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Special Session To Focus On K-12, Economic Development

House photo by Mark Foley
Gov. Rick Scott
Credit Dave Dunwoody, WUWF Public Media

As the Florida Legislature prepares for a three-day special session beginning Wednesday, Governor Rick Scott is defending his record-setting budget vetoes.

Wielding the veto pen, the Governor cut out almost $12 billion from the new state budget, as part of a deal with House Speaker Richard Corcoran and Senate President Joe Negron to fund two of Scott’s pet projects.

“My goal is $85 million for Enterprise Florida, which will be used for infrastructure and through workforce training,” said Scott. “Seventy-six million dollars for Visit Florida; tourism accounts for one out of every six in the state. We have to fully fund that, so I’m hopeful that will happen. On top of that, we’ve got to make sure we fully fund our schools.”

Scott's veto total also includes the money that goes to K-through-12 public schools. No governor has vetoed the entire Florida Education Financing Program, also known as FEFP, since Bob Graham in 1983.

“We walked in this year with about three billion dollars’ surplus; I want to make sure we have $100 more per student for K-12 education,” the Governor said.

That extra per-student funding translates to a $215 million dollar increase in public school funding. Next fiscal year’s budget for now contains an increase of $24.49 per student.

“[The] criticism is that it came over pretty much un-vetted by the Senate,” said state Sen. Doug Broxson (R-Gulf Breeze). “It was very challenging because if we voted against that, then we would certainly go into a special session dealing with that issue.”

Broxson says the hope in the Statehouse was that instead of a special session, lawmakers could deal with that during committee meetings in September.

Credit Florida House of Representatives
State Sen. Doug Broxson (R-Gulf Breeze)

“I think you’re going to see some movement on that bill, and the $200 million that we’re going to try to put back into K-through-12,” said Broxson. “And now, the Governor has freed up probably another billion through the vetoes. I don’t think there’s going to be any problem in finding whatever money we need.”

One of the most-talked about issues is one that’s an 11th hour addition to the agenda – medical marijuana. That signals a major step to finish work on the issue that fizzled last month. Earlier, House Speaker Richard Corcoran promised it would be addressed.

“Obviously, when 71 percent of the voters have called for something, there should be no reason why we can’t reach agreement and get that done,” said Corcoran.

The special session runs from Wednesday through Friday. Sen. Doug Broxson believes they can get their work finished in that time frame.

If not….

“There would have to be a second special session called,” Broxson said. “This is a ‘time certain,’ so we will be through by Friday. And if the Governor, the Speaker and the President choose to have another time that we get together in another special session, then they can call it.”

Failure to reach agreement, especially on education spending, could have Broxson and his 159 colleagues heading back to Tallahassee before month’s end.