gun legislation, and as Mike Vasilinda tells us, it has also prompted the Governor to make a rare appearance this afternoon at House and Senate sessions.

Governor Rick Scott and the the father and brother of slain student Alaina Petty made an extraordinary appearance before the House and Senate Thursday afternoon.

“I’m here to ask each of you to set politics aside at this moment” said Petty.

The Full Senate was scheduled to cast its first votes on comprehensive gun and mental heath legislation, but pulled the bill.  Scott said afterward the Legislature must act.

“I don’t believe we should be arming teachers….I believe we have to make sure we have the funding to do superb law enforcement.”

But votes for the package are starting to evaporate. Moderate Republicans like Rep. Chris Latvala (R-Palm Harbor) want an AR-15 ban.

“The NRA already doesn’t like me” he told us.

Conservatives are objecting to raising the age to purchase a rifle to age 21.

Ryan Petty is concerned.

“If this devolves into a gun control debate, we’re going to miss our opportunity to get something done” Petty told reporters.

The Black Caucus is down on the bill. Sen. Perry Thurston is their chair.

“We are against guns in school. We want to see an assault weapon ban” says Thurston.

One member, Kimberly Daniels, broke with the caucus.

“The NRA is against this bill. So, I’m going to be for this bill.”

If lawmakers can’t work out their differences by a week from Friday, bet on a special session.

And while Rick Scott says he does not want to arm teachers, when pressed, he would not say he would veto School Marshall’s if approved by lawmakers.