State budget

Continued from page A1 arts, child-care services and the environment and expanding eligibility for Medicaid coverage.

They unsuccessfully tried Monday to remove $12 million that Republicans plan to provide for transporting migrants to “sanctuary” areas of the country.

Rep. Robin Bartleman, a Weston Democrat who is an educator, raised concerns about a recently signed law (HB 1) that expands voucher programs.

“When we talk about how many people we think are going to take advantage of this, I don’t want to underestimate the fact that 300,000 people have the potential to do so,” Bartleman said.

Rep. Bruce Antone, D-Orlando, expressed concerns that legislation accompanying the vouchers doesn’t include ways to ensure those students “will get a good quality education.”

Antone also voiced a need for the budget to include more funding for urban communities.

“I like the fact that we’re investing in our infrastructure, roads, highways, bridges, what have you,” Antone said. “But we’ve got to put that same energy into those inner-city and urban communities. They’ve been neglected for so long.”