A last-minute debt and deficit package easily passed the House of Representatives Monday night, but was roundly thrashed by the right and left.

The measure, which is expected to clear the Senate on Tuesday, includes $3 trillion in budget cuts and a two-step, $2.4 trillion increase in the national debt ceiling.

The deal was demanded by administration officials and business groups that said upping the $14.3 trillion debt ceiling was essential to averting a government default by midnight Tuesday.

When lawmakers begin preparing for next year's legislative session in September, one of their priorities should be taking another look at laws dealing with immigrants, Gov. Rick Scott said Monday.

Scott said the Legislature missed its best opportunity to do something about illegal immigration last session, because it's a debate that's "better to have in a non-election year than an election year" because things can get "blown out of proportion" during election years.

"We should have gotten something done on immigration," Scott said.