TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) - Florida legislators are poised to approve an $82.3 billion budget that includes a slight boost in money for schools but also rejects many of Gov. Rick Scott's main priorities.
Lawmakers will vote on the budget Friday and then end their annual 60-day session on time. Unlike in past years, it appears that both Democrats and Republicans will support the spending plan.
The vote is designed to "send a message" to Scott, who last year vetoed hundreds of millions from the state budget without giving prior warning to legislators.
During budget negotiations in the last few weeks, GOP leaders rejected Scott's push to set aside $250 million for business incentives. They also scaled back his tax cut package.
Some legislators still criticized the budget. They complained it doesn't include a pay raise for state workers or boost spending enough in Florida's troubled prisons system.
