Florida lawmakers are relying on $2 billion in federal stimulus money to shore up their education budgets, but the state has not even sent its application.

The federal government is waiting. And so are some lawmakers.

On Wednesday, Florida Education Commissioner Eric Smith said that the state has "strategically waited" to get all the right information, although the application "is ready to go, it's complete."

But Smith said he's waiting for "guidance" concerning a waiver application for the federal money. Florida needs the waiver because the state hasn't maintained education spending at 2005-06 levels, as required by the federal stimulus program.

Smith's strategy is coming under fire as the legislative session winds down May 1. That's the same day Smith now expects to get the waiver guidance, which he says his office has been waiting on for weeks.

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