Haridopolos Talks Budget, Senate Race With Reporters

As the Florida Senate prepared to debate the 2011-2012 budget, its leader, Senate President Mike Haridopolos, R-Merritt Island, waltzed into the press gallery for an exchange with reporters.

He defended the current budget proposal, which came in at $69.7 billion, an $850 million cut from the current budget and a $4 billion increase from the proposal released by Gov. Rick Scott in February. Haridopolos has consistently stated his focus on cutting spending without raising taxes, and he noted that the budget includes $308 million in business and property tax cuts.

"I thought the most important thing would be to actually balance the budget without raising taxes, meaning actually spending less. I'm happy to report that today at approximately 10:15 (p.m.), we'll have accomplished that mission," he said.

Haridopolos also took the opportunity to take some jabs at his opponents in the Republican primary for the U.S. Senate.

"I think the governor saw it firsthand. There is a difference between running for office and being in office. Everyone is always a lot more conservative with your budget as opposed to their budget. There's a difference between playing Sim City or legislating from Twitter and actually leading," Haridopolos said.

His opponents in the race, former U.S. Sen. George LeMieux and former state Rep. Adam Hasner, have been taking shots at his performance on social media like Facebook and Twitter.

But Haridopolos saved his greatest criticism for Democratic incumbent U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson, whom he is trying to unseat.

"Bill Nelson's been in office since I was 2 years old. Other than getting a ride on the shuttle, name me something major in this building (the state Capitol), in Washington, D.C., that he has accomplished since I was 2 years old. And that's going to be the difference. I'm a person who gets things done," he said.