The Florida House passed the 2012-13 state budget Thursday, along party lines.
In a 79-38 vote Republican lawmakers approved the $69.2 billion budget.
The new budget again, slashes vital health care programs to the tune of $54 million and increases higher education tuition by at least 8 percent.
One area that has seen an increase in funding is k-12 education programs of about $1.1 billion.
After major cuts in education funding amounting to nearly $2 billion last year, the current proposed increase in education spending will help restore some of the programs which were cut, officials said.
But House Democratic Leader Ron Saunders (D-Key West) said, he voted “no” on the proposed 2012-13 budget, as it doesn’t adequately address the needs of most Floridians.
“The state spending plan passed by the Florida House today fails to adequately address the needs of the people of Florida,” he said in a statement. “I cannot support a budget that is balanced on the backs of Florida’s middle class and hard-working Floridians.”
Acknowledging that it is a very difficult budget, Saunders said, as crafted, it is a budget that is “robbing Peter to pay Paul,” given that the increases in education funding is coming at the expense of higher tuition and cuts to health care.
“To create jobs and mount a robust economy recovery, Florida should invest in first-rate schools, quality transportation systems, good health care, and provide help for small businesses while maintaining a safety net for the vulnerable,” he said. “Unfortunately, the budget that passed the House of Representatives today will not create the jobs and grow our economy as it should.”
