Message to state lawmakers: Do more for children

Tallahassee, Florida -- Florida is home to an estimated 800,000 children without health insurance and that's one example showing the state is not doing enough for children, according to The Children's Movement of Florida.

On Thursday, members of the group gathered at the state Capitol to deliver a simple message to lawmakers: listen to Floridians.

The group released a new poll that finds 72 percent of voters want legislators to make children their first priority in the upcoming legislative session.

Lawmakers are considering a wide range of deep budget cuts. But The Children's Movement president David Lawrence, Jr. says most voters will remember how politicians treat children on health care, education and mentoring.

"Sixty percent of Republican voters, 70 percent of independents and 83 percent of Democrats support these specific initiatives and would show their support at the polls. All we ask of lawmakers is that they really listen to the parents and the people of Florida."

Some of the goals of The Children's Movement include: getting lawmakers to provide enough funding to add 300,000 children to the state's subsidized health care program, starting universal screening of children who may have special needs and improving the state's prekindergarten program.

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