Florida Lawmakers Look to Revive Vetoed Projects
Lawmakers faced a Friday deadline for filing requests to tap into a new $80 million pot of money included in the state budget that took effect July 1.
July 19, 2022 at 02:42 PM
3 minute read
State and Local GovernmentHouse members have filed nearly 750 proposals as they take a second shot at bringing home tax dollars for local projects and programs.
Lawmakers faced a Friday deadline for filing requests to tap into a new $80 million pot of money, called Local Support Grants, included in the state budget that took effect July 1. Gov. Ron DeSantis last month vetoed dozens of projects and programs from the budget.
But the pot of money was tucked away separately in the budget, setting up a new process for lawmakers to seek tax dollars. The 747 proposals filed before the deadline seek $634.5 million and, in many cases, try to revive spending that DeSantis vetoed.
Legislative leaders have released little information about the program. But the Joint Legislative Budget Commission, which is made up of House and Senate members, will have two months to decide which proposals to approve.
Senate spokeswoman Katie Betta said if senators wanted to pursue money, they had to work with House members from the areas they jointly represent.
As an example of the proposals that correspond to items DeSantis vetoed, Rep. Robin Bartleman, D-Weston, is seeking $10,000 for the Weston Music Society to bring in professional musicians to local elementary schools. DeSantis vetoed a similar $12,000 line item from the budget (SB 2500).
On the high end, Rep. Ralph Massullo, R-Lecanto, requested $9.25 million for a 2.6-mile multiuse path leading to Fort Island in Citrus County. Massullo's proposal matches money that DeSantis slashed from the budget.
Overall, DeSantis vetoed $3.1 billion in spending from what turned into a $109.9 billion budget but didn't explain the reasons for most individual vetoes.
Among the lawmakers seeking to revive vetoed proposals is House Appropriations Chairman Jay Trumbull, a Panama City Republican who helps chair the Legislative Budget Commission and is running for a state Senate seat.
Trumbull filed 12 proposals that would total $16.7 million, including seeking $215,050 so the public-radio station WKGC can replace an aging generator, transfer switch and fuel tank at the Bay County Emergency Operations Center. DeSantis last month vetoed $187,000 for the WKGC upgrades.
"During Hurricane Michael, WKGC staff sheltered in place and broadcast 24/7 directly from the County EOC … providing Bay and surrounding counties with pertinent information gathered from Florida Public Radio Emergency Network, state and county officials," Trumbull's proposal said. "We were the only broadcaster left on the air, and our generator ran for weeks."
Republicans, who dominate the Legislature, accounted for 540 of the proposals, totaling $498.7 million. Among those proposals were 64 measures, worth $70.2 million, that matched items vetoed by DeSantis.
With 207 proposals totaling $135.85 million, Democrats made 29 requests that corresponded to $8.2 million in DeSantis vetoes.
Jim Turner reports for the News Service Florida.
NOT FOR REPRINT
© 2025 ALM Global, LLC, All Rights Reserved. Request academic re-use from www.copyright.com. All other uses, submit a request to [email protected]. For more information visit Asset & Logo Licensing.
You Might Like
View AllPlaintiffs Attorneys Awarded $113K on $1 Judgment in Noise Ordinance Dispute
4 minute readAs Unpredictability Rises, Gov't Law Practices Expect Trump Bump. Especially in Florida
5 minute readTrending Stories
- 1Uber Files RICO Suit Against Plaintiff-Side Firms Alleging Fraudulent Injury Claims
- 2The Law Firm Disrupted: Scrutinizing the Elephant More Than the Mouse
- 3Inherent Diminished Value Damages Unavailable to 3rd-Party Claimants, Court Says
- 4Pa. Defense Firm Sued by Client Over Ex-Eagles Player's $43.5M Med Mal Win
- 5Losses Mount at Morris Manning, but Departing Ex-Chair Stays Bullish About His Old Firm's Future
Who Got The Work
J. Brugh Lower of Gibbons has entered an appearance for industrial equipment supplier Devco Corporation in a pending trademark infringement lawsuit. The suit, accusing the defendant of selling knock-off Graco products, was filed Dec. 18 in New Jersey District Court by Rivkin Radler on behalf of Graco Inc. and Graco Minnesota. The case, assigned to U.S. District Judge Zahid N. Quraishi, is 3:24-cv-11294, Graco Inc. et al v. Devco Corporation.
Who Got The Work
Rebecca Maller-Stein and Kent A. Yalowitz of Arnold & Porter Kaye Scholer have entered their appearances for Hanaco Venture Capital and its executives, Lior Prosor and David Frankel, in a pending securities lawsuit. The action, filed on Dec. 24 in New York Southern District Court by Zell, Aron & Co. on behalf of Goldeneye Advisors, accuses the defendants of negligently and fraudulently managing the plaintiff's $1 million investment. The case, assigned to U.S. District Judge Vernon S. Broderick, is 1:24-cv-09918, Goldeneye Advisors, LLC v. Hanaco Venture Capital, Ltd. et al.
Who Got The Work
Attorneys from A&O Shearman has stepped in as defense counsel for Toronto-Dominion Bank and other defendants in a pending securities class action. The suit, filed Dec. 11 in New York Southern District Court by Bleichmar Fonti & Auld, accuses the defendants of concealing the bank's 'pervasive' deficiencies in regards to its compliance with the Bank Secrecy Act and the quality of its anti-money laundering controls. The case, assigned to U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian, is 1:24-cv-09445, Gonzalez v. The Toronto-Dominion Bank et al.
Who Got The Work
Crown Castle International, a Pennsylvania company providing shared communications infrastructure, has turned to Luke D. Wolf of Gordon Rees Scully Mansukhani to fend off a pending breach-of-contract lawsuit. The court action, filed Nov. 25 in Michigan Eastern District Court by Hooper Hathaway PC on behalf of The Town Residences LLC, accuses Crown Castle of failing to transfer approximately $30,000 in utility payments from T-Mobile in breach of a roof-top lease and assignment agreement. The case, assigned to U.S. District Judge Susan K. Declercq, is 2:24-cv-13131, The Town Residences LLC v. T-Mobile US, Inc. et al.
Who Got The Work
Wilfred P. Coronato and Daniel M. Schwartz of McCarter & English have stepped in as defense counsel to Electrolux Home Products Inc. in a pending product liability lawsuit. The court action, filed Nov. 26 in New York Eastern District Court by Poulos Lopiccolo PC and Nagel Rice LLP on behalf of David Stern, alleges that the defendant's refrigerators’ drawers and shelving repeatedly break and fall apart within months after purchase. The case, assigned to U.S. District Judge Joan M. Azrack, is 2:24-cv-08204, Stern v. Electrolux Home Products, Inc.
Featured Firms
Law Offices of Gary Martin Hays & Associates, P.C.
(470) 294-1674
Law Offices of Mark E. Salomone
(857) 444-6468
Smith & Hassler
(713) 739-1250