TALLAHASSEE, Fl. (WFLA) — From prioritizing veterans in the Tampa Bay area, to securing funding for repairs at USF for the marine science lab, state lawmakers say they’re fighting to get both, and much more, across the finish line.
Lawmakers will be heading back to Tallahassee in a few days for a two-week special session to pass the budget, with a July 1 deadline looming to avoid a government shutdown.
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“The budget is the thing that we should be focused on 150,000% because that is the lifeline of the state of Florida,” said State Rep. Danny Alvarez (R-Hillsborough).The House and Senate will gavel in next Tuesday to finally hammer out the details, with a full week of budget conferences around education, transportation, the environment, and local projects.“I have a lot of projects that we’re fighting for, but this one veterans project that we’ve been saving lives with, it’s called the Florida ETMS. That’s a really big one to me,” Alvarez said. “If you save one life with Florida taxpayers, that makes it worth it.”
Alvarez said he’s ready to fight to ensure a no-cost program serving veterans, first responders, and law enforcement survives the budget process.Across the bay, State Representative Lindsay Cross (D- St. Petersburg) said her top priority is securing nearly $3 million for flood reduction and stormwater improvements in the Shore Acres neighborhood…