Fla. gov. needs help from skeptical legislators

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — Florida Gov. Rick Scott is counting on fellow Republicans in the Legislature to enact his top priorities.

But so far legislative leaders have not rushed to embrace them. If Scott can't win legislators over it could damage his re-election efforts.

Scott is asking state lawmakers to provide an across-the-board pay raise for all teachers. He also wants to give a tax break to manufacturers in order to encourage more of them to come to Florida.

The governor is also supporting an expansion of the Medicaid program to take advantage of federal aid that is part of the federal health care overhaul.

House Speaker Will Weatherford is skeptical about the Medicaid expansion. Republicans have also been unwilling to get behind the teacher pay raise proposal.