Florida lawmakers worked Wednesday to prepare spending plans for the budget years which begins on July 1. House members complained about funding for Planned Parenthood while senators readied a reduction in education property taxes.
In the House there is frequent heated discussions about the budget. The Republican majority fought off amendments from Democrats that would have authorized the purchase of 153,000 acres of land in the Everglades.A major clash broke out over a provision that would bar any money from flowing to Planned Parenthood. No state revenue goes to Planned Parenthood but a handful of county health departments have used federal funds to contract with the organization.
Federal funds are not allowed to be used to cover abortions.
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Budget-writers were guarded about their reasoning for the ban on funding for the organization even thought the Democrats continued to ask them for an explanation.
Health Care Appropriations Chairman Matt Hudson (R-Naples) said:
This is a matter of legislative authority. We have a choice. . . given the fact that we had never expressively said to fund them, when you see that happening. I think it’s incumbent upon us as a Legislature to say, ‘hey, no, that’s not what we want to do.'”
Democrats said the move was partisan and it was copied from Congress which recently unsuccessfully tried to defund Planned Parenthood.
Representative Jared Moskowitx (D-Coral Springs) said:
I constantly hear how much better we are from the majority in Washington. Apparently we are no better than them.
