Les Neuhaus, Author at Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Les NeuhausMarch 13, 2017

A bill that would require drug testing for adults of families previously convicted of drug offenses who are applying for temporary family assistance from the state of Florida passed a House committee Monday. Sponsored by Rep. Chris Latvala, the bill – HB 1117 — would mandate the Department of Children and Families (DCF) to give […]

Les NeuhausMarch 13, 2017

A documentary film about Florida’s privatized child welfare and fostering programs — made by a Guardian ad Litem and filmmaker from Palm Beach — casts a draconian look at what happens to children when they are taken from abusive situations at home and become dependents of the state, at taxpayer expense, often to their peril. […]

Les NeuhausMarch 10, 2017

Five minutes could’ve been enough time for a deadly mistake to happen, a parent was reported saying after it was revealed one of the teachers at her toddler’s daycare class in Hobe Sound, Florida, had fallen asleep during class – in the class – as a second teacher was gone in a bathroom, leaving the […]

Les NeuhausMarch 10, 2017

When the Florida House of Representatives voted Friday to do away with the much-embattled Florida Enterprise – the program Gov. Rick Scott loyally supported and, oppositely, Speaker Richard Corcoran virulently chided – special interest groups who had worked tirelessly for its eradication jumped for joy. None celebrated more than the Florida branch of Americans for […]

Les NeuhausMarch 10, 2017

A couple living in southwest Florida have been charged in Alabama with 727 counts of sexual crimes and physical abuses against their 11 adopted and foster children, law enforcement officials in both states told FloridaPolitics.com Friday. Police in both states are calling it the most shocking case they’ve ever seen. “I’ve been working sex crimes […]

Les NeuhausMarch 9, 2017

Florida has proved to be one of the most effective states in the nation last year for recovering Medicaid fraud money. A report issued by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services revealed Florida recovered more than $165 million in otherwise lost funds through fraudulent Medicaid cases during fiscal year 2015-2016, the state’s attorney […]

Les NeuhausMarch 9, 2017

All the red flags were there. There was a toddler with medical needs; a medically untrained, first-time foster parent with occasional problems falling behind on rent and a possible need for extra income in raising her two biological children; and multiple visits to the hospital, according to news reports and information gathered independently by FloridaPolitics.com […]

Les NeuhausMarch 9, 2017

A consultant with more than two decades’ experience working with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) was arrested and charged with grand theft and organized scheme to defraud the state government, a spokesperson confirmed Thursday. John Leland Goelz, a non-sworn technical consultant to the FDLE for 23 years, oversaw the cellphones used by agents […]

Les NeuhausMarch 9, 2017

Attorneys representing the Department of Children and Families (DCF) told a Miami foster care judge on Wednesday they did not lie, but made a “simple mistake” when they gave faulty information about a girl who may have witnessed the suicide of another child in their foster home, according to a newspaper. The Miami Herald reported on the tense […]

Les NeuhausMarch 8, 2017

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A mother and father have had enough of their neighbors’ drug-dealing, late-night romps that devolve from friendly partying into “screaming matches,” court records in a lawsuit filed in early March indicate. Jose and Lisa Alecia, with their two children, are homeowners in the Gibsonton neighborhood, located in Hillsborough County outside of Tampa, are seeking $75,000 […]

Les Neuhaus
Image via AP.

House committee OK’s bill to drug test temporary family aid seekers

‘Foster Shock’ documentary takes Florida’s privatized child welfare system to task

Teacher fell asleep during school, leaving toddlers unsupervised

Special-interest groups rejoice Enterprise Florida House vote; call for Senate death knell

Florida couple face ‘shocking’ 700+ counts of abuse against fostered, adopted children

Pam Bondi touts $165 million recovered by state’s Medicaid fraud unit

New details emerge in case of foster mother charged in murder of Tampa-area toddler

FDLE consultant arrested in fraud scheme

Lawyers for DCF contend agency didn’t lie to South Florida court; made ‘mistake’

Family complains about noisy, alleged drug-dealing neighbors; gets DCF-style investigation by Sheriff’s office