Capitol Buzz | Budget crunch time

Plus: historic abortion bill, a veto threat and immigration

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View this on the Web Go to our home page Subscribe to the Times Saturday, March 5, 2022 Forward this to a friend Subscribe to more newsletters To our readers: Welcome to the Capitol Buzz. You're receiving this email because you've subscribed to the Buzz newsletter. Every Saturday morning, members of the Times/Herald Tallahassee Bureau will round up the biggest stories from the 60-day legislative session until it's over. [PHELAN M. EBENHACK | AP] Tampa Bay’s $600 million Moffitt Cancer research center in trouble? The Legislature’s most enthusiastic booster for a new sprawling, $600 million Moffit cancer research center in Pasco County is making some big promises.   “This facility will rival any cancer research center on the planet when we’re finished with it,” said Senate President Wilton Simpson, R-Trilby. “When we get finished with it, it will mean literally tens of thousands of lives will be saved annually from cancer.”   There’s just one problem: the House hasn’t agreed to a cent of that $600 million.   This isn’t unusual for the last few days of the session. Legislative leaders play a high stakes game of chicken with vast sums of money every year.   But this particular investment could radically transform a broad swath of the area east of the Suncoast Parkway and south of State Road 52 for generations to come.    In order to make the research center happen, Simpson, who represents part of Pasco County, wants $20 million in state funding per year for the next 30 years.    Although the House is not yet on board, those funds appear to be alive in budget negotiations. Health care budget hagglers in the House and Senate have bumped the issue up to Sen. Kelli Stargel, R-Lakeland, and Rep. Jay Trumbull, R-Panama City — the Legislature’s budget leaders.   If Stargel and Trumbull can’t agree on funding for the center, the issue will head to Simpson and House Speaker Chris Sprowls for a face-to-face negotiation. There, the leaders will haggle over their various priorities. It’s possible the $600 million in funding for the complex could survive those negotiations.    But other signs are more troubling for the Moffitt project. Simpson and the Senate initially proposed $106 million for infrastructure improvements in the area, and another $14 million to improve east-west access through the broader development of which the Moffitt campus will be a part. All of that funding has been zeroed out in the transportation budget, even at this early stage.   As with all things Florida budget, this is all subject to change. Simpson could get all, or some, or none of the Moffit center money. He could still get money for the roads and infrastructure.    We’ll find out in a few days. But the sausage will be made behind closed doors. Other headlines you may have missed ‘DOA’. Gov. Ron DeSantis issued another veto threat to the Legislature over its congressional redistricting map. Lawmakers passed it anyway.   Voting changes. The Senate late Friday voted out its election bill. It now heads to the House.   ‘A dangerous bill.’ President Joe Biden says his administration “will not stand” for a 15-week abortion ban approved by the Florida Legislature. It’s heading to DeSantis’ desk.   With Biden in mind. The Senate passed its immigration bill barring the state from doing business with companies that bring undocumented immigrants in the state.   Ukraine response. The state has (or had) $300 million invested in Russian companies. The House used a technicality to avoid taking a vote to sell it off.   Good news. First lady Casey DeSantis is cancer-free, the governor said.   DeSantis is displeased. His doctor “free speech” bill isn’t moving through the Legislature, so he called lawmakers out over it.   Students walked out. Students walked out of classes across the state in protest of the Legislature’s “don’t say gay” bill.   ‘This is ridiculous.’ DeSantis lost his cool when high school students at one of his news conferences showed up wearing masks.    ‘A sea change.’ Florida Republicans are relying on trial lawyers, one of their historic foes, to enforce their conservative agenda this year.   Big money. Some of the state hospitals that serve the poorest and sickest patients are likely to see millions in cuts from the state.   Big donors. The Legislature is again trying to place a $3,000 limit on contributions from out-of-state donors to political committees trying to collect petition signatures for citizens’ initiatives.   Big job. Simpson wants to be the next Florida agriculture commissioner, and he’s using his power to give the agency a gift: $331 million in new spending. What you need to know for next week Sine die. The legislative session is scheduled to end on Friday. Will they get everything done in time? We sure hope so.   Budget released. If the Legislature plans to end on time (which we hope it does), it needs to release the budget some time Tuesday. The budget has to be released to the public for 72 hours before lawmakers can take it up for a vote.   Voting bill. It’s one of a few high-profile bills still to pass this legislative session. There’s only one week left (hopefully). This week's newsletter was compiled by Kirby Wilson and Lawrence Mower. Did someone forward this to you? Get The Buzz in your own inbox next time. It's free to subscribe. Sign up here. Contact us Privacy policy Terms, Conditions & Copyright Standard of accuracy © 2022 • All Rights Reserved Tampa Bay Times • 490 First Avenue South • St. Petersburg, FL 33701 • 727-893-8111   To ensure this email is delivered to your inbox, add custserv@elist.tampabay.com to your address book. 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