Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Christine Jordan SextonApril 23, 2015

With just eight days left in the 2015 Legislative Session, Gov. Rick Scott has turned up the heat on the Florida Senate. Scott called Democrat and Republican senators into his office on Wednesday to discuss his legislative priorities, such as tax cuts and increased spending for education. He also advised the senators that he could wield […]

Associated PressApril 21, 2015

Florida House leaders met behind closed doors Tuesday while Senate leaders held a special hearing in a last-ditch attempt to agree on Medicaid and finalize a budget as the need for a special session grew more imminent. Impassioned senators, including many Republicans, tried to put aside politics and put a human face on the bickering […]

Christine Jordan SextonApril 15, 2015

The Senate Ethics and Elections Committee voted 8-1 to approve Liz Dudek‘s appointment as head of the state Agency for Health Care Administration but only after she answered more than an hour’s worth of questions regarding Low Income Pool funding, Medicaid expansion and how negotiations are evolving with the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. […]

Christine Jordan SextonApril 14, 2015

Senate President Andy Gardiner made an appearance at the A Healthy Florida Works press conference on Tuesday, joining a group of business leaders supporting his chamber’s plan to draw down Medicaid dollars and provide access to health care for as many as 800,000 uninsured Floridians. With less than three weeks left in the 2015 regular […]

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 […]

Phil AmmannApril 8, 2015

The Epilepsy Foundation of Florida (EFOF) recognized six Florida lawmakers this week for their efforts helping individuals and families touched by epilepsy. The EFOF “Champions of the Heart” are state Sens. Jeff Brandes of St. Petersburg, Rene Garcia of Hialeah and Denise Grimsley from Sebring, and Reps. Katie Edwards of Plantation, Matt Gaetz of Shalimar and Matt Hudson from […]

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 […]

James CallApril 3, 2015

Now we have a Session — a battle of wills and philosophies in the building of a state budget. The Senate wants to talk. In the House, the talk is about war. Both chambers have passed a state budget for next year. If you look at the bottom lines the difference is about $4.2 billion. […]

Ryan RayApril 1, 2015

Florida’s so-called “dreamers”- undocumented youth who were brought to this country as children – received a rude April Fools joke from the Senate majority this afternoon. Sen. Darren Soto introduced an amendment to SB 2500, better known as the Senate budget proposal, that would have prevented Attorney General Pam Bondi from pursuing a lawsuit against the Obama […]

Gary FineoutMarch 31, 2015

Amid growing budget discord that could derail this year’s session of the Florida Legislature, Senate President Andy Gardiner dispatched two top Republican senators to Washington to talk with federal officials about more than $1 billion in health care grants the state could soon lose. Gardiner, an Orlando Republican who works for a hospital, took the […]

Tag: Rene Garcia

Rick Scott turns up heat on Florida Senate, hospitals

Special session seems imminent as Medicaid fight continues

Senate grills, then confirms, AHCA Secretary Liz Dudek

Andy Gardiner: Senate will talk Medicaid, health care with “anybody at any time”

Budget impasse continues as time ticks away on regular session

State lawmakers honored as epilepsy “Champions of the Heart”

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

Epic battle brewing at Capitol as Session appears headed to overtime

Senate passes language preventing Pam Bondi suit against feds, takes it back

Florida senators meet with feds on health care money