![Lawmakers mull how to spend $10B in federal COVID relief funds](https://www.news4jax.com/resizer/6F57RaQ0_EmyxSkEqiVEckrv_uE=/1600x900/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/EDGCWOL3WBG5XP2GYNOFXA6XQU.jpg)
Lawmakers mull how to spend $10B in federal COVID relief funds
TALLAHASSEE โ Now that President Joe Biden has signed the American Rescue Plan, Florida lawmakers must decide how to spend $10 billion in federal COVID relief funds. โA lot of our ongoing budget challenges are non-recurring,โ said Senate Budget Chair Kelli Stargel. These are recurring expenses and that influx of money is non-recurring funds. The governor has suggested lawmakers set the state budget at $96.6 billion, more than $4 billion higher than the current budget. Even with the new federal funds, lawmakers have remained skeptical of such a large increase.
![As Florida lawmakers reconvene, pandemic casts large shadow](https://www.news4jax.com/resizer/GJ6ZOB7L7sTg6r_dd-gXy8FFw_U=/1600x1053/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/2MJI55M2JFHCDMP64CTTNAPWDM.jpg)
As Florida lawmakers reconvene, pandemic casts large shadow
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. โ Florida lawmakers gavel into session Tuesday amid a pandemic that will play a starring role on their agenda and influence how they conduct business over the next two months. Lawmakers and staffers โ and anyone regularly given entry into the Capitol, such as journalists โ must undergo weekly testing for the virus. AdโThink if half of us were out for two to three weeks,โ Senate President Wilton Simpson said at a recent press briefing. Widespread infections among lawmakers could lead to an abrupt recess to the session if attendance falls below the necessary quorum. The House gallery, where the public is allowed to witness floor sessions, will be reserved for lawmakers' families and guests.
![Florida lawmakers open committee hearings amid pandemic](https://www.news4jax.com/resizer/UWvthr2enhQLx4Fwji98goieZ2s=/640x360/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/QYFJQFA7ZNA63PDFZKWSULFRSU.jpg)
Florida lawmakers open committee hearings amid pandemic
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. โ Florida lawmakers returned to the state Capitol on Monday, amid a recent surge in COVID-19 cases and some concerns over security in the wake of last week's attack on the U.S. Capitol. The only committee to meet extensively Monday was the Senate Environment and Natural Resources Committee. Members of the public and lobbyists not directly involved in the hearing had to monitor proceedings blocks away from an arena at Florida State University. Like other legislative bodies across the country, Florida lawmakers have been mindful of the ongoing pandemic, which has sickened more nearly 1.5 million Floridians and killed more than 23,000. The pandemic will be front and center in this week's legislative agenda, including a discussion Wednesday by the Senate Health Policy Committee on the state's response to the outbreak.
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EU top official: Budget cuts are 'difficult pill to swallow'
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen addresses European lawmakers at the European Parliament in Brussels, Thursday, July 23, 2020. (Francois Walschaerts, Pool Photo via AP)BRUSSELS The European Union's top official said Thursday that planned cuts in the next long-term multi-billion budget of the 27-nation bloc are a difficult pill to swallow." A few hours after Von der Leyen's speech, lawmakers adopted a resolution by a large majority that strongly criticizes the cuts. Von der Leyen said the deal reached this week after a marathon summit was the light at the end of the tunnel. We should always remember that the values of EU programs far outweigh their costs," von der Leyen insisted.
![Lawmakers poised to make big changes to guardianships](https://www.news4jax.com/resizer/clqrntmMqW-_oheIZmdImPoqYFY=/1600x900/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/d1vhqlrjc8h82r.cloudfront.net/01-30-2020/t_c47f8a989b72478ab2de29ac27f67db5_name_image.jpg)
Lawmakers poised to make big changes to guardianships
Lawmakers poised to make big changes to guardianshipsPublished: January 30, 2020, 5:58 pmState lawmakers are about to crack down on guardians after an Orlando guardian allegedly initiated โDo Not Resuscitateโ orders against her patientsโ wishes.