Attorney General Pam Bondi was a no-show at Thursday mornings meeting of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Criminal and Civil Justice, but legislators still heard from various public agencies who warned that budget cuts are compromising the administration of justice across Florida.

Pam Bondi, unfortunately, has a conflict today, but we look forward to her joining us in the near future, announced chairman Rob Bradley, R-Orange Park, after a series of introductions by senators and subcommittee staffers.

A proposal by university presidents to trade tuition increases for an increase in state funding wont be a simple pass-fail proposal through the Legislature.

Gov. Rick Scott may have applauded the presidents' proposal on Wednesday because he has opposed across-the-board tuition increases.But he didnt embrace the $118 million the presidents say is needed to cover the money they would otherwise collectively project tuition would produce for the 2013-2014 school year.