REPRESENTATIVE BARBARA WATSON BLASTS HOUSE BUDGET
FOR FAVORING CORPORATIONS OVER KIDS, FAMILIES

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - The Florida House of Representatives is set to begin negotiations this week with the Senate to craft a new state budget that will take effect in July.

The proposed budget that the House approved last week cuts funding for critical education, health care and social service programs. Accordingly, Representative Barbara Watson (D-Miami) voted against the proposal.

"Instead of protecting Florida’s most fragile and vulnerable residents, the proposed budget cuts important programs as an excuse for balancing the budget,” said Representative Barbara Watson, House District 103. “If this budget wins approval, our most dependent populations will be forced to live without a safety net.”

Among state budget cuts in the House proposal are:

· Historically black colleges and universities – 23 percent cut;

· Florida Alliance of Boys & Girls Clubs – funding reduced by 50 percent;

· Vocational rehabilitation, including day care services for disabled adults – 15 percent reduction;

· Eliminates hearing aids for 880,000 adults;

· Reduces funding for Take Stock in Children, a mentoring program created to guide at-risk youth to college;

• Eliminates Black Business Investment Loan Fund; and
• Slashes half the current funding for the YMCA State Alliance reading program for elementary school children.

“This week, our kids are required to take and pass the FCAT. The funding for reading programs helps to prepare struggling students,” said Representative Watson. “Funding must be available for these programs in next year’s budget. Otherwise, the children who access these programs to improve their scores, will no longer have the valid resources that push them to the level of achievement, as a result they will not do as well.” 

The House budget also authorizes the Department of Corrections (DOC) to privatize Miami-Dade and Broward County correctional facilities. This requirement seeks a 7-percent reduction in DOC costs, which will result in the elimination of jobs or replacement of current staff with inexperienced personnel.

“Hundreds of South Florida correctional employees and their families will be negatively impacted by this proposal to privatize correctional safety,” said Representative Watson. “Not to mention, this budget cut does not take into consideration the invaluable safety measures added by having a DOC employee living and working in the community. This budget does create jobs; but only jobs for big corporations.”

Representative Watson, a former Miami Gardens council member, represents the cities of Miami Gardens, Opa-Locka, and Miramar, Florida. To learn more about Representative Watson, visit www.myfloridahouse.gov or call her Tallahassee office at 850-488-0766.