Florida Senate agrees to smaller cut of State Attorney Ayala's budget

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — The Florida Senate has agreed to scale back cuts it planned for an Orlando prosecutor who is pledging to not seek the death penalty in cases handled by her office.

The Senate voted Wednesday to restore more than $569,000 to the budget of the office of State Attorney Aramis Alaya. But the Senate plan still calls for more than $622,000 in cuts. That money will be shifted to another prosecutor.

Ayala has come under fire after she announced she wouldn't seek the death penalty in the case of Markeith Loyd or any other case.

Gov. Rick Scott wants Ayala's murder cases shifted to State Attorney Brad King. But she has filed lawsuits challenging Scott's ability to remove her.

The Florida House is still proposing a $1.3 million cut to Ayala's office.

Associated Press