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The South Florida Roundup

Education Bills Highlight Differences Among Republican Leadership

Florida House of Representatives

State Senate President Don Gaetz likes to introduce House Speaker Will Weatherford as the “taller, smarter, better-looking version of the Weatherford-Gaetz” duo. Their alliance has led to the quick passage of legislation like last year's ethics reform package and this year's sex offender bills. But on several education bills, the two diverge.

Gaetz, a former school superintendent, does not support bills to expand the state's voucher program - unless students take standardized tests - or to restrict school districts' ability to negotiate with charter schools: both of these measures are priorities for Weatherford . But while Weatherford takes a staunchly conservative position on issues like expanding Medicaid, which he vocally opposed last year, he supports allowing undocumented immigrants to pay in-state tuition at state universities and colleges, a measure Gaetz does not endorse.

The U.S. Corps of Army Engineers has delayed approval of a $2 billion plan to restore the Everglades. We'll find out why and hear some of the poetry of South Florida from our #ThisIsWhere project. 

Host Tom Hudson speaks with panelists Sammy Mack, Tim Padgett and Alicia Zuckerman of WLRN and Marc Caputo and Jenny Staletovich of the Miami Herald.

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