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House Democratic Leader Mark Pafford laments ‘missed opportunities’ in budget

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A final vote on the record-breaking $79 billion budget Friday evening brought a disappointing end to Florida’s 2015 Legislative Session, according to House Democratic Leader Mark Pafford. “I think of all the missed opportunities,” said the West Palm Beach Democrat, who faces term limits in 2016. “As much as this budget funds many good programs and projects, he added. “Our issue is with what might have been.” The House passed a last-minute spending plan 96-17 at just about 6 p.m., a…

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A roundup of comments from FHIX supporters following Friday’s vote

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Moments after the House voted down a bipartisan plan to expand access to health care for hundreds of thousands of Floridians, those championing the efforts lamented the missed opportunity. Senate President Andy Gardiner issued a statement noting that: “The critical healthcare challenges facing Florida still remain. This weekend, members of the Legislature will begin a budget conference where we will take hundreds of millions in general revenue that could have been dedicated to schools, roads, our environment or countless other priorities…

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Senate’s FHIX 2.0 proposal advances in the House — for now

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After an hours-long procession of skeptical questions from House Republicans, state Rep. Mia Jones led the Senate’s so-called “FHIX 2.0” bill — SB 2A, a bill to expand health coverage to Florida’s more than 800,000 uninsured via private plans largely funded by the federal government — to a procedural milestone, as the bill was rolled over for a 3rd reading, in legis-speak. “Today’s debate made it clear that there are still a lot of questions among members — some legitimate, some…

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Mark Pafford’s wife ends 2016 bid for HD 86

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Tracy Pafford, wife of House Minority Leader Mark Pafford, has ended the 2016 campaign to replace her term-limited husband in House District 86. In January, Tracy Pafford filed a Democratic campaign account for the seat, which covers parts of Palm Beach County. Since then, the Palm Beach Post reports that Pafford received endorsements from Palm Beach County Commissioner Paulette Burdick, Tax Collector Anne Gannon, County Clerk/Comptroller Sharon Bock. Pafford, in interviews with reporters, on her campaign website and Facebook page,…

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While lawmakers feud, Rick Scott visits Ferris wheel, Wawa

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When it became clear that the House and Senate wouldn’t agree on a budget, Republican Gov. Rick Scott was in California trying to get shipping companies to move to Florida. And when the Legislature was at the point of no return to either pass a budget or go home without completing the one task it’s legally required to do each year, Scott was at a Wawa gas station opening in Fort Myers. When the Senate threatened Wednesday to bring legal…

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Democrat Jeff Clemens declines run for Patrick Murphy’s seat in Congress

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Saying he is opting to turn down a “huge pay raise,” Democratic state Sen. Jeff Clemens has announced he will not seek the 18th Congressional District seat being vacated by U.S. Rep. Patrick Murphy. “Why would I run for Congress, when Tallahassee has become so entertaining lately?” asked Clemens, referring to the chain reaction of mistrust and bitterness that arose in the wake of House Speaker Steve Crisafulli‘s recent abrupt withdrawal from the legislative process three days early. “Besides, I have…

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Democrats blast Steve Crisafulli’s decision to end Florida House session 3 days early

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Although the budget impasse between the Legislature that led Speaker Steve Crisafulli to dismiss the House this afternoon illustrates the enmity between Republicans in the House & Senate, Democrats who have been advocating for the state to expand Medicaid coverage are happy to bash Crisafulli. “Today, the House leadership and the majority party failed Floridians,” said New Port Richey Democratic state Rep. Amanda Murphy. “As elected officials, we have one constitutionally required obligation: to pass a balanced budget. Leadership today unilaterally…

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