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Staff ReportsJune 11, 2015

The Senate Appropriations Committee on Thursday passed a $400 million tax package reduction, absent the direction of Chairman Sen. Tom Lee who was preparing for a noon budget meeting with House counterpart Richard Corcoran. HB 33A was placed on the Senate Special Order Calendar so it will be on second reading Friday, the end of […]

Christine Jordan SextonJune 11, 2015

There could be courtroom drama next week in Gov. Rick Scott’s lawsuit against the federal government over the fate of $2 billion in supplemental Medicaid money known as Low Income Pool. It was expected that oral arguments would be held on June 19 in the fast-moving lawsuit. However, Chief Judge M. Casey Rodgers issued an […]

Christine Jordan SextonJune 10, 2015

A move to require the federal government to enter mediation with Florida over the future of the Low Income Pool was shot down by a federal court in Pensacola on Wednesday. Gov. Rick Scott issued a statement saying his administration will “continue to fight for this important funding for low income families any and every […]

Christine Jordan SextonJune 8, 2015

A federal court in Pensacola is ordering the Obama administration to respond to Florida’s request to have its dispute with the federal government over the continuation of Low Income Pool dollars mediated. In a brief one-page order Chief Judge M. Casey Rodgers said before ruling on Florida’s request for mediation the federal government needed to […]

Christine Jordan SextonJune 8, 2015

Senate budget Chief Tom Lee said on Monday the House is “doing the bidding” of Gov. Rick Scott in pushing to increase funds to Enterprise Florida. The remarks followed Sen. Jack Latvala‘s abrupt move to adjourn the Tourism and Economic Development budget conferee meeting early Monday morning just minutes into the meeting and as the House […]

Christine Jordan SextonJune 8, 2015

As lawmakers work on a 2015-16 spending plan with a $1 billion Low Income Pool for health care spending, Gov. Rick Scott continues to push for more money and is looking to the courts to help him get it. On Monday, attorneys for the governor filed a five-page motion with the federal court in Pensacola […]

Christine Jordan SextonJune 6, 2015

After making quick progress early on Saturday, legislative health care budget writers announced at 4 p.m. they won’t meet again until Sunday. House and Senate legislative leaders have agreed to pour $400 million in recurring general revenue into hospitals in an attempt to absorb the loss of $1 billion in supplemental Medicaid funding known as […]

Christine Jordan SextonJune 6, 2015

Budget conferees have agreed to target $400 million in recurring general revenue to hospitals and, as of Saturday morning, to not fund graduate medical education. Eliminating the funding — a $100 million concession for the Florida Senate — is a “work in progress” Sen. Rene Garcia said. Rep. Matt Hudson quickly agreed. “It’s certainly not off […]

Christine Jordan SextonJune 5, 2015

The Florida Senate was in session for less than five minutes on Friday before adjourning. Senate President Andy Gardiner announced that the House and Senate had agreed to budget allocations and that the two chambers would begin hammering out the differences in the proposed spending plans for the 2015-16 fiscal year beginning at 9 a.m. […]

Christine Jordan SextonJune 5, 2015

A federal court in Pensacola has scheduled a hearing on Gov. Rick Scott‘s lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and preliminary injunction to require the federal government to keep Low Income Pool funding at more than $2 billion. The hearing in Scott v. Department of Health and Human Services is scheduled […]

Tag: low income pool
Mike Johnson. Image via AP.

Senate panel OKs $400 million tax package; budget chairs meet at high noon

Rick Scott’s LIP lawsuit could draw him into courtroom next week

Court rejects Rick Scott’s request for mediation on LIP funding

Federal judge tells Obama administration it must respond to Fla’s request for mediation by noon, Tuesday

Tom Lee says House is “doing the bidding” of Rick Scott on Enterprise Florida funding

Rick Scott demands mediation in Medicaid lawsuit with feds as lawmakers craft budget

Rick Scott’s office on health care funding: “We are continuing to watch the process”

Chambers agree to $400 million in general revenue to hospitals, zero for doctor training (for now)

Finally … chambers set for Saturday conference on budget

Federal judge schedules hearing on Rick Scott’s Low Income Pool lawsuit