Speaker Perez has it right

While President Donald Trump and U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson gloat over the passage of their “big beautiful bill” (which it is not — the spending and borrowing continue), Florida Speaker Danny Perez (R-Miami) is preparing for his own budget battle next month in the June special session.

Let’s hope Perez and his House colleagues show Trump and Johnson how to cut spending for real.

First, give Perez a lot of credit. He is one of the few Florida legislators who actually acknowledges that the Legislature, along with Gov. Ron DeSantis, have a spending problem.

Like most lawmakers, past Legislatures typically spend however much money they collect. And thanks to Florida’s robust economy,  our lawmakers (They control the purse.), typically spend it all. Just look at the growth in Florida’s budget during DeSantis’ six budget cycles — up 33%. Has your household spending increased at that rate?

Perez has been harping on how this spending needs to stop. And for good reason. State forecasters show state spending barreling into deficits for fiscal 2026 and 2027 unless lawmakers cut recurring spending. 

As the table above shows, the House proposed a 5% cut in spending; the Senate much less.

Read the May 13 letter Perez sent to House colleagues (below). Cheer him on for doing the right thing.