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It was a day up ups and downs in the state capitol as lawmakers continued budget negotiations. As Mike Vasilinda tells us, issues like prison funding grew closer to resolution while talks over economic development blew up.

Lawmakers negotiating the prison budget are close to an agreement.

“House moves to the Senate position” chimed the House budget staff director.

Already in the works before the NY prison escape, lawmakers agreed to hire an outside expert to advise the system on security. Ssenate Crimainal Justice Chairman Greg Evers (R-Milton) says its all about money.

“Do I feel the Department of Corrections is secure? Yes! Ah, the reason for the outside expert is to be sure we’re spending our money wisely.”

But that’s where playing nice ended.  Sen. Jack Latvala was unhappy when House negotiators tried to increase funding for enterprise Florida when the semi private agency already has more than 80 million in cash. “To get side swiped like you;ve done this morning, to me, is not a good measure of respect” Latvala said to Rep. Clay Ingram.

Latvala then abruptly ended negotiations. “the Governor just bailed in with the House on the healthcare fight, didn’t he? Ah, maybe this is his reward” speculated Latvala.

Despite the dust up, Senate President Andy Gardiner expected the funding to get worked out. “I have a tremendous amount of confidence that cooler heads will prevail. We’ll see what they come back with” says Gardiner

Eleven days remain for lawmakers to work out the details. If they fail, they’ll have a ten day cushion before the budget runs out on June 30th.

And when we asked Senate Budget Chairman Tom Lee if he saw any pitfalls to a budget deal being worked out, his response was to the point.

“No. No.

Q:”You’re confident?”

“yes” said Lee.

What is clear is that tax cuts and school funding sought by the Governor will be far less than he wants….and with his veto pen, he has the final say.