Florida Legislature Votes to Extend Session to Pass Budget

(Tallahassee, FL) - The Florida House and Senate agree Thursday to extend the legislative session to June 18th.

Florida House Speaker Daniel Perez says the goal in hammering out a budget has been to stop wasteful, recurring spending.

House Minority Leader Fentrice Driskell says the drawn-out budget process has just prolonged solving Florida's problems like affordable housing, Medicaid and SNAP funding and uncertainties about FEMA.

Florida Senate President Ben Albritton said when all is said and done "A balanced budget will be passed on the 16th, and it will be less than last year's budget."

The Florida constitution mandates the legislature pass a balanced budget before the next fiscal year starts on July 1st.