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Staff ReportsMarch 7, 2018

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Florida lawmakers will extend their annual session for several days to pass a new $87 billion-plus state budget, which will include a $101.50 increase in per-student funding in public schools. House Speaker Richard Corcoran announced early Wednesday afternoon that legislative leaders had reached agreement on the budget for the fiscal year that starts July 1. […]

Danny McAuliffeMarch 4, 2018

State funding is absent for affordable housing programs tailored to those affected by last year’s hurricanes. The reason? Unforeseen constraints created by a high-profile $400 million school safety and mental health proposal designed to prevent another school shooting. Budget chiefs Sen. Rob Bradley and Rep. Carlos Trujillo told Florida Politics on Saturday evening that the […]

Ana CeballosMarch 3, 2018

Florida budget leaders Saturday were still grappling with a $7.8 million funding difference on ‘bump’ issues that impact transportation, tourism and economic development. The House and Senate met Saturday night in conference, revealing a $6 million funding gap on Department of Transportation-related items and a $9 million difference on economic opportunity projects. The House and […]

Danny McAuliffeMarch 3, 2018

The state is one step closer to restoring funding to its premier land-purchasing fund. On Friday night, budget chiefs Rep. Carlos Trujillo and Sen. Rob Bradley agreed to fund Florida Forever at $100.8 million for fiscal year 2018-2019 — a big jump from last year, when the Legislature did not appropriate anything to the trust. […]

Ana CeballosMarch 3, 2018

Budget conference chairs are now ironing out funding differences between the House and Senate dealing with a wide-range of policy issues. Chairs Sen. Rob Bradley and Rep. Carlos Trujillo are figuring out funding for beach restoration, land acquisition and water projects. Currently, the state Legislature is split over nearly $172 million on appropriations for programs funded through Florida […]

Peter SchorschMarch 3, 2018

There is “zero tolerance” for sexual harassment in the Legislature, leaders say, but an ethics reform package that would create new rules and penalties for sexual harassment may not become law this year. The Florida House unanimously passed the proposal this week, but Republican Sen. Dennis Baxley is blocking the bill in the Senate because […]

Danny McAuliffeMarch 2, 2018

The state Legislature is split on appropriations for programs funded through Florida Forever — by nearly $172 million. The House wants to fund projects under the state’s land-buying trust at $36 million. A Friday budget offer from the Senate proposed close to a $208 million spend on the same programs — just ahead of the […]

Peter SchorschMarch 2, 2018

Looking back on the challenges of her own youth, Rep. Janet Cruz hit the nail on the head when she defended the need for short-term loans. “Being financially disadvantaged does not mean you can’t do math,” she scolded. “It just means you don’t have enough money to pay a particular bill.” And that’s why in […]

Jim RosicaMarch 1, 2018

Senate Appropriations Chairman Rob Bradley told reporters Thursday “major (budget) issues are still unresolved” but “we’re having great communications” with the House. “It’s been a very smooth process,” he said. No doubt helping matters is the relative closeness of the two chambers in terms of total spending for next year. The House and Senate went […]

Ana CeballosMarch 1, 2018

After a criminal justice bill sponsored by Senate budget chief Rob Bradley was zeroed out Wednesday in early negotiations, he said he will kill it to help fund plans to harden schools and fund for mental health services. “I have killed my own bill,” Bradley told Florida Politics. The move to abandon the bill took Sen. […]

Tag: Rob Bradley
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Legislative leaders reach budget deal, Session extension looms

Hurricane housing programs axed from budget

Budget negotiators face $7.8m gap over transportation, economic development issues

Budget leaders agree to more than $100M for Florida Forever

Final budget items start getting ‘bumped’

Takeaways from Tallahassee — Ethics reform in peril

House, Senate face $172M difference in Florida Forever funding

Being financially disadvantaged doesn’t mean you can’t do math

Rob Bradley on the budget: ‘A smooth process’

Rob Bradley kills his criminal justice bill to ‘fund school safety initiatives’