Session Goes Off-the-Rails as Budget Talks Collapse
The long-simmering acrimony between Governor DeSantis and the Florida Legislature that began in January when the Legislature balked at DeSantis’ call for immigration reform and instead passed their own measure – only to be called back two weeks later in a third special session to pass the Governor’s proposals, finally boiled over into the public realm as the Legislature adjourned and went home without taking care of their one and only constitutional duty: pass a state budget!
The back-and-forth sniping between the Governor and House Speaker Daniel Perez reached a tipping point when, during the Session, the House took a time out and voted to override several vetoes issued by DeSantis that the Legislature had passed during the 2024 Session.
Then, when the two chambers finally released their respective budget proposals they were some $4.4 billion apart and neglected several of the Governor’s priorities – including a 25% pay increase for troopers and other state law enforcement officers, which the Senate addressed, but the House ignored, providing no raises in their budget.
Generally speaking, this is not an unusual occurrence and budget differences are worked out between the chambers during budget conference.
This legislative session, though, has proven to be anything but standard ops, as DeSantis went on the offensive, canvassing the state, even holding a news conference at the Fort Meyers FHP station to chastise Perez for neglecting the needs of Floridians, and accusing him of “defunding” the police.
Then, while leaders continued negotiating behind the scenes, Speaker Perez announced that he and Senate President Albritton were close to an agreement, one that centered largely around a statewide sales tax cut put forth by the House.
Governor DeSantis responded almost immediately, announcing that he would veto any tax cut proposal that did not include a cut in property taxes for Florida homeowners, and just like that the House/Senate agreement was off and here we are!
As of this week of May 18-24, lawmakers are back at home in their districts and we are no closer to an agreement on a budget for the new fiscal year that begins July 1.
The last time the Florida Legislature could not craft a budget on time during their allotted 60 day regular session was 2015. Then, the disagreement was over Medicaid expansion. The Legislature went into special session over two weeks in June and subsequently passed a budget that was signed by then-Governor Rick Scott.
During a January interview, FAST Chairman Mike Kirby outlined the challenges facing the Florida Highway Patrol, noting there were fewer sworn positions approved by the Legislature in 2024 than in 2012, when the population of Florida was 3.3 million less than our current 22.6 million residents.
During DeSantis’ tenure as governor troopers have been deployed to Texas for immigration enforcement, Jewish schools and synagogues for security, the Florida Keys for refugees fleeing Cuba and other Caribbean countries, and now troopers are being deputized as federal immigration officers – all in addition to their prescribed duties to patrol Florida’s highway infrastructure and protect not only our citizens, but millions of visitors that come to the state each year.
The bottom line: Florida needs 1,000 new sworn troopers on Florida’s roadways over the next decade!
It’s time for the Florida House and Senate to step up to the plate and follow the lead of Governor DeSantis: fund and support the men and women of the Florida Highway Patrol and all law enforcement officers who keep us safe!