House Democratic Leader Statement Regarding Failed Republican Attack On Health Reform

TALLAHASSEE, FL – Florida House Democratic Leader Franklin Sands (D-Weston) issued the following statement regarding today’s decision by Leon Circuit Judge James O. Shelfer to throw off the ballot a proposed constitutional amendment dealing with federal health reform: “It is a victory for all Floridians, including our state’s 4 million uninsured residents, that a judge has removed from the November ballot a proposed constitutional amendment that would have blocked the state from implementing health care reforms proposed by President Barack Obama and approved by Congress. “I commend Judge James Shelfer for exercising sound judgment. This time it’s the people who win despite wrong-headed attempts by Republican state lawmakers and Attorney General Bill McCollum to deny Floridians needed health coverage. “It is quite sad that Republican legislative leaders have wasted so much time and effort trying to prevent Floridians from benefiting from the federal health care plan. With these types of actions, they continue to try to make life difficult for hard-working Floridians. “I am grateful for today’s decision because the benefits of federal health reforms for our state are enormous, not the least of which will be a reduction in the high costs that every Floridian pays to operate emergency rooms where Florida’s uninsured are so often treated.”

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