DeSantis signs a slimmed-down Florida budget into law after vetoing millions

TALLAHASSEE Fla AP Florida Republican Gov Ron DeSantis signed the state s new budget of about billion into law Monday capping the end of a lengthy and combative legislative season that was largely defined by GOP infighting despite the party s iron grip on Tallahassee The signing came right at the buzzer DeSantis disclosed just one day before the budget goes into effect It took lawmakers days to finalize the spending plan during what was supposed to be a -day session The budget comes in at about billion less than the state s current adjusted budget and is nearly million less than the Legislature s proposed budget after DeSantis used his line-item veto power to cut spending projects I think what you see in the budget is an example of a very fiscally responsible state DeSantis explained We re meeting the necessities of the state of Florida that I think majority people want us to be focusing on We re not you know frittering it away The new budget and a related tax cut package include a raise for state workers and a to pay hike for state law enforcement billion a year in tax cuts for families and businesses and billion to fund scholarships to private and religious schools Democrats supported the budget but specific criticized the spending on vouchers and tax cuts arguing for more funding for inhabitants schools and programs that encouragement low-income families The second-term governor who cannot run for reelection in held the bill signing event in The Villages one of the world s largest retirement communities and a place long known as a conservative stronghold DeSantis used the event to tout a slate of familiar talking points railing against a self-described democratic socialist running for New York City mayor while touting his own crackdown on diversity equity and inclusion initiatives and his push to eliminate property taxes in the state a change that voters would have to approve The adoption of a tighter state budget comes as bureaucrats are grappling with the loss of federal coronavirus funding and as economists fret over Republican President Donald Trump s deal wars and a sweeping proposal to cut federal taxes and spending Florida s legislative leaders have largely downplayed concerns about how Trump s aggressive and unpredictable economic policies could impact the state s coffers but lawmakers are taking efforts to set aside billions of dollars in reserves Kate Payne is a corps member for The Associated Press Record for America Statehouse News Initiative Analysis for America is a nonprofit national organization campaign that places journalists in local newsrooms to description on undercovered issues Source