Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Christine Jordan SextonApril 23, 2015

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The Senate Appropriations Committee quickly moved a health care train Thursday with little-to-no debate. The underlying nursing bill became a “train” after the committee tagged on two House priorities: direct primary care and site selection for new veteran nursing homes or HBs 7047 and 7045, respectively. Both bills were developed by the House Health Innovation Subcommittee. […]

Mitch PerryApril 21, 2015

A week ago I spoke with someone close to David Jolly about the Pinellas County congressman taking time to consider a candidacy for the U.S. Senate in 2016. The still-newbie Republican U.S. Representative has a number of pros and cons to contemplate before making such a momentous career decision. The biggest downside is the real […]

Christine Jordan SextonApril 20, 2015

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A Senate committee tagged a controversial health care bill to a measure expanding the scope of practice for Florida’s nurses, a priority for the Florida House this year. The Senate Rules Committee on Monday committee agreed to tack on an amendment to CS/CS/SB 614 that would allow doctors to override step therapy protocols within 24 hours if a […]

Christine Jordan SextonApril 15, 2015

The Senate Ethics and Elections Committee voted 8-1 to approve Liz Dudek‘s appointment as head of the state Agency for Health Care Administration but only after she answered more than an hour’s worth of questions regarding Low Income Pool funding, Medicaid expansion and how negotiations are evolving with the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. […]

Ryan RayApril 15, 2015

A lengthy debate over a lobbying ethics reform bill ended with with former Senate President Don Gaetz moving to TP his own bill. The proposal — Gaetz’s SB 1372 — would tighten many restrictions on lobbying in Florida. Most notably, it would hold Gov. Rick Scott‘s brainchild — Enterprise Florida Inc., housed within another Scott innovation in […]

Mitch PerryApril 15, 2015

Although David Jolly has now publicly stated that he won’t make an official decision about leaving his congressional seat to run for the U.S. Senate until the Fourth of July holiday, you can bet he and his advisers are weighing the pros and cons of such a decision right now. One of his calculations simply has to […]

Drew WilsonApril 14, 2015

Gov. Rick Scott signed HB 7069 Tuesday, reducing the number of tests Florida public school students take as well as making changes to teacher evaluations and school year start dates. “This legislation reduces the number of tests our students take, including the 11th grade English Language Arts test that we eliminated this year through an […]

James CallApril 9, 2015

Licenses to grow and dispense medicinal cannabis under last year’s “Charlotte’s Web” law may be coming soon. The Department of Health would award licenses for medicinal marijuana 75 days after a Charlotte’s Web glitch bill becomes law, according to SPB 7066, a proposal approved Thursday by the Senate Rules Committee. Rules was SPB 7066’s last […]

Christine Jordan SextonApril 8, 2015

The Florida Senate isn’t going to play games with Gov. Rick Scott’s executive appointments in the wake of the Medicaid meltdown that is occurring in Tallahassee. Senate President Andy Gardiner on Wednesday told reporters that he holds Agency for Health Care Administration Secretary Liz Dudek in high regard and doesn’t see her nomination to run […]

Mitch PerryApril 8, 2015

The Florida Senate Wednesday passed an adoption bill that would provide financial assistance to public employees to encourage them to adopt foster and special needs children in the Sunshine State who need parents. Sponsored by Niceville Republican Don Gaetz, the bill survived serious opposition led by Lakeland Republican Kelli Stargel, who seized on a bill provision passed in […]

Tag: Don Gaetz
Helene, early Sept. 27. Image via NOAA via AP.

Senate panel OKs nursing bill; it’s now a health care train

Mitch Perry Report for 4.21.15 — Senate in ’16 odds looking better for David Jolly?

Step therapy amendment added to latest health care train bill

Senate grills, then confirms, AHCA Secretary Liz Dudek

Lobbying ethics bill stumbles in Senate Rules

How CD 13 race might shake out if David Jolly runs for U.S. Senate

Rick Scott signs bill to cut school testing

Senate Rules committee approves Charlotte’s Web fix

Andy Gardiner says Senate won’t play games with executive appointments

Senate defeats proposal to ban gay adoptions