House Republicans rejected a bipartisan Senate proposal to accept $51 billion in federal health care money on Thursday, diminishing hopes that lawmakers will reach a health care compromise before the legislative session ends next week.
After five hours of targeted questions and impassioned debate, Republicans rejected an attempt by renegade Republican Rep. Mike Fasano to accept the Senate plan to provide federally subsidized health coverage to more than 1 million Floridians.
The New Port Richey Republican urged his colleagues to “follow your heart” and support the Senate plan, but only Democrats joined him. They accused Republicans of rehashing the debate on Obamacare and the national debt, while denying poor constituents access to health care.