Divided yet again, Florida legislators return to work

(AP) — Amid a backdrop of growing distrust among top Republicans, the GOP-controlled Florida Legislature on Wednesday started a three-day special session aimed primarily at boosting money for the state's public schools.

[...] the House and Senate appeared to be on a collision course as they drew up different plans over where to get the money to pay for an additional $100 a year for each of the state's nearly 3 million public school students.

The Florida Senate also took the unusual step on the first day of voting to override some of Gov. Rick Scott's vetoes, including more than $11.4 billion in school funding, calling it "insurance" just in case the two sides are unable to work out a final deal.

Just a few days ago, it appeared that Scott and legislative leaders had worked out a budget deal that called for increasing money to schools, while also spending money on some of Scott's top priorities, including restoring funding to the state's tourism marketing agency.

House Democratic Leader Janet Cruz acknowledged a large group of hotel owners who drove to the Capitol to support the bill, saying she was supporting the measure for them despite the inclusion of what she called a "slush fund" for the governor.