TALLAHASSEE— As leadership in the Republican-led Florida Legislature struggles to work to find common ground, frustrations are spilling over in both chambers, and senior lawmakers like Senator Don Gaetz (R) are taking their colleagues out to the political woodshed.
“Now as we end with a wimper on Friday, hopefully the budget chairs will begin to work together and understand that that have to come up with a budget,” said Sen. Gaetz during a media interview, adding that Republican lawmakers should be “embarrassed.”
Sen. Gaetz, who served alongside his son, former Rep. Matt Gaetz, in the Florida Legislation between 2010-2016, called the inpass in the state legislature “a shame” and and embarrassment for Republicans.
“I think that all of us associated with this session of the Legislature, and the last session of the Legislature, have not covered ourselves in glory. I think we ought to be embarrassed,” said Sen. Gaetz. “I think it’s a shame, and as Republicans—we have a Republican governor, Republican House and Republican Senate—we don’t have any Democrats to argue with anymore…so we decided to argue with each other. That’s inexcusable as Republicans. I think that it’s bad stewardship as conservatives.”
It's unsure if lawmakers will be able to come together and pass a state budget within the time allotted by the state constitution, but there is chance the budget gets done by then end of the week.
