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Florida lawmakers began their sixty-day session this morning facing the largest single percentage drop in state revenue since the great depression. In addition to cutting over three billion dollars from the current spending plan, Mike Vasilinda tells us the new Republican supermajority is eyeing some major changes.

Schools are facing a proposed ten percent cut. Teachers, firefighters, police, and other state workers are being asked to contribute five percent to their pensions, and pay more for health care to make up a three billion dollar shortfall.

It is against this backdrop that the Senate and the House began their annual 60 day session with the Speaker of the House predicting more gloom then light.

“We will have to reduce spending on good programs in order to preserve necessary programs,” House Speaker Dean Cannon said.

Governor Rick Scott listened quietly from the back, then left to work on his State of the State address.

“It’s going to be very optimistic,” Scott said.

The applause came from three Tea party constituents from Pinellas and Pasco Counties.

“Thank you for keeping your promise!” Tea Party consituent Lisa Ganno said.

Outside, three to four hundred Tea Party members, far fewer than the predicted thousands, gathered from across the state to support the governor.

“Let us stand together!” Jeanette Wynn of AFSCME chanted.

Across the street, a slightly smaller crowd of state workers and supporters gathered, including Republican Rob Wright who drove in from Sarasota.

“We want to make sure that the public knows that we support education,” Wright said. “And that we support the creation of more jobs, not by cutting state workers.”

And for the next 60 days, tensions are only going to increase, both inside and outside the Capitol.