Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Jim RosicaFebruary 16, 2016

A Senate panel on Tuesday OK’d a measure that would ban the practice of “balance billing,” when insurance companies often unexpectedly slam a customer with a high bill for using an out-of-network health care provider. The measure (SB 1442), carried by GOP state Sen. Rene Garcia of Hialeah, now moves from the Banking and Insurance […]

Drew WilsonFebruary 8, 2016

A group pushing to get the Commissioner of Education post to back on Florida ballots unleashed a web page Monday that’ll help voters bug every lawmaker in the state. Fund Education Now created the page so Floridians could urge their representative to vote for HB 767, sponsored by Vero Beach Republican Rep. Debbie Mayfield, which […]

Drew WilsonFebruary 1, 2016

Bills that would iron out rules for direct primary care contracts and encourage healthcare companies to give free health care to low-income Floridians passed the Senate Committee on Health Policy Monday. SB 1144, sponsored by Niceville Republican Sen. Don Gaetz, would allow new medical facilities to bypass a lengthy review process known as “certificate of […]

Ryan RayFebruary 1, 2016

The Senate Health Policy committee narrowly approved pair of closely watched health care bills Monday afternoon, auguring much more debate still to come about the proposals. Bills to weaken the state’s “certificates of need” regime for hospital licensing, and to shield patients from a medical collections practice known as “balance billing” passed by votes of […]

Ryan RayJanuary 26, 2016

Voter-approved term limits, perhaps even more than the advent of minority-access districts or the lobbyist gift ban, have radically transformed legislative business in Tallahassee. Their enactment during the Gov. Jeb Bush administration turned future election cycles into rigid leadership game theory boards and, some say, placed a limit on the institutional knowledge of lawmakers, who often become lame […]

Drew WilsonJanuary 19, 2016

A 1 percent cut in the commercial rents sales tax tops the list of legislative priorities for the National Federation of Independent Business, the small-business lobbying group announced Tuesday. “In 2016, we’re focusing on giving back to our state’s economic drivers and helping clear the way for job creators to own, operate and grow their […]

Mitch PerryJanuary 18, 2016

The Republican Liberty Caucus of Florida (RLC) has announced its 2016 legislative agenda, and at the top of the list is a bill calling for transparency in how political committees help fund campaigns around the state. The legislation, sponsored in the House by New Port Richey Democrat Amanda Murphy and Orlando Democrat Darren Soto in the […]

Diane RobertsJanuary 15, 2016

OCCUPIED TALLAHASSEE – David Bowie is dead, Rick Scott is alive, and the whole idiocracy is back in town, hell-bent on pimping for polluters, arming students, and destroying Florida’s Sunshine Laws. Legislators don’t think you should trouble your pretty little head over what they’re doing with your money. The governor agrees. On Tuesday, he held […]

Diane RobertsJanuary 14, 2016

OCCUPIED TALLAHASSEE – David Bowie is dead, Rick Scott is alive, and the whole idiocracy is back in town, hell-bent on pimping for polluters, arming students, and destroying Florida’s Sunshine Laws. Legislators don’t think you should trouble your pretty little head over what they’re doing with your money. The governor agrees. On Tuesday, he held […]

Staff ReportsJanuary 14, 2016

The Senate Committee on Children, Families and Elder Affairs, chaired by Hollywood Democratic Sen. Eleanor Sobel, on Thursday unanimously passed Senate Bill 12, Mental Health and Substance Abuse, sponsored by Hialeah Republican Sen. Rene Garcia to improve the delivery of mental health and substance abuse services. “Our current system of behavioral health services is fragmented […]

Tag: Rene Garcia

Balance billing measure clears 2nd Senate panel

Advocates of elected Education Commissioner launch website to “bug” lawmakers

Senate committee passes 2 key bills expanding health care access

Senate health care panel narrowly advances CON, balance billing changes

Senate panel approves term limits extension resolution

No. 1 priority for Independent Business group is commercial rent tax cut

Republican Liberty Caucus of Florida lays out its 2016 legislative agenda

Diane Roberts: Annoyed legislators drafting more bills to keep government secret

Diane Roberts: Annoyed legislators drafting more bills to keep government secret

Senate committee passes legislation to improve delivery of mental health, substance abuse services