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By the end of today (Friday) Florida should have a budget in place and a government shutdown will likely be avoided. Matt Galka wraps up what lawmakers were doing before they voted on the spending plan.

Senator John Legg acknowledged Florida’s unique legislative session during a prayer.

“Today we find ourselves at the end of that very long journey. And yes, we are a little more tired, a little more weary, but we are grateful and stronger,” said the Lutz Republican.

The regular session started in March and went off the rails when both the Florida House and Senate couldn’t see eye to eye on healthcare funding. It delayed a budget, which pushed the state to the brink of a government shutdown and forced lawmakers into overtime.

The Senate spent a majority of Friday debating the budget, the house did their debating on Thursday.

A budget it all but in place pending a final vote. But that didn’t stop Senator Jack Latvala (R-Clearwater) from pointing out the bitterness between the two chambers. He cited the House’s refusal of film and stadium incentives.

“That hurts in Jacksonville, that hurts in Orlando, that hurts in Miami. And that especially hurts in Daytona Beach, and we fought for those on behalf of the Senate, but the folks at the other end of the hall don’t like incentives,” he said.

Senator Nancy Detert (R-Venice) also took a shot.

“There’s an old expression ‘you can’t choose your relatives,’ we also can’t choose our colleagues down the hall,” she said.

When lawmakers do go home for the year, they won’t have as much time to sit and stew. 2016’s legislative session is set for January. The early start means lawmakers will be back meeting again in the fall.