Denise Grimsley Places Blame for Budget Frustrations on the Senate

Rep. Denise Grimsley, R-Sebring, chairwoman of the House Appropriations Committee and Speaker Dean Cannons, R-Winter Park, point woman on the budget, weighed in on the continued budget negotiations with the Senate-- and placed the blame for the increasing frustrations squarely on the Senate.

At this point, we have been unable to reach common allocations with the Senate, Grimsley noted in a memo sent out late Monday. There remain a number of outstanding issues including the degree of higher education funding and the scope of the reduction to the Florida Retirement System.

Prior to the start of the Senates weeklong recess, the House made an offer that had the two chambers only $155 million apart, continued Grimsley.We were optimistic that this offer would put us in striking distance of starting budget conference this week. Unfortunately, in each subsequent offer we have received, the Senate opened up previously agreed-on issues and moved further and further away, to the point where the last Senate offer places the House and Senate $425 million apart.

I fully embrace the need to be flexible and work toward a mutually beneficial outcome. However, while I am serving as the Appropriations chair, the House will not engage in a one-sided conversation that leaves us negotiating against ourselves, she added. I am hopeful that we will bring this process to a close, but I am committed to ensuring that we do not allow deadlines to influence our policymaking.The House will continue to advocate for a responsible budget that balances critical needs and ensures adequate reserves. We will also continue to insist that the budget be balanced on real, provable reductions and actuarially sound policies.