(The Center Square) – In a letter to members of Florida’s House of Representatives, Speaker Daniel Perez says the Senate won’t hold a vote on tax relief, thus blowing up a budget deal.
The Miami Republican blamed Senate President Ben Albritton, R-Wauchula, for the impasse.
It means the session, which was supposed to be concluded in early June, could continue until the end of the month instead.
The two sides couldn’t agree on a budget deal, typically the last thing lawmakers finish before leaving Tallahassee after the 60-day session concludes. Originally, the two sides were about $4.4 billion apart in spending, with the House seeking a smaller budget than either of those offered by the Senate or Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis.
Also the manner and amount of tax relief is a source of disagreement between the two chambers. The House wants a $5 billion cut in the state’s sales tax.
Albritton, repeatedly indicating he’s concerned about reducing the state’s tax revenues in case of an economic downturn, wants a smaller package.
The extended session was supposed to start on Monday.
“I apologize for the lateness of this update, but circumstances have changed significantly from when we were together last Friday,” Perez said in his letter. “The Senate president informed me this week that he is breaking his commitment to the House that he publicly announced from the Senate rostrum. I was disappointed when the Senate president informed me of his decision to no longer bring the House’s historic tax proposal to the Senate floor. As I’m sure you can appreciate, this blew up the framework for the budget deal we had negotiated.”
He also said the House will meet on Tuesday to pass a concurrent resolution that will extend the session through June’s end. He also said the Select Committee on Property Taxes will meet that day and negotiations on dates for an extended session with the Senate will be conducted.
“While the circumstances leading to this conference are less than ideal or even expected, as members of the Florida House, our responsibilities do not change,” Perez said. “We will deliver a fiscally conservative budget that cuts government waste and puts Florida on the best possible trajectory for long-term success.”
