May 21, 2013
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) -- Florida Gov. Rick Scott's $74.2 billion proposed budget isn't winning a lot of praise so far from state legislators.
Scott's budget director on Tuesday spent nearly three hours going over Scott's spending plan before a House budget panel.
Republican and Democratic legislators raised questions on some of the governor's key proposals, including his push to offer a $2,500 pay raise to school teachers and bonuses for state employees.
Rep. Seth McKeel, R-Lakeland and House budget chief, questioned the rationale behind the proposals, noting that the governor was also proposing to give a third of state employees merit raises on as well as the one-time bonus.
Democratic legislators also questioned why Scott has refused so far to take a stance on whether the state should accept federal aid to expand Medicaid.
