Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

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 […]

Christine Jordan SextonApril 7, 2015

The Senate Health Policy Committee on Tuesday delayed Department of Health Secretary John Armstrong‘s confirmation after he refused to answer Medicaid questions. Panel members asked him whether expanding Medicaid would improve Floridians’ health care outcomes or whether he supported the Senate’s alternative proposal to expand Medicaid. Sen. Aaron Bean asked Armstrong to return soon and […]

Guest AuthorApril 6, 2015

If there was any doubt that House Appropriations Chairman and Speaker-In-Waiting Richard Corcoran is a conservative crusader whose commitment to his principles leaves him indifferent to comity, convention and the nuances of legislative diplomacy, that doubt was laid to rest last week when he went on a rampage through the legislative china shop. It began […]

Guest AuthorApril 6, 2015

If there was any doubt that House Appropriations Chairman and Speaker-In-Waiting Richard Corcoran is a conservative crusader whose commitment to his principles leaves him indifferent to comity, convention and the nuances of legislative diplomacy, that doubt was laid to rest last week when he went on a rampage through the legislative china shop. It began […]

Christine Jordan SextonMarch 31, 2015

Smokers beware: There may be one less place you can light up in the Sunshine State. The Senate Health Policy Committee on Tuesday gave the nod to Sen. Jeff Clemens‘ bill that makes it illegal to smoke cigarettes in a car if there’s a child under 13 traveling in the vehicle. The bill — SB […]

Christine Jordan SextonMarch 23, 2015

The Senate Health Policy Committee on Monday gave the nod to a bill that would restrict contact lens manufacturers from preventing retailers from selling or advertising contact lenses below a set price. The bill, SB 1400 by Sen. Tom Lee, brought lobbyists from Las Vegas, Utah, and Washington, leading former Senate President Don Gaetz to joke that […]

Christine Jordan SextonMarch 23, 2015

The Florida Medical Association is championing a bill that would limit an HMO or insurance company’s ability to limit access to pharmaceuticals or other covered services is being heard by its second committee in the Senate this week. The Senate Health Policy Committee will take up the Right Time Right Place bill, SB 784, when […]

Tag: Don Gaetz
Image via AP.

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

Medicaid questions stall John Armstrong’s confirmation in Senate

Jack Stevenson: House will pay for Richard Corcoran’s Medicaid rant

Jack Stevenson: House will pay for Richard Corcoran's Medicaid rant

Ban on smoking in car with youngsters moves through Senate

Eyeball Wars II: Senate OKs bills letting retailers set price for contacts

FMA priority bill is moving through Senate but it’s lingering in the House