Florida lawmakers face tough cuts in services for poor, seriously ill, elderly

[flashl]

To close a $3 billion gap, GOP lawmakers target many programs.

Dentures and hearing aids for the poor.

Money for hospitals and nursing homes caring for the frailest Floridians.

Payments to group homes. Even health coverage for those awaiting lifesaving organ transplants.

All are part of a grim roster of state services facing deep cuts or outright elimination under spending plans taking shape Thursday in the House and Senate.

Struggling to close a $3 billion budget gap without raising taxes, Republican lawmakers slashed into dozens of programs serving the poor, seriously ill and elderly.

"It's a tough call when you have to allocate resources you just don't have enough of," said Rep. Aaron Bean, R-Fernandina Beach, chairman of the House Health and Human Services budget committee, which outlined $1.1 billion in state spending cuts Thursday.

Orlando Sentinel

It seems the budget dialogs never include legislators agonizing over whether to remove tax shelters for their business associates.

[bobbolink]

1. "budget dialogs never include legislators agonizing over whether to remove tax shelters "

You got it.

And you sure don't see local Dems pushing, right?

:(

We're responsible for letting it all happen...

[kdmorris]

2. And who didn't see this shit coming the minute

they jammed that stupid "property tax reform" bill down our throats? This was the plan all along. And 62% of Floridians went out and said "OK, sounds good!! As long as I get my tax break!!"

Fuck the poor, fuck the schools, fuck the fire department and police department. That's what everyone who voted for that piece of shit bill was saying when they voted for it.

I knew it was going to pass. And, yet, somehow, I was still shocked when it happened.

[bobbolink]

3. They need to provide euthanasia for those of us they want to exterminate.

Instead of just leaving us to suffer.

Let us opt out.

[kdmorris]

4. That would force them to admit that they are doing it

It's so much easier for them to pretend that the poor don't exist.