Cerebral Palsy

They are hoping the rest of it — $126 million — can be covered by the cost-cutting measures.

Lawmakers are continuing to work on those measures, which will be included in the budget or an implementing bill.

They are expected to focus on such issues as tightening the monitoring of contracts and improving needs assessments and ending redundant services.

“My heart goes out to the disabled and the most vulnerable among us,” said Gov.

Charlie Crist.

“I don’t want to cast judgment too harshly and I want to support those who need the help, but I don’t want to support fraud.” Crist said he does support improving the agency’s management.

His predecessor, Jeb Bush, led an effort to reduce its staffing and shift certain management functions to private vendors.

The deficit issue was kicked up to Sansom and Carlton after a joint budget conference committee on health care failed to reach agreement.

It is one of the last issues still unresolved in talks between the two chambers over the annual state budget, which will top $70 billion, for the fiscal year beginning July 1.

Carlton and Sansom agreed to meet again Saturday on other issues that various budget conference committees, which have finished thei...

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