They cited the same legal arguments that resulted in another judge's decision stopping the privatization of 29 South Florida prison facilities. The Legislature was ruled in violation of the Florida Constitution because it made that policy decision through a budget provision rather than by passing a stand-alone law.

The unions contend the health care privatization plan likewise violated a constitutional provision limiting each bill to a single subject to prohibit what's known as "log rolling." It's the practice of attaching unrelated provisions, which may not be able pass on their own, to more popular or important measures such as the must-pass budget.

"No matter how wise it may be to privatize health care services in whole or in part, that was never vetted through the normal legislative process," said plaintiffs' lawyer Thomas Brooks. "That is the evil that the single subject rule is designed to prevent."