Talk of the Legislature heading toward overtime emerged Friday as House and Senate leaders struggled to reach agreement on how much money they have to spend in the 2010-11 budget.
With a mid-afternoon deadline looming for setting the start of negotiations this weekend, the two sides remained snagged over whether to include $880 million in long-anticipated Medicaid cash from the federal government.
In its $67.2 billion budget proposal, the House didnt spend the money resulting in cuts in many health and human services programs and it reduces public school spending by $52-per-pupil, a tough political stance in an election year.
By contrast, the Senate spent the federal Medicaid enhancement money, contingent on it being approved by Congress. The Senates $69.4 billion spending plan avoids deep program cuts to social services and health programs and boosts classroom dollars by $38.86-per-student, thanks to the expected cash from Washington.
Our position is still that were much more likely than not to receive those dollars, Senate budget chief J.D. Alexander, R-Lake Wales, told fellow senators Friday.
Alexander later said that he was still working on House budget-writers to embrace the Senates position of including the so-called FMAP money in budget allocations given to conferees, who are expected to spend the sessions final scheduled two weeks working toward consensus.
But the House has so far refused. And House members may be in an even firmer position following an exchange between Gov. Charlie Crists office and the states lobbying office in Washington, D.C.
In an E-mail, deputy director Corinne Stevens in Floridas Washington office told Crist budget director Jerry McDaniel earlier this week that the appetite may be waning on the Hill, for the almost $25 billion push by Congress to extend Medicaid support to the states, which was designed to allow states to maintain many health and human service programs through next June.
Federal Medicaid stimulus to states ends Dec. 31, but Crist was among 47 governors who in February wrote congressional leaders urging them to take swift action on a funding extension. Like the Senate, Crist had included the FMAP cash in his budget recommendation to the Legislature.
Stevens said the price-tag on the extra Medicaid money is troubling many members of Congress, who also feel that the federal health care overhaul already contains additional support for states in future years.
Senate President Jeff Atwater, R-North Palm Beach, said Friday, though, that, the Senate hasnt given up on it yet.
Speaking to members of our delegation, they still remain optimistic that Congress wants to accomplish that, Atwater said. Now the question is timeline. If we dont have that solid an answer by the time were finishing up in the next few days, finishing up that budgetis going to be tough.
Alexander also acknowledged that the delay in starting negotiations troubled an on-time finish to the legislative session. But he added, I think both sides will be giving some. I think we always do.
