After 10 Glorious Years, Sunshine State News and I Are Passing the Baton

Looks like it was a one-two punch for Florida teacher Shawn Beightol.

Martin County Sheriff Robert Crowder is fed up with state Sen. Joe Negron, R-Palm City, and he's considering running against him in the next election, according to The Stuart News. The challenge from Crowder, a Republican, comes amid passionate dissent from the Republican-dominated Treasure Coast to Negron's SB 1216. The bill calls for voters to decide every six years whether to close, continue or make cuts to one of the state's eight Children's Services Councils.

A stunning loss for Speaker Larry Cretul, R-Ocala, and the leadership moments after the House passed the budget. HB 5701 which would have ended the Retiree Health Insurance Subsidy (HIS). The state contributes between $30 to $150 per month to retirees based on their years of service with the average retiree getting $105 a month. The bill made it through the Full Appropriations Council on Education & Economic Development on an 11-6 vote. But it went down to defeat on a 57-59 vote when it was in the House.

The Florida House held a marathon session to pass the budget on Thursday. Unlike the Senates $69.5 billion budget that passed unanimously on Wednesday, the House passed its $67.2 billion on a 74-44 vote on party lines. There was four hours of debate on the budget and a future Speaker of the House said he had heard it all before.