The biggest legislative news of the week, of course, is that there isn't any state budget news. Five days after the first joint conference was scheduled, no such meeting has yet taken place. The House and Senate leadership are in deadlock as the last days of the session approach. If no agreement is reached by Tuesday, then Legislative rules will prevent a budget from being passed during the regular session and special session will have to be convened. Efforts to reconcile major differences that had been scheduled over the weekend were cancelled late Friday afternoon, and lawmakers were told to go home and enjoy the weekend.
Somehow, though, our beleaguered legislators found time while they weren't working on the budget to expand Florida's shameful nudge-nudge-wink-wink voucher scam in which business get dollar-for-dollar tax credits for paying for private school tuition.
While schoolteachers, state troopers, and other public employees clutched their pink slips and waited for news of a budget deal, lawmakers also found time argue about what picture of Jesus Christ was appropriate for a new state license plate, with proceeds going to fund faith-based education.
As Florida's highways, bridges, airports, schools, hospitals, and water systems crumbled around us, the Florida legislature mustered the courage to propose new rules concerning how to deal with the public menace of kids with droopy drawers.
Yes, really.
Image courtesy of Lauren Nelson under a Creative Commons license.
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