Yesterday, Gov. Rick Scott signed the stateās $70 billion while vetoing $142.7 million line-items. While some health care items were eliminated, one budget line that funds a breast and cervical cancer detection program survived the round of cuts.
Scottās cuts included millions of dollars worth of funding in health programs, water projects and college and university projectsĀ recommendedĀ by Tax Watch,Ā a nonprofit critical of government spending.
Among the programs the groupĀ recommendedĀ be cut wasĀ $1,236,473 in funding for a statewideĀ Mary Brogan Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program.
According to the release of Scottās vetoes yesterday, that funding will remain intact.
The American Cancer Association sent an email blast to supporters yesterday notifying them that the funding was saved:
Earlier today Governor Rick Scott signed the state budget for the new fiscal year beginning July 1st, and it includes $1.24 million to the Florida Department of Health for screening through the Mary Brogan Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program. As you know, this is good news because we were concerned we could lose our top legislative priority for the year, a hard-fought mission victory, to a veto. Because of this important win, more cancers will be detected at an earlier, more treatable stage and lives will be saved.
The Association also thanked Florida Rep. Chris Dorworth, R-Lake Mary, who appropriated state money for the program āfor the first time ever,ā the group reported.
Other projects were not so lucky.
Among Scottās vetoes yesterday was funding for a community health center in Apopka for mostly migrant farmworkers and residents who are experiencing illnesses caused by years of pesticide use in the area. This is the second time Scott has cut this funding.
Scott also vetoed $250,000 forĀ Camillus House, a South Florida nonprofit āthat provides humanitarian services to men, women and children who are poor and homeless,ā among many other programs.
