A day before the start of legislative session, lawmakers were slashing more than $500 million from the state budget, and showing signs of the bitter tensions yet to come.
Democrats bemoaned the steep cuts, piled on top of $1.2 billion imposed last fall.
Republicans quickly countered that raising taxes will further stall the economy, and digging too deeply into state reserves is risky.
"I think it's been pointed out clearly that we cannot spend money that we don't have," House Republican Leader Adam Hasner told a packed meeting of the House Budget and Policy Council. "Just coming up here and pointing fingers isn't getting us off to a very good start.
The committee voted along partisan lines to approve a House plan that would slash $542.5 million, with much of the cuts coming from criminal justice and health programs.
The House and Senate are expected to negotiate through the weekend, with a final vote coming early next week, according to House budget chairman Ray Sansom, R-Destin.
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