If anyone can track the $20 million Florida supposedly missed out on for its KidCare program, let me know. Children's advocates have said the program's rolls are too low, and because of that the state lost $20 million in federal funds in 2006, money that went to other states.
But Rose Naff, executive director of Florida Healthy Kids Corp., said the agency was on course to spend the $20 million, but Congress took it prematurely because other states had overspent their funds.
Well, according to freshman Florida Congressman Ron Klein, D-Boca Raton, the federal government will fund the program, which gives health insurance for working-class families, according to how much the state will pony up.
"Leadership in Tallahassee has never properly funded this," said Klein, a former state senator from Delray Beach, in a recent phone call. "Florida leaves millions in Washington."
In short, Klein said if Florida puts up less money, Washington gives them less money.
He found it hard to believe Congress would take Florida's KidCare money prematurely because other states had overspent their funds.
The state Senate and House are now debating whether to give KidCare more money.
Meanwhile, Klein takes the legislators to task: "Florida has to make the statement they want to fund more kids. They need to step up."