Florida lawmakers officially wrapped up the state’s legislative session late Sunday afternoon. The session came to an end two days later than scheduled due to a hold up on budget negotiations between the House and Senate—much of which hinged on a disagreement over how to fund state hospitals. But House Speaker Richard Corcoran says the legislature has a lot to be proud of.
“I would have said it’s not possible and yet we did thoroughly and in depth and in great ways that profoundly impacted the state for years to come. And It has been one of the greatest professions of my life to serve in the legislature,” Corcoran says.
And Senate President Joe Negron agrees he’s happy with the final outcome.
“We have a responsibility to live within our means and as you know there are a lot of competing interests for the funds that we have available,” Negron says.
Legislators say they had to reevaluate spending priorities following the high school shooting in Parkland. Part of that reevaluation led lawmakers to reduce the tax breaks in the tax package approved Sunday afternoon in order to allocate funds for mental healthcare and school safety initiatives.
