House knight takes Senate bishop: No need for budget delay

TALLAHASSEE — House Speaker Dean Cannon just released budget allocations for committees to begin piecing together a spending plan that would boost per-pupil spending by about 2.3 percent — in line with the increase Gov. Rick Scott requested last month. The Winter Park Republican has also upped the ante with his Senate brethren by announcing the chamber’s budget would include “automatic contingencies in case there are revenue losses or increases.” That would theoretically ameliorate the need for lawmakers to wait until later in the spring to produce a final $69 billion-plus budget, which Senate leaders have suggested might be the more prudent step. “State economists do not expect any significant change in revenue collections in upcoming months,” Cannon wrote in the memo. “However, to address concerns expressed by some regarding potential fluctuations in revenue collections in the next few months, our House budget proposal will provide for automatic contingencies in case

there are revenue losses or increases. “These contingencies will provide self-executing direction on how to enact reductions or provide additional spending authority, without accessing reserves, should circumstances change.” Cannon’s allocations also include $100 million for tax cuts (such as another back-to-school sales tax holiday, and $75 million for “recurring” tax cuts), but appears to exclude Scott’s budget proposal to slash $1.9 billion in Medicaid hospital rates, ruling out any “cost shifts toward the other aspects of our state-funded health care infrastructure, including driving uncompensated care into our public hospitals and emergency departments.” Instead, Cannon wrote the chamber would continue to try and reduce expenses in line with the reform the Legislature passed last year. The House also plans to sock away money to keep its total reserves at $2.46 billion. Here’s Cannon’s full press release:

Read the original:
House knight takes Senate bishop: No need for budget delay

Leave a comment

Name (required)

E-mail (required)

URI

Your Message