Florida quietly worked out deal to cap fees in water wars

[TexasTowelie]

Florida has worked out a deal to cap the amount of money that will be paid to law firms hired to help the state in its long-running water war with Georgia.

Some Republican legislators last year complained about the escalating costs — which began to rise sharply after the state took its case to the U.S. Supreme Court — and initially refused to sign off on any additional payments.

And then last fall, the Florida Legislature quietly signed off on a proposal paring back the cost owed to one of the law firms by about $4 million. Their action will bring the total spent since 2014 on fees and expenses to more than $57 million. That includes a final payment for the hearing held earlier this month before Supreme Court justices. The Associated Press started asking about the deal last December.

Scott defended the cost.

“Throughout this fight, Florida has been, and continues to be, absolutely committed to subjecting every expense to strict scrutiny so that we can make certain that tax dollars are being spent appropriately,” the Republican governor said in a statement.

Read more: http://evans.allongeorgia.com/florida-quietly-worked-out-deal-to-cap-fees-in-water-wars/