Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Guest AuthorMay 15, 2017

As we celebrated Mother’s Day with our families this weekend, I could not help but think of all the moms in the U.S., and all over the world, who have been affected by Zika in the last year. As a father of six, I know that all children bring challenges. But a child born with microcephaly […]

Guest AuthorMay 9, 2017

For the last five years, my big brother, Ben Pollara, has fought to bring medical marijuana treatment to suffering citizens in the state of Florida. He acted as campaign manager for United for Care, which was the chief facilitator of Amendment 2’s passage November, and has since worked tirelessly to craft and pass fair legislation […]

Jim RosicaApril 28, 2017

What began as a bang ended with a whimper as the House passed a diluted trauma center bill and sent it to the Senate Friday. The measure (HB 1077), which passed 93-24, began its legislative life to do away with a cap on how many trauma centers can open in Florida. The bill that was passed says […]

Bill RuftyApril 19, 2017

Any health care program implemented by Congress or the state must include affordable preventive health care for all, Dr. Joy Jackson told members of the Polk County Tiger Bay Club Wednesday in Bartow. Jackson is the Polk County Health Department director and chairs the Florida Department of Health’s statewide committee on Pharmacy and Therapeutics. She […]

Jim RosicaApril 17, 2017

A bill that would do away with a cap on how many trauma centers can open in Florida cleared its latest committee Monday. The bill (HB 1077), sponsored by GOP state Rep. Jay Trumbull of Panama City, was OK’d on a 10-5 party-line vote in the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Health Care. He said the motivation for the bill […]

Jim RosicaMarch 27, 2017

A limit on how many trauma centers can open in Florida would be erased under legislation that cleared its first committee Monday. The bill (HB 1077), sponsored by state Rep. Jay Trumbull, was OK’d on a 10-5 vote. Among other things, it also does away with the system of trauma service areas and regions, relieves […]

Jim RosicaMarch 27, 2017

Another high-profile court fight over new trauma centers opening in Florida has begun in Tallahassee, even as lawmakers prepare to tinker with state law governing such facilities. As a pre-emptive strike, Delray Medical Center in Delray Beach and St. Mary’s Medical Center in West Palm Beach last week sued the Florida Department of Health in Leon […]

Les NeuhausMarch 14, 2017

A bill seeking to reduce the number of patients visiting hospital emergency rooms repetitively from drug overdoses passed Tuesday unanimously in its first hearing in the House Health Innovation Subcommittee. Rep. Larry Lee Jr., the sponsor of HB 61, drafted the measure as a means for hospitals to gain more control when dealing with the […]

Peter SchorschFebruary 1, 2017

The Tampa Bay Times is just plain wrong about something, and it has stuck in my craw for nearly a week now. Last Thursday, a Times headline read: “Voter intent on medical marijuana ignored.” Two days later, columnist John Romano followed suit with virtually the same narrative. “Ignored?” The clear inference of the editorial – […]

Scott PowersJanuary 5, 2017

Medical marijuana champion John Morgan has said repeatedly recently that the “now-what?” questions regarding Amendment 2 are in the hands of lobbyists, lawyers, and legislators; but on Thursday a lobbyist, a lawyer and a legislator told told the Seminole County Chamber of Commerce they don’t really know what’s next at this point. Lobbyist Louis Rotundo who represents […]

Tag: Florida Department of Health

Richard Corcoran: Federal government needs to act now; mosquito season is here

Samantha Pollara: In defense of my big brother Ben Pollara

Watered-down trauma center bill passes House

Primary care physicians: Health care plans must have prevention

Bill to remove limit on number of trauma centers moves in House

House trauma center bill clears first hurdle

Battle over trauma centers continues with new lawsuit

Bill to stop repeat ER overdose visits moves through first House committee

Saying voter intent ‘ignored’ on medical marijuana, Tampa Bay Times is just plain wrong

Panel: Amendment 2 firing up big bowl of who-knows-what