By Billy House
Media General News Service
Media General News Service
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WASHINGTON -- Democrats handed President Barack Obama a huge victory Friday, pushing through both the House and Senate his massive $787 billion economic recovery package of tax cuts and spending that could send as much as $10 billion to Florida.
The House vote was 246-143, with no Republicans joining in support. The Senate later approved the measure Friday night, 60-38, with just three moderate Republicans voting for it. The bill now heads to the president to be signed into law, as early as next week.
That money for Florida includes an added $4.3 billion over two years in federal Medicaid funding, $1.3 billion for highways and bridges, and $1.8 billion toward helping the cash-strapped state address budget shortfalls. That budget-balancing aid come blended into a fund that would also send another $945 million for school repairs and college building construction.
That was enough for GOP Gov. Charlie Crist and Tampa Democrat Rep. Kathy Castor to applaud the package, even before its passage.
“You know, what we were looking at just a few months ago was no stimulus at all. And so, if you compare where we were to where we are now, I'm very, very pleased for my fellow Floridians for that,” Crist said.
Democratic Sen. Bill Nelson, speaking on the Senate floor Friday afternoon, said the bill provides tax cuts for Floridians, increased money for highways and mass transit, provides help for people in need, and that “this is the right thing for Florida.”
And Rep. Allen Boyd of Monticello, one of just 11 House Democrats to vote against the initial House version of the bill, voted in support this time..
“I voted against the original stimulus bill in the House because I knew that we could do better and develop a stimulus bill that was smarter and includes provisions that will truly stimulate and strengthen our economy,” said Boyd.
Florida Republicans Take Aim
There was criticism of the bill from nearly all of the Florida Republicans in Congress, though, none of whom had voted for the initial Senate or House versions, either.
Sen. Mel Martinez, speaking Thursday night on the Senate floor, complained that the bill does little to address the state's housing and unemployment crisis, which he termed Florida's big economic concerns.
By the end of his speech, Martinez also was taking swipes at Crist -- who had appeared at an event with Obama earlier in the week in Ft. Myers, Fla., to help promote the bill -- saying, “My governor would like to see this package pass.
“But I don't know that my governor understands all the details in this package. … At the end of the day, there's not enough largesse that can come to Florida from the federal government to fill the coffer for state needs,” Martinez said.
“It's not creating jobs,” GOP Rep. Gus Bilirakis said of the plan. “It's a huge IOU handed to our children and grandchildren – throwing money against the wall and hoping something sticks.
Rep. Ginny Brown-Waite of Brooksville said constituents are telling her they are concerned about debt produced by the bill. “This is spending gone amok,” she said.
But Castor said the bill represents “great news for Florida families, especially those in our hard-hit Tampa Bay area.”
Among the biggest boosts: Florida is expected to get $4.3 billion over two years in federal Medicaid matching money.
“There are no earmarks in the bill, but this is the granddaddy of all earmarks for Florida,” Castor said.
She and Crist downplayed what has loomed as one potential snag for Florida to qualify for a major funding category that -- with all of its funding streams -- could send well over $$2.7 billion more to the state.
Under the House-Senate accord, as it appears in draft form, Florida technically does not qualify for a share of a $53.4 billion pot of money — mostly for education needs — to help states such as Florida that are facing huge budget deficits.
That's because a state must be funding K-12 and higher education at no less than 2006 levels. States that are not would forfeit their share of the money to other states.
Florida falls $600 million short on that count because it has 30,000 fewer students than in 2006, the biggest drop in public enrollment in the state's history.
Not wasting any time Friday afternoon, both Martinez and Nelson wrote to Education Secretary Arne Duncan pointing out that “the legislation also provides you (the Education Secretary) with the authority to waive this requirement in cases of hardship.”
The two senators asked the secretary for swift help in helping the state obtain a waiver so the state may qualify for the $2.7 billion.
“We believe that your process will include soliciting applications from governors who wish to use State Fiscal Stabilization dollars … we trust that you will evaluate all applications and waiver requests as quickly and prudently as possible,” they wrote.
“Finally, we hope that you will giver serious consideration to states that only fail to meet this requirement because of their unusually high levels of funding in 2006, and to those which have been hit particularly hard by unemployment, foreclosures, and other factors that affect families’ well being,” their letter concludes.
Crist said he is concerned about that but optimistic. “I'm concerned about everything, … but I think we have a very good relationship with this new administration in Washington, and if a waiver might be necessary, I think we would be successful,” he said.
Castor said she does not think getting such a waiver would be a problem.
Here's some of what's in the $787 billion stimulus bill pass by the House and Senate on Friday will bring to Florida.
-- $4.3 billion increase over two years in direct health care money under Medicaid statewide.
-- $1.1 billion increase in food stamp benefits through fiscal year 2013;
-- $9 million for seniors meals programs;
-- $29 million in Community Service Block Grants to local community action agencies, for such things as housing and mortgage-counseling, and food-pantry assistance;
-- $29 million for vocational rehabilitation to help people with disabilities;
-- $85 million through the Public Housing Capital Fund to help housing agencies to address capital needed, including energy efficiency in aging developments;
-- $108 million more for Child Care and Development Block Grants, a program to serve low-income families;
-- $5.1 million in the Emergency Food Assistance Program;
-- $9 million for seniors meals programs;
-- $29 million in Community Service Block Grants to local community action agencies, for such things as housing and mortgage-counseling, and food-pantry assistance;
-- $29 million for vocational rehabilitation to help people with disabilities;
Transportation and Infrastructure
-- $1.3 billion in highway and bridge funding, which can also include rail and port infrastructure projects;
-- $316 million for Transit Formula Funding for mass transit projects statewide;
-- $134 million in Clean Water State Revolving Fund to address backlog of water infrastructure needs;
-- $5.4 million in Fixed-Guideway (rail) modernization;
Education-State Fiscal Stabilization
-- $2.7 billion over two years in education aid for state budget shortfalls (including $661 millionÖ for public school modernization and repairs statewide and $284 millionÖ for campus renovation and repairs;
-- $627 million increase in special education grant money under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA);
-- $509 million more for Title I schools (schools with large numbers of students from struggling families);
-- $935.5 million increase in Florida’s Pell grants;
-- $142 million more for School Improvement grants;
-- $29 million increase in Head Start money to help prepare children for school;
-- $30 million for Educational Technology state grants;
-- $3.1 million in assistance for homeless families of schoolchildren;
-- $4.4 million in National School Lunch Equipment Assistance;
Law Enforcement
-- $ 134 million in Byrne-JAG Grants to support law enforcement;
-- $4.7 million for crime victims compensation and assistance;
-- $2.2 million in grants to law enforcement to help agencies enhance their investigation into internet crimes against children;
-- $9 million in Violence Against Women Grants for victim services programs;
Environment
-- $88 million in the drinking water state revolving fund
Reporter Billy House can be reached at (202) 662-7673. Reporter Catherine Dolinski can be reached at (850) 222-8382.
The House vote was 246-143, with no Republicans joining in support. The Senate later approved the measure Friday night, 60-38, with just three moderate Republicans voting for it. The bill now heads to the president to be signed into law, as early as next week.
That money for Florida includes an added $4.3 billion over two years in federal Medicaid funding, $1.3 billion for highways and bridges, and $1.8 billion toward helping the cash-strapped state address budget shortfalls. That budget-balancing aid come blended into a fund that would also send another $945 million for school repairs and college building construction.
That was enough for GOP Gov. Charlie Crist and Tampa Democrat Rep. Kathy Castor to applaud the package, even before its passage.
“You know, what we were looking at just a few months ago was no stimulus at all. And so, if you compare where we were to where we are now, I'm very, very pleased for my fellow Floridians for that,” Crist said.
Democratic Sen. Bill Nelson, speaking on the Senate floor Friday afternoon, said the bill provides tax cuts for Floridians, increased money for highways and mass transit, provides help for people in need, and that “this is the right thing for Florida.”
And Rep. Allen Boyd of Monticello, one of just 11 House Democrats to vote against the initial House version of the bill, voted in support this time..
“I voted against the original stimulus bill in the House because I knew that we could do better and develop a stimulus bill that was smarter and includes provisions that will truly stimulate and strengthen our economy,” said Boyd.
Florida Republicans Take Aim
There was criticism of the bill from nearly all of the Florida Republicans in Congress, though, none of whom had voted for the initial Senate or House versions, either.
Sen. Mel Martinez, speaking Thursday night on the Senate floor, complained that the bill does little to address the state's housing and unemployment crisis, which he termed Florida's big economic concerns.
By the end of his speech, Martinez also was taking swipes at Crist -- who had appeared at an event with Obama earlier in the week in Ft. Myers, Fla., to help promote the bill -- saying, “My governor would like to see this package pass.
“But I don't know that my governor understands all the details in this package. … At the end of the day, there's not enough largesse that can come to Florida from the federal government to fill the coffer for state needs,” Martinez said.
“It's not creating jobs,” GOP Rep. Gus Bilirakis said of the plan. “It's a huge IOU handed to our children and grandchildren – throwing money against the wall and hoping something sticks.
Rep. Ginny Brown-Waite of Brooksville said constituents are telling her they are concerned about debt produced by the bill. “This is spending gone amok,” she said.
But Castor said the bill represents “great news for Florida families, especially those in our hard-hit Tampa Bay area.”
Among the biggest boosts: Florida is expected to get $4.3 billion over two years in federal Medicaid matching money.
“There are no earmarks in the bill, but this is the granddaddy of all earmarks for Florida,” Castor said.
She and Crist downplayed what has loomed as one potential snag for Florida to qualify for a major funding category that -- with all of its funding streams -- could send well over $$2.7 billion more to the state.
Under the House-Senate accord, as it appears in draft form, Florida technically does not qualify for a share of a $53.4 billion pot of money — mostly for education needs — to help states such as Florida that are facing huge budget deficits.
That's because a state must be funding K-12 and higher education at no less than 2006 levels. States that are not would forfeit their share of the money to other states.
Florida falls $600 million short on that count because it has 30,000 fewer students than in 2006, the biggest drop in public enrollment in the state's history.
Not wasting any time Friday afternoon, both Martinez and Nelson wrote to Education Secretary Arne Duncan pointing out that “the legislation also provides you (the Education Secretary) with the authority to waive this requirement in cases of hardship.”
The two senators asked the secretary for swift help in helping the state obtain a waiver so the state may qualify for the $2.7 billion.
“We believe that your process will include soliciting applications from governors who wish to use State Fiscal Stabilization dollars … we trust that you will evaluate all applications and waiver requests as quickly and prudently as possible,” they wrote.
“Finally, we hope that you will giver serious consideration to states that only fail to meet this requirement because of their unusually high levels of funding in 2006, and to those which have been hit particularly hard by unemployment, foreclosures, and other factors that affect families’ well being,” their letter concludes.
Crist said he is concerned about that but optimistic. “I'm concerned about everything, … but I think we have a very good relationship with this new administration in Washington, and if a waiver might be necessary, I think we would be successful,” he said.
Castor said she does not think getting such a waiver would be a problem.
Here's some of what's in the $787 billion stimulus bill pass by the House and Senate on Friday will bring to Florida.
-- $4.3 billion increase over two years in direct health care money under Medicaid statewide.
-- $1.1 billion increase in food stamp benefits through fiscal year 2013;
-- $9 million for seniors meals programs;
-- $29 million in Community Service Block Grants to local community action agencies, for such things as housing and mortgage-counseling, and food-pantry assistance;
-- $29 million for vocational rehabilitation to help people with disabilities;
-- $85 million through the Public Housing Capital Fund to help housing agencies to address capital needed, including energy efficiency in aging developments;
-- $108 million more for Child Care and Development Block Grants, a program to serve low-income families;
-- $5.1 million in the Emergency Food Assistance Program;
-- $9 million for seniors meals programs;
-- $29 million in Community Service Block Grants to local community action agencies, for such things as housing and mortgage-counseling, and food-pantry assistance;
-- $29 million for vocational rehabilitation to help people with disabilities;
Transportation and Infrastructure
-- $1.3 billion in highway and bridge funding, which can also include rail and port infrastructure projects;
-- $316 million for Transit Formula Funding for mass transit projects statewide;
-- $134 million in Clean Water State Revolving Fund to address backlog of water infrastructure needs;
-- $5.4 million in Fixed-Guideway (rail) modernization;
Education-State Fiscal Stabilization
-- $2.7 billion over two years in education aid for state budget shortfalls (including $661 millionÖ for public school modernization and repairs statewide and $284 millionÖ for campus renovation and repairs;
-- $627 million increase in special education grant money under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA);
-- $509 million more for Title I schools (schools with large numbers of students from struggling families);
-- $935.5 million increase in Florida’s Pell grants;
-- $142 million more for School Improvement grants;
-- $29 million increase in Head Start money to help prepare children for school;
-- $30 million for Educational Technology state grants;
-- $3.1 million in assistance for homeless families of schoolchildren;
-- $4.4 million in National School Lunch Equipment Assistance;
Law Enforcement
-- $ 134 million in Byrne-JAG Grants to support law enforcement;
-- $4.7 million for crime victims compensation and assistance;
-- $2.2 million in grants to law enforcement to help agencies enhance their investigation into internet crimes against children;
-- $9 million in Violence Against Women Grants for victim services programs;
Environment
-- $88 million in the drinking water state revolving fund
Reporter Billy House can be reached at (202) 662-7673. Reporter Catherine Dolinski can be reached at (850) 222-8382.