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Speaker Larry Cretul made a rare public appearance Tuesday.

The Speaker met with about 40 participants from the Leadership Gainesville class which also heard from Lt. Governor Jeff Kottkamp. Cretul spoke about budget difficulties and told the leadership class he attended Class 30, which he says made him more aware of the community.

“The thing about the leadership program and you’re probably experiencing it right now, it gives you an opportunity to take, through your eyes, a very different look at your community,” Cretul said. “Looks that you may have never have experienced if you never attended the leadership program.”

The House Speaker asked the class for their prayers as lawmakers move forward with difficult decisions. On the budget deficit, Cretul says the house has not come around to the idea of new revenue “yet.”