Fla. Senate budget chief unloads on House speaker

TALLAHASSEE – Things are getting a bit testy between House and Senate leaders as budget talks between the chambers remain stalled.

Senate Budget Committee Chairman J.D. Alexander on Monday accused House Speaker Dean Cannon of bargaining in bad faith and “gamesmanship.”

Cannon spokeswoman Katherine Betta said he’s negotiating with Senate President Mike Haridopolos, not Alexander.

Betta said it’s the Senate that keeps moving farther away from the House with each successive offer.

House and Senate leaders had yet to agree on preliminary issues that must be settled before conference committees can begin negotiating differences between their respective budget bills.

With just 13 days left, the odds of finishing the legislative session on time are getting longer. It’s scheduled to end May 6.