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‘Sustainable for the long term’: Ben Albritton defends Senate’s commitment to ‘meaningful tax relief’

'An across-the-board sales tax cut of one quarter of one penny is not meaningful, felt, or seen by families and seniors.'

Just minutes after House Speaker Daniel Perez sent a memo to House members declaring budget negotiations have “blown up,” Senate President Ben Albritton sent his own memo to Senate members defending the upper chamber’s stance.

The House has proposed — and so far, has been unmoved from — a tax relief proposal that would cut one-quarter of a percentage point from the state sales tax.

Albritton had been working with the House to reach a compromise on tax relief, including suggesting an alternative sales tax relief proposal that would eliminate sales tax on clothing and shoes up to $75. But on Friday, he pointed to Gov. Ron DeSantis and his red veto pen as a reason for the ongoing impasse, amid other Senate concerns about the House’s proposal.

“As I am sure you are aware, earlier this week Governor DeSantis expressed concern regarding the tax relief framework announced last Friday. Specifically, that the proposal for an across-the-board sales tax cut would unduly benefit tourists and foreigners and is, ‘dead on arrival,’ Albritton wrote.

House budget chief: Senate went back on its word

'It’s not a kerfuffle, it’s a re-trade.'

A lot of things aren’t clear in overtime of the 2025 Legislative Session after budget negotiations broke down so severely that House Speaker Daniel Perez used explosive terminology — literally — to describe the impasse.

But at least one thing is clear: The House is not happy with the Senate.

Senate budget chief Ed Hooper told Florida Politics Friday — after dueling memos came out from Senate President Ben Albritton and Perez making clear that budget negotiations have broken down — that it’s “a big kerfuffle” and “it’ll get worked out.”

House budget chief Lawrence McClure, meanwhile, told Florida Politics “it’s not a kerfuffle, it’s a re-trade,” adding that the Senate went back on its word.

That’s in reference to Albritton’s promise to bring a House proposal to cut the state sales tax to the Senate floor. The Senate is no longer planning to do so.

McClure is also wondering if the House can trust the Senate at this point. Hooper told Florida Politics Friday that the Senate was working on an offer, and that it could include a business rent tax cut, which is a priority of Perez.

Peace in our time? Florida GOP offers to broker resolution to budget mess

'Bringing everyone to the table will help us focus on our shared priorities.'

The Republican Party of Florida is ready to facilitate talks between Gov. Ron DeSantis, Senate President Ben Albritton, and House Speaker Daniel Perez so that all parties can get on track and pass a budget before July 1.

“Our Republican leaders are deeply committed to this state and have bold ideas to keep Florida thriving,” said RPOF Chairman Evan Power. “Bringing everyone to the table will help us focus on our shared priorities—fiscal responsibility, tax relief, and a balanced budget.”

The state party’s unprecedented offer to broker peace via “thoughtful discussion and aligned decision-making” comes after warlike rhetoric from the principals involved.

Perez said in a memo Friday the deal “has blown up” and added that on Tuesday, the House will “pass a concurrent resolution extending the timeline through the end of June.”

The budget takes effect July 1, so this timeline would not permit Gov. DeSantis to spend the customary weeks reviewing the legislative product.

Jason Pizzo says he’s running for Governor, plans to spend $25M on his campaign

He previously said he wouldn’t run as an independent.

Sen. Jason Pizzo has put all speculation to rest about whether he’ll be running to succeed Ron DeSantis as Florida’s top executive next year.

Asked point blank whether he plans to run for Governor, Pizzo finally gave a definitive answer: “Yes, I am.”

The comment came in during an interview with CBS News Miami’s Jim DeFede in Sunday’s to-be-aired edition of “Facing South Florida.”

And just like that, the Sunshine State’s gubernatorial race grew much more complicated.

Until late last month, Pizzo was considered a top candidate for Democrats to retake the Governor’s Mansion in 2026. Then he threw a wrench into the works by resigning as Senate Democratic Leader and announcing he was re-registering as an independent.

In an April 24 speech on the Senate floor, he hinted again at loftier political ambitions that he had alluded to for more than a year.