Florida lawmakers pass $115 billion budget leaving out key priorities after DeSantis-Perez feud

A monthslong feud between Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL) and Republican Florida House Speaker Daniel Perez over whether to cut property or sales taxes ended in a stalemate after the state legislature passed a budget containing neither of the provisions.

While DeSantis wanted Perez to prioritize property tax relief by handing out $1,000 property tax rebates to homeowners, Perez wanted to reduce the sales tax from 6% to 5.25%. The intraparty disagreement swiftly spiraled into personal attacks, with the speaker claiming the governor was withholding “actual and meaningful tax relief” from voters.