Those discussions are not always separate, but Latvala said the ties this year were almost unprecedented, and seemed to indicate it was hypocritical of Corcoran, who has promised to clean up the operations of the House.
“I haven’t seen to the extent that we’ve seen it this year, of deciding so many issues as a part of the budget process,” Latvala said. “I’ve never seen that before. But that’s driven strictly by the guy that wants transparency, from the other end down there.”
Corcoran’s office declined to comment on Latvala’s remarks.
Rep. Loranne Ausley, D-Tallahassee, also lashed out at the behind-the-scenes negotiations between Corcoran and Senate President Joe Negron, R-Stuart.
“All the lofty speeches we heard about the new era of openness and transparency that would be brought to the budget process this year were apparently nothing more than meaningless words,” Ausley said in a statement. “Instead, the priorities of two people are taking precedence over the priorities of the people of Florida.”
