Reactions from Democrats and Progressives to the 2013 Legislative session:
Statement from Progress Florida executive director Mark Ferrulo:
"In dissecting the 2013 legislative session, one thing is clear, Florida has the wrong leaders with the wrong priorities. Floridians want effective and efficient government that improves our quality of life and protects the middle class. What Republican leadership delivered was a 60 day corporate special interest feeding frenzy.
"Floridians want economic fairness, quality public schools and access to health care. What we got instead was a refusal to expand access to health care, more attacks on our public schools, and hundreds of millions in corporate tax giveaways.
"Not only did Gov. Scott and legislative leaders ignore the priorities of working families, they doubled down on a commitment to govern from the far right and at the beck and call of corporate donors."
STATEMENT FROM FL DEMS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR SCOTT ARCENEAUX:
"The 2013 legislative session was a loss for Florida's middle class. It will best be remembered for Governor Rick Scott and House Speaker Will Weatherford's complete failure to expand affordable healthcare to 1.2 million Floridians. Weatherford placed such a premium on catering to the Tea Party that he rejected federal funding and the creation of over 120,000 permanent jobs that Medicaid's expansion would have brought to our state. Scott, who reversed his position on expanding Medicaid just before session, proved that when he said he 'cannot, in good conscience, deny the uninsured access to care,' it was nothing more than an electioneering gimmick. Health care costs for every Floridan will now go up as a result.
"The Governor refused to lead on this issue and sat silently by as Will Weatherford and House Republicans put politics before a morally and economically sensible policy. The GOP-led House instead spent their time on divisive social issues and doling out hundreds of millions in corporate tax giveaways. With thousands of lives on the line, this refusal to act in the best interests of the people of Florida is unconscionable."
Democratic Leader Perry Thurston Calls For A Special Session:
THURSTON: ‘Governor Scott, please order the Florida Legislature into special session’
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – The Florida Legislature adjourned the 2013 regular legislative session Sine Die on May 3 without adequately addressing a crisis of uninsured Floridians. House Democratic Leader Perry Thurston (D-Fort Lauderdale) issued the following statement:
“To save lives and improve health outcomes, to create jobs and grow our economy, Florida House Democratic Caucus members proudly fought throughout the 2013 legislative session, and will continue to fight, for an expansion of health care coverage for working Floridians.
“Unfortunately for our state, the Florida House of Representatives, under Republican leadership, failed to meet the health care needs of our citizens.
“Despite ample opportunities to pass a bipartisan health care solution that enjoys the backing of Republican Governor Rick Scott and the Florida Senate, House Republican leadership dropped the ball.
“By blocking passage this session of a plan that would dramatically help 1.2 million of Florida’s low-income and working families, many Floridians are disappointed and will continue, despite the session’s end, to expect the governor and Legislature to approve a bipartisan health coverage expansion compromise that relies upon available federal funds.
“Therefore, I call on Governor Scott to take prudent action and to please order the Florida Legislature into special session at the earliest convenience to pass a bipartisan health coverage expansion plan for Florida’s working families.”
Rep. Mark Pafford (D-West Palm Beach), From the Miami Herald:
Rep. Mark Pafford, D-West Palm Beach, said it was difficult to address Florida’s needs when more than a third of the budget is tied up in trust funds that restrict spending to specific line items. That millions get reserved for street beautifications while other health care and elderly care needs go unmet is not acceptable, he said.
“The budget is not plugged into the reality of what’s happening outside this chamber,” Pafford said.
From "Protest" To Praise: Florida Democrats Cave To Republicans, Again
“I would like to thank Mr. Speaker for a bipartisan affair,” said state Rep. Irv Slosberg, D-Boca Raton. “Sorry we had a meltdown for a little bit, but we are real happy.”
