Peter Schorsch
The Miami-Dade delegation approved its list of legislative priorities this past week, agreeing to stand behind a wide array of issues, from final funding for a Miami Military Museum, to beefing up funding for community mental health providers, to supporting efforts to grant additional protection to policyholders taken out of Citizens property insurance.
The Miami-Dade delegation met in Tallahassee to vote on the priorities. All items making the list had unanimous support of the delegation members in attendance, delegation director Erica Chanti said.
In a press release Miami-Dade County delegation chairwoman Sen. Anitere Flores said the delegation made protecting the safety net hospitals, securing funding for public institutions of higher education, and protecting customers from higher homeowners insurance rates were among the delegation’s top priorities.
“I am proud that our diverse delegation is able to come together to advocate for the issues that are most important to the residents of Miami-Dade County,” she said.
South Florida lobbyist Ron Book has several proposals included on the list, including funding for Jackson Health Systems — which includes six hospitals, 12 specialty-care centers and two long-term care centers, health clinics and pharmacies — and Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center. The list also includes, “opposition to changes in Medicaid enrollees formula or any other cost shifts to Miami-Dade in Medicaid contribution,” which also benefits Jackson.
Making the list, he said, means “the full delegation using its resources” will promote the effort. It also means the project has community-wide appeal and support.
Two issues the delegation didn’t include in its final list: financial incentives for films and a allowing smaller municipalities to regulate or ban disposable plastic bags in a pilot project.
