This story was last posted on: 10:48 p.m., Wednesday, March 29, 2017.
State Attorney Aramis Ayala is speaking out against plans to cut her budget because she will not seek the death penalty in capital murder cases.
- Florida House, Senate propose cutting State Attorney Aramis Ayala's budget
- Budget cut plan in response to death penalty decision
- Ayala calls it political posturing, impacts public safety
- RELATED: Florida House budget slashes state attorney's office over death penalty
The Florida House is proposing cutting $1.3 million and eliminating 21 positions. The money would be transferred to state attorney offices that take on any death penalty cases that Ayala is removed from.
The Florida Senate has proposed eliminating over $1.46 million by eliminating two programs that were funded by the 2016 Legislature.
Ayala is under fire for refusing to seek the death penalty in capital murder cases, including the Markeith Loyd case. Her decision not to pursue the death penalty for Loyd, who is charged with the murder of an Orlando police officer and his pregnant ex-girlfriend, angered law enforcement officials across the state.
"Under Florida law, one of the tools in their tool box is the death penalty. And so if she's refusing to do it, we have to appropriate as it is our job," said State Rep. Scott Plakon, R-Longwood.
Lawmakers said the money would be shifted to circuits who will take on Ayala's death penalty cases.
Gov. Scott pulled Ayala off the Loyd case and assigned it to another state attorney. Ayala is appealing the order.
Ayala's office, the Ninth Judicial Circuit, covers Orange and Osceola counties. A spokesperson released this statement Wednesday:
"We have learned that the legislature intends to cut the Ninth Circuit State Attorney’s budget appropriation in response to our office’s position on the death penalty.
"Of all the cases this office handles, less than .01 percent are death penalty cases. The other 99.99 percent include non-capital homicides, sexual batteries, sex crimes against children, domestic violence, drug and human trafficking, carjackings, robberies, burglaries, DUI’s thefts, aggravated assaults, batteries and other violent and non-violent crimes.
"The impact of cutting $1.3 million and eliminating 21 positions would severely impact this agency’s ability to effectively prosecute crimes, threaten public safety and ultimately have an economic impact on the Central Florida community. We work hand in hand with law enforcement. Without proper funding, our collaborative work with police agencies will be drastically impacted.
"The millions of tourist and people who call central Florida home are able to enjoy the public safety this community offers. They should not be impacted by political posturing. It is my hope that we all stand in solidarity to ensure the public safety for the State of Florida."
Nevertheless, State Sen. Linda Stewart, D-Orlando, said there is bipartisan support for the cuts in both the House and Senate.
"This is a decision that really needs to be taken hard," said Stewart.
Ayala's office has also filed notice that she would no longer seek the death penalty in six other death penalty cases awaiting trial.