House Democrats Oppose Proposed Budget Cuts

With deep concerns about the fate of vital programs for children’s health, nursing home care, public safety, tourism promotion, the environment, and public schools, Florida House Democrats on Friday voiced stern opposition to the short-sighted, across-the-board spending cuts that Republicans approved without debate on alternatives like cutting waste or closing special-interest tax loopholes.

House Democrats have been rebuffed this special session in their attempts to offer meaningful solutions and have warned that House Republicans’ actions on the budget could have lasting unintended consequences, such as the loss of federal revenues, job cuts, and a further slowdown in tourism business.

Among drastic results, the Republican-backed House budget proposal:

Slashes nearly $500 million in public school spending.

Puts more school districts on the verge of financial collapse.

Eliminates $70 million in nursing home funding that will affect the quality of life and safety for seniors.

Injures Florida’s efforts to grow the economy through tourism promotion with major cuts to the Visit Florida program.

Raids the Lawton Chiles Endowment Fund in a penny-wise, pound-foolish move that will jeopardize the future of children’s health care.

“The House Republican budget takes from seniors, the frail and the vulnerable,” said Representative Kelly Skidmore, the Democratic Ranking Member on the House Appropriations Council on General Government and Health Care. “We didn’t eliminate funding from programs that are not mission critical. That would have been responsible. What’s worse, we didn’t take time to evaluate our entire revenue structure. We stubbornly refused to admit that the tax policies of the prior Republican administration led us to this crisis.”