Just in case you've been living under a rock or walking with your head in the clouds, Florida's economy is in the toilet. The article below from today's Miami Herald should be a clue. Wake up, people. By the time this legislative session is finished, rest assured that the next president of the United States will be a Democrat. The Republicans will continue to get the fall out for continuing to cripple schools and hurting future generations of Floridians.

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STATE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

School, court funds slashed

The state House voted to make more than $500 million in budget cuts, despite appeals from Democrats to spare schools and healthcare.

Posted on Thu, Mar. 06, 2008

BY GARY FINEOUT

[email protected]

HOUSE PHOTO BY MARK FOLEY

Divided sharply along partisan lines, the Florida House on Wednesday voted to slash more than $500 million from public schools, community colleges and the state's courts.

• More news from the Florida Legislature

TALLAHASSEE --

Divided sharply along partisan lines, the Florida House voted Wednesday to slash more than $500 million from public schools, community colleges and the state's courts.

The cuts could result in the closing of at least two centers that try to rehabilitate teenage girls who are arrested, prompt the court system to lay off all temporary workers and force community colleges to eliminate classes.

One of the rehabilitative centers that could close is in South Florida, the Pace Center for Girls in Key West.

PROCEDURAL VOTES

House Democrats pleaded to spare some programs from cuts, and forced Republicans to take procedural votes to emphasize that the conservatives are cutting schools, money for black colleges and healthcare for the poor this election year. [More…]