Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

James CallMarch 18, 2015

The Senate Appropriations Chairman is drawing a line in the sand. Sen. Tom Lee wants clarity on health care spending before moving forward on building a budget, and both Sen. Aaron Bean and Sen. Renee Garcia are looking for the money to help him produce a balanced spending plan. The federal Low Income Pool program expires in June, and the more than […]

Christine Jordan SextonMarch 18, 2015

The Senate budget will include nearly $3 billion in Medicaid funding to expand coverage to about 800,000 people as well as an alternative plan to draw down supplemental Medicaid money to help pay hospitals and other providers for treating uninsured patients. That means the Senate and House budgets could be billions apart — a fact […]

Christine Jordan SextonMarch 18, 2015

The Senate budget will include nearly $3 billion in Medicaid funding to expand coverage to about 800,000 people as well as an alternative plan to draw down supplemental Medicaid money to help pay hospitals and other providers for treating uninsured patients. That means the Senate and House budgets could be billions apart — a fact […]

Christine Jordan SextonMarch 18, 2015

Employers can sign prepaid contracts with primary care providers on behalf of their employees and it won’t be considered an insurance policy under an amended bill approved by a House subcommittee on Wednesday. The bill, HB 7047, was amended, with little to no debate and advanced by the House Insurance and Banking Subcommittee by a […]

Janelle Irwin TaylorMarch 18, 2015

Gov. Rick Scott has appointed four new members to the Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council. The council covers four counties including Hillsborough, Pinellas, Pasco, and Manatee. The group is one of 11 regional planning councils across the state that aims to serve residents and member governments by providing a forum to foster communication, coordination, and collaboration in […]

Janelle Irwin TaylorMarch 18, 2015

A controversial gun bill filed by St. Petersburg Republican Sen. Jeff Brandes has advanced in the Senate. Senate Bill 290 would allow people who don’t have concealed carry permits in Florida to carry firearms on their person during a mandatory evacuation. A similar bill died in the Senate this past year. Brandes made some changes to his […]

Janelle Irwin TaylorMarch 18, 2015

A controversial gun bill filed by St. Petersburg Republican Sen. Jeff Brandes has advanced in the Senate. Senate Bill 290 would allow people who don’t have concealed carry permits in Florida to carry firearms on their person during a mandatory evacuation. A similar bill died in the Senate this past year. Brandes made some changes to his […]

James CallMarch 18, 2015

Florida for Care declared Wednesday a Day of Compassion at the state capitol. More than 20 supporters of two medicinal marijuana bills fanned out across the Capitol Complex early Wednesday to lobby lawmakers on behalf of HB 683 and SB 528. “They came from all over the state,” said Kari Hicks of Florida For Care. “There are people […]

Christine Jordan SextonMarch 18, 2015

It was the insurance industry versus the provider community when a House subcommittee took up a bill that prohibits balance billing for emergency services on Wednesday, with the insurance and HMO industry emerging the victor. Over the objections of the Florida Medical Association, the Florida Hospital Association, the Florida Radiological Association, and the Florida Chapter […]

Mitch PerryMarch 18, 2015

A bill exempting taxpayers’ email addresses from the state’s open record law advanced in the Florida Senate on Wednesday. Clearwater Republican Jack Latvala argues the proposal protects consumers from scammers who use digital skills to defraud people. Latvala says he’s sponsoring the bill because tax collectors requested he do so. Senate Minority Leader Arthenia Joyner questioned the […]

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Five minutes with Tom Lee — Talk of playing cards while building a budget

Senate budget is chock full o' Medicaid dollars, says Tom Lee

Senate budget is chock full o’ Medicaid dollars, says Tom Lee

New health option? Bill allows employers to enter direct primary care contracts

Rick Scott appoints 4 to Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council

Jeff Brandes' concealed carry gun bill moves through Senate

Jeff Brandes’ concealed carry gun bill moves through Senate

Florida for Care walking Capitol halls today for medicinal marijuana

Round one of emergency care and billing tussle goes to insurers over docs

Jack Latvala bill to exempt taxpayers’ email addresses from open records law moves forward