Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

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 […]

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 […]

James CallMarch 19, 2015

Stephen R. Wise served 25 years as a lawmaker, first elected to the state House of Representatives in 1989 and term-limited out of the Senate in 2014. Wise was a skillful lawmaker in the area of education, as chairman of both education appropriation and policy committees he would hold up bills until he thought them ready […]

James CallMarch 17, 2015

There’s a development in the Gerald Bailey affair I want to tell you about, but first its FSU Day. Not that I attended the school or anything, but if I’m put on a beat it’s what’s in the front of my mind, you know? Like, I’m all FSU, fascinated by Charlotte’s Web rule-making, intrigued by the personalities […]

James CallMarch 17, 2015

A handful of lawmakers broke away from the Capitol Tuesday afternoon to attend the inauguration of John Thrasher as Florida State University’s 15th president. Thrasher earned two degrees from the university, but his path to the presidency began in 1986 when was elected to the Clay County School Board. From there Thrasher embarked on a career where […]

Mitch PerryMarch 16, 2015

A bill filed by Crestview Republican Sen. Greg Evers that would allow concealed weapons permit holders to carry guns onto college and university campuses moved along in the state Senate on Monday. The Senate Higher Education Committee voted along party lines to advance SB 176. An identical bill, HB 4005, in the House sponsored by Greg Steube, a […]

Janelle Irwin TaylorMarch 13, 2015

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There’s a bill floating through both the House and the Senate that has raised nary an eyebrow, but could have some very real implications for people with disabilities in Florida. The agency that runs the program isn’t speaking about it. Organizations that support persons with disabilities have been lukewarm on the issue. One Tampa woman, though, […]

Ryan RayMarch 5, 2015

A slate of proposals to create a new statewide framework for assisting people with intellectual disabilities made progress in both chambers of the Legislature Wednesday. SB 7030 and HB 935, sponsored by Sen. Kelli Stargel and Rep. Ray Rodrigues respectively were unanimously passed by House Children, Families & Seniors and Senate Education Appropriations. “Establishing the Florida ABLE Act is […]

Christine Jordan SextonMarch 4, 2015

The Senate Banking and Insurance Committee gave the green light Wednesday to the Florida Medical Association’s top priority: a bill that precludes insurance companies and HMOs from limiting direct access to medications without prior approval from a government-housed clinical committee. It’s being called the “Right Medicine, Right Time Act” and it most likely will be […]

Tag: Don Gaetz

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

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

4th Floor Files talks with Steve Wise about shoes, spaghetti, and Ronald Reagan

The day that was in Florida politics — March 17

FSU inaugurates John Thrasher as its 15th president

Guns-on-campus bill advances in Florida Senate

Vocational rehab program could be on state chopping block

Florida ABLE act moves swiftly through House, Senate panels

Senate insurance panel OKs FMA's "Right Medicine, Right Time Act"