Budget chiefs to resume negotiations

By THE NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA - JUNE 11, 2015

After a quiet day Wednesday, Senate Appropriations Chairman Tom Lee, R-Brandon, and House Appropriations Chairman Richard Corcoran, R-Land O' Lakes, were set to resume budget negotiations Thursday. The budget chiefs scheduled a noon meeting to discuss issues related to government operations and the criminal- and civil-justice systems. Lawmakers started a special session June 1 after failing to agree on a budget during this spring's regular session. Conference committees met from Saturday through Tuesday, with unresolved issues then "bumped" up to Lee and Corcoran. The budget chiefs did not meet publicly Wednesday. Among the major remaining issues is how to divvy up money in the Low Income Pool program, which sends funds to hospitals and other health providers that care for large numbers of uninsured patients. Senate President Andy Gardiner, R-Orlando, said he hopes lawmakers could vote on a final budget plan June 19, a day before the scheduled end of the special session.