TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) - A Florida House committee has passed a bill that would offer health insurance to 115,000 residents and rely on $237 million in state funds.
Angry Democrats chided lawmakers Monday for turning down tens of billions of federal dollars.
Republican Rep. Mike Fasano felt so strongly about the House's anemic plan that he crafted an amendment that would take the federal money and expand health coverage to about 1.1 million residents.
But Fasano's amendment was quickly voted down. Although a similar proposal by Sen. Joe Negron is gaining traction in the Senate.
Republicans said they don't want to rely on federal dollars and worry the feds will back out of their deal to pay for 100 percent of the Affordable Care Act for the first three years.
