Shutdown blame game erupts as María Elvira Salazar challengers tie standoff to health care costs

With a federal shutdown now underway after Senate Democrats blocked a Republican stopgap bill , the fight over funding has spilled into Florida’s 27th Congressional District.

Republican U.S. Rep. María Elvira Salazar’s Democratic challengers are accusing her of siding with party leaders over constituents. Richard Lamondin , a Miami entrepreneur running to unseat Salazar, said she and GOP leaders “chose wrong” by refusing to negotiate on health provisions Democrats want tied to the funding bill.

“By refusing to come to the table, they let the government shut down and left Medicaid and health insurance funding hanging in the balance — forcing seniors, parents and children in Miami to pay the price,” he said in a statement.

“I’ll do what Salazar and her party refuse to do: protect