Senate Passes 'Smart Cap' Bill

Florida senators voted to pass the "smart cap" bill Tuesday that would place a constitutional amendment before voters in 2012 to limit state revenues.

Sen. Ellyn Bogdanoff, R-Fort Lauderdale, swept aside concerns over the bill's effect on the state's bond rating and changing the Constitution.

"The folks in the chamber who believe in fiscal restraint can say to the people, 'Do you want to have that for the future?' This is something we're going to put before the people. If government takes less, the people have more," Bogdanoff said.

The vote was 27-13, with two Republicans, Sens. Nancy Detert of Venice and Paula Dockery of Lakeland, voting against the bill. Sen. Bill Montford of Tallahassee cast the lone Democratic vote for the bill.

Full story to follow.