Florida lawmakers want to cut Ayala's budget by $1.3 million

Republicans in the Florida House want to cut the budget of Orange-Osceola State Attorney Aramis Ayala by almost $1.3 million after her controversial decision not to seek the death penalty during her administration.

The proposed budget from House Judiciary Appropriations Subcommittee would eliminate millions from Ayala's budget and 21 positions in the Ninth Circuit's State Attorney's Office.

The funds and positions were reassigned to a lump sum appropriation category for state attorneys who have been reassigned death penalty cases and have additional costs.

The Orlando Sentinel reports Longwood Republican Scott Plakon, who is on the committee, proposed slashing Ayala's budget after he called her decision "lawlessness."

Ayala came under fire earlier this month after she announced she wouldn't seek the death penalty in the case of murder suspect Markeith Loyd or any other cases during her tenure. Markeith Loyd is suspected of killing his pregnant ex-girlfriend Sade Dixon and Orlando Police Lt. Debra Clayton.

After Ayala refused to recuse herself from the case, Gov. Rick Scott removed her and appointed Fifth Circuit State Attorney Brad King to replace her. Ayala, the first African-American state attorney elected in Florida, has argued that the governor does not have the authority to remove her from Loyd's case.