By Brandon Larrabee
TALLAHASSEE - Lawmakers finished work Wednesday on a plan to patch a $2.4 billion hole in the state budget, ending their 10-day special session but realizing that a tougher task lies ahead when the regular session convenes in March. The Senate approved the measure, which raids trust funds and cuts state agencies while increasing traffic fines, on a 27-13 vote. All but one Democrat voted no. The House vote, 74-43, was along party lines. Republicans said their plan was the best that could be expected in a climate of tumbling state tax collections; GOP leaders made it clear even before the session began that any tax increases to patch the formerly $66 billion budget were off the table in a troubled economy. "We have less money because Floridians have less money," said Rep. Anitere Flores, R-Miami, who chairs the House panel overseeing education funding. Democrats blasted the plan for, among other things, including a $466 million cut to education and slashing bonuses for teachers with National Board Certification by 20 percent. They lamented the lack of opportunities to vote for closing sales-tax exemptions or raising the cigarette tax.
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