TALLAHASSE, Fla. — A proposal to expand Florida's main private school voucher program continues to have trouble in the Florida Senate.
Democrats on Thursday banded together to block consideration of a House bill that would allow more students become eligible for the program.
It required a supermajority vote to consider the legislation (HB 7167), but supporters came up two votes short in the 40-member Senate.
Florida already has a popular program where nearly 60,000 students from low-income families attend private schools. State figures show that more than 80 percent of the schools participating are religious.
The Florida House has made expanding the voucher program a top priority.
House Speaker Will Weatherford said he still "feels very good" about the bill's prospects.