TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) -- The Florida House is moving ahead with a nearly $69.2 billion budget.
Lawmakers will vote Thursday on the spending plan. The move will set the stage for negotiations during the final month of the annual session.
The Senate is moving a bit slower on its rival budget for 2012.
But Senate President Mike Haridopolos said this week he expects his chamber to wrap its budget by next week. Initially senators were talking about delaying a final vote until later.
The House budget includes a boost in school funding, but it also cuts Medicaid reimbursement rates for hospitals, eliminates thousands of state jobs, and includes an 8 percent tuition hike for college and university students.
The Senate is also boosting school funding, but is only recommending a three percent tuition hike.