UPDATE: An amendment to remove the language failed 14-16 on mostly party lines. It failed in the Senate as well. House Democrats also failed to advance an amendment that would have made the low-income senior tax break (which will cost $2.6-billion over four years and cut into school budgets) a local option.

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A provision of the tax proposal that would allow the Legislature to limit the taxing authority of local government is drawing bipartisan fire in the House this morning.

"It's demeaning and in some ways insulting to our legislative partners," said Rep. Dick Kravitz, R-Jacksonville, a former city council member. Said Rep. Jack Seiler, D-Wilton Manors: "I am amazed by our arrogance in doing this ... This flies in the face of home rule."

The clause states, "By general law, the legislature shall limit the authority of counties, municipalities and special districts to increase ad valorem taxes." Similar language was inserted into the previous amendment, drawing complaints from cities and counties that it violates a constitutional authority over establishing millage rates.

Rep. Dean Cannon, R-Winter Park defended the measure. Limits imposed under the rollback in June worked to cut more than $2-billion in taxes at a local level, he said. The dispute arose in the lawsuit over the previous constitutional amendment, but a circuit judge ruled against Weston Mayor Eric Hersh on that score. Hersh is considering an appeal.