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Julie DelegalMay 3, 2015

Just as House lawmakers were putting together their annual “trains” – cramming multiple, tangentially related bills into hundreds of pages of amendments so they could pass them all at the eleventh hour – a funny thing happened. They upped and quit. On April 27, House Speaker Steve Crisafulli prematurely banged his gavel, ending the session […]

Julie DelegalMay 3, 2015

Just as House lawmakers were putting together their annual “trains” – cramming multiple, tangentially related bills into hundreds of pages of amendments so they could pass them all at the eleventh hour – a funny thing happened. They upped and quit. On April 27, House Speaker Steve Crisafulli prematurely banged his gavel, ending the session […]

Christine Jordan SextonMay 1, 2015

House Speaker Steve Crisafulli’s late-night apology for Rep. Matt Gaetz‘s questionable Twitter posts were not enough. Sen. Arthenia Joyner issued a statement early Friday noting that Gaetz has not apologized and that Crisfulli’s attempts to defuse the situation did not succeed. In her response Joyner said not only were the remarks racist, that the House’s opposition […]

Christine Jordan SextonApril 29, 2015

As the dysfunctional 2015 regular legislative session continued on Wednesday with the Florida Senate threatening to sue the House for its abrupt sine die, Gov. Rick Scott floated to the media details about the hospital and health care commission he plans on convening. Scott released a draft outline of the commission that shows he plans […]

Associated PressApril 29, 2015

The Obama administration said Wednesday it had not changed its position on Medicaid expansion and hospital funds, despite contrary interpretations from lawmakers. The confusion came a day after Gov. Rick Scott filed a federal lawsuit accusing the Obama administration of coercing Florida into expanding Medicaid by withholding more than $1 billion in hospital funds. The […]

Bruce RitchieApril 28, 2015

The Florida House adjourned the 2015 Legislative Session on Tuesday, leaving bills dealing with water policy, hydraulic fracturing, septic tank waste and Duke Energy Florida in doubt. As the Senate was discussing fracking legislation, House Speaker Steve Crisafulli told House members there was no reason to keep House members in Tallahassee because of an impasse […]

Daniel TilsonApril 28, 2015

With state representatives like these, who needs enemies? With nearly four days left in the Florida Legislature’s regular session, House Speaker Steve Crisafulli unexpectedly gathered up all his “Stand Firm” post-it notes, lobbyist business cards and ALEC issues briefings, then suddenly called the session quits and sent everybody home. The political class in Tallahassee likes […]

Christine Jordan SextonApril 28, 2015

Gov. Rick Scott filed a lawsuit in federal court in Pensacola on Tuesday seeking declaratory relief that the Obama administration violated the U.S. Constitution by withholding supplemental Medicaid funding from the state in the form of Low Income Pool money. The lawsuit was filed shortly after the House of Representatives announced it was adjourning for […]

Mitch PerryApril 28, 2015

Although Ben Carson speaks softly, his provocative comments regarding the Affordable Care Act, same-sex marriage and life in America under President Barack Obama have spurred his unlikely journey toward a possible nominee as Republican Party presidential candidate. Carson is scheduled to make his big announcement next Monday in Detroit, his hometown. The retired pediatric neurosurgeon, […]

Mitch PerryApril 28, 2015

Shortly after 1 p.m. Tuesday, Florida House Speaker Steve Crisafulli stunned observers when he announced the House of Representatives would adjourn three days before the Legislative Session’s scheduled conclusion. He laid the cause to the continued impasse with the Senate over Medicaid expansion. “No, we didn’t get everything we wanted,” Crisafulli told House members. “And […]

Tag: Medicaid
Golf ball and golf club in bag on green grass

Julie Delegal: Slackers in the Florida House leave 800,000 Floridians exposed

Julie Delegal: Slackers in the Florida House leave 800,000 Floridians exposed

Arthenia Joyner calls Matt Gaetz tweet, opposition to Medicaid expansion racist

Rick Scott releases plan to examine hospitals’, insurance companies’ profits

Barack Obama hasn’t changed course on LIP, Medicaid

Fracking, land management and water bills left in doubt

Daniel Tilson: Florida House Republicans flip us all the bird and fly home

Rick Scott sues feds over Obamacare, Low Income Pool dollars

Mitch Perry: Ben Carson not keen on discussing gays

House abruptly calls it quits, blames Medicaid impasse