House speaker files flight plan for bringing 2018 legislative session in for a Sunday landing

by | Mar 8, 2018


Florida lawmakers will wrap up their legislative session two days after it was originally scheduled to end.

House Speaker Richard Corcoran sent a message to representatives Thursday afternoon informing members the session would be extended to Sunday when a final vote on the budget will be held.

“The budget and related bills are currently available and will be furnished to you later today,” Corcoran said in his message. “By concurrent resolution, we will extend session until Sunday night, March 11 at 11:59 p.m.  We will have explanation, questions, and debate on the budget bills tomorrow and will hold a short floor session on Sunday afternoon to vote on the budget.”

Legislative leaders finally reached an  agreement on an $87 billion spending plan Thursday morning.

“The budget is done,”  Senate Appropriations Chairman Rob Bradley, R-Fleming Island. “We’re going to bring it to the floor.”

Lawmakers are constitutionally-mandated to wait 72 hours to vote on the spending plan once the budget is printed and electronically transmitted to lawmakers.

The holdup on a budget agreement had reportedly been the result of a disagreement over how much money should be allocated to hospitals for the treatment of Medicaid patients.

Some believe the budget talks were deliberately delayed in order to guarantee legislative support for the school safety bill. The House approved the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Act on Wednesday sending the legislation to Gov. Rick Scott for his consideration.

 

 

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