HARIDOPOLOS: JUDGE CLEARS WAY FOR FED TAKEOVER

Incoming Senate President Mike Haridopolos lashed out Thursday at a judge’s decision to strike a proposed health care amendment from the November ballot, saying it advances a “federal takeover of our state’s health care system.” Leon County Circuit Judge James Shelfer called Amendment 9 “manifestly misleading” to voters.

The measure was pushed by Republican legislative leaders to exempt Florida from the new federal health care law, although Democratic opponents said the proposed amendment would not stop the federal standards from taking effect. “This amendment would have given Floridians an opportunity to exercise their voice and decide whether they want to see a federal takeover of our state’s health care system,” Haridopolos said. “Yet again, Obama and those in Washington continue to cripple our state’s economy by imposing socialized health care that represents a $1 billion unfunded mandate on our state,” he continued.

Haridopolos earlier this week said he plans to lead a three-day, multi-city tour next month aimed at reviving the Legislature’s push to overhaul Medicaid, which now absorbs about one-quarter of the state’s $70.2 billion budget. Shelfer earlier this month struck another proposed constitutional measure, Amendment 7, from the November ballot that Haridopolos had said was needed to clarify other redistricting amendments bound to go before voters.