State House, Senate budgets are only 0.1% apart, but their disagreements are broad
TALLAHASSEE -- Florida’s House and Senate both passed competing budgets on Thursday that, while not far apart on the money, are philosophically opposed about how to pay for schools, hospitals and affordable housing.
The House passed its $87.2 billion budget on a vote of 85-27 after a highly charged partisan debate that foreshadowed bigger election-year battles ahead, mostly on education.
Republicans cited a $100-per-student increase in public school spending, a larger Medicaid program and more money for state colleges, foster care and hurricane-related improvements, without raising taxes.
In the upper chamber, senators passed an $87.3 billion budget on a 33-to-1 vote, with state Sen. Jose Javier Rodriguez, D-Miami, the lone holdout. Both budgets are roughly $4 billion more than last year.
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