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Lawmakers left the Capitol, with a bare bones budget, an insurance plan for the uninsured and very little pork to take home in an election year. Lawmakers declared the 2008 session over shortly after 6 o’clock. As Whitney Ray tells us lawmakers rushed against the clock to take up some of the year’s most important issues.

It ended with the traditional handkerchief drop. After the hankies landed the Senate President and the House Speaker embraced. Speaker Marco Rubio said this session was his most challenging.

“Although we made some difficult decisions and I know it was less than idea, the budget of the state of Florida was balanced and it was balanced with out raising taxes,” said Rubio.

Governor Charlie Crist got his health care plan passed.

“What it’s going to do is provide an opportunity for those 3.8 million who have not had insurance before,” Crist said.

The last day of session saw a slew of bills rushed through the system. Lawmakers had one more issue to take up before the hankies dropped. And one mother waited anxiously for their decision. Lori Staples made weekly trips to the Capitol to fight for her daughter Caitlyn, who suffers from Autism. The House took up the autism bill, supported by the Governor, last.

“All you could do was pray and hope for the best, and we did get the best out of it, and it’s a new beginning for a lot of families out there,” Staples said.

While the Governor’s autism and health insurance passed, his gas tax holiday ran out of fuel when lawmakers decided they couldn’t spare the money needed to build roads. Most lawmakers agree the biggest issue they tackled was the budget. Lawmakers made ends by dipping into reserves.