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Christine Jordan SextonApril 9, 2015

Senate Appropriations Chairman Tom Lee said Thursday night he’s beginning to plan how to bring the 2o15 Session in for a landing if lawmakers can’t resolve the budget impasse between the House and Senate. Lee said the chambers must reach an accord by “the middle of next week or thereabouts and then we are out […]

Christine Jordan SextonApril 8, 2015

No progress has been made to bridge the $4 billion-plus gap between the House and Senate proposed spending plans as the Legislature closes in on completing the sixth week of session. However, Senate President Andy Gardiner and House Speaker Steve Crisafulli didn’t seem worried that the impasse could throw the chambers into overtime. At least […]

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 […]

Christine Jordan SextonApril 8, 2015

Gov. Rick Scott on Wednesday said the state of Florida did not cut off negotiations with the federal government and put blame for the Medicaid meltdown on the federal government instead. Scott told a group of reporters Wednesday afternoon that negotiators with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services told Medicaid Deputy Director Justin Senior […]

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 SextonApril 6, 2015

Florida Senate President Andy Gardiner stands committed to expanding Medicaid access even though leaders in the Florida House — and now Gov. Rick Scott — don’t support the effort. Gardiner issued a statement Monday saying that the Florida Senate will continue to move ahead with its proposal called the Florida Health Insurance Exchange Program — […]

Christine Jordan SextonApril 6, 2015

As Medicaid expansion and health care access threaten to blow the 2015 Legislative Session sky high, Gov. Rick Scott has remained quiet on where he stands. Plus there are no signs so far that will change even though the ongoing stalemate over the budget could derail some of his top priorities for this year’s session. Scott’s press […]

Christine Jordan SextonApril 3, 2015

It didn’t take long for House Appropriation Chairman Richard Corcoran‘s speech to be heard down the halls in the Florida Senate. As the chamber finished its work on Wednesday and recess for the Easter holiday Senate President Andy Gardiner told senators that the chamber wasn’t going to “rant and rave” but would focus its efforts […]

Tag: low income pool

Tom Lee says he’s planning how to bring bumpy Session in for a landing

Budget impasse continues as time ticks away on regular session

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

Rick Scott says feds told state, “Don’t call us, we’ll call you” on LIP talks

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

Andy Gardiner: Senate stands firm on health care, but seeks “a way forward”

Rick Scott mum on session’s hot issue: Medicaid expansion

Tom Lee defends budget, says health care is a priority