Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Ryan RayJune 1, 2015

House Speaker Steve Crisafulli set a brisk, all-business tone as the “people’s chamber” started the first Special Session since 2011. That was when a challenge to the body’s redistricting efforts brought the House back to Tallahassee in the summer for a quick cosmetic fix to a small number of seats. This Special Session is something else […]

Julie DelegalMay 31, 2015

The Florida Legislature reconvenes Monday in a special session to do its only real job – pass a budget. The impasse, between Republicans in the House and Republicans in the Senate over expanding healthcare for uninsured Floridians, prompted House members to pick up their ball and leave the playground three days before the regular session’s […]

Julie DelegalMay 31, 2015

The Florida Legislature reconvenes Monday in a special session to do its only real job – pass a budget. The impasse, between Republicans in the House and Republicans in the Senate over expanding healthcare for uninsured Floridians, prompted House members to pick up their ball and leave the playground three days before the regular session’s […]

Christine Jordan SextonMay 31, 2015

FloridaΓÇÖs_Historic_Capitol_and_Florida_State_Capitol_2-1024x1024.jpg

The 2015 Special Session-A kicks off Monday. Here are five questions to consider going into the Special Session, which was called by House Speaker Steve Crisafulli and Senate President Andy Gardiner despite not having reached any agreement on the budget or spending in the month since the regular session came to a crashing end without […]

Mitch PerryMay 29, 2015

Among the many casualties in the aborted legislative session last month was legislation regulating ride-sharing apps Uber and Lyft. On the eve of the Special Session, though, Uber’s Florida General Manager Matthew Gore and other Florida business leaders have asked House Speaker Steve Crisafulli and Senate President Andy Gardiner to include transportation network companies in […]

Christine Jordan SextonMay 26, 2015

The Senate on Tuesday announced a series of changes it will make to its plan to expand health care access to upward of 800,000 low-income Floridians who would qualify for Medicaid under the federal Affordable Care Act. In a prepared statement Tuesday, Gov. Rick Scott said that he still opposes Medicaid expansion as set for […]

Phil AmmannMay 22, 2015

When Florida’s Legislative Session began in March, there were high expectations, especially for education and healthcare. But by session’s end, that optimism was long gone, says Florida Education Association President Andy Ford. Now that budget talks are set to resume, and lawmakers prepare for a June 1 Special Session, there’s still one last chance for […]

Christine Jordan SextonMay 22, 2015

With a little more than a week to go before the start of the 2015 Special Session details of plans continue to emerge. In a memo sent to senators, Senate President Andy Gardiner outlined the timeline he plans to follow during the session, showing that the chamber will focus on health care access the first […]

Phil AmmannMay 22, 2015

Speaker Steve Crisafulli says the Florida House can start passing a budget in June, now that the state could receive disputed federal healthcare money this year. Thursday, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) sent a letter to the state Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA) indicating it will provide Low-Income Pool (LIP) funding for the […]

Christine Jordan SextonMay 21, 2015

Senate President Andy Gardiner sent a memo to members on Thursday advising that the tentative $1 billion approval of Low Income Pool funds for fiscal year 2015-16 does not mean that Florida’s health care debate is over. In fact, it’s the opposite. “The news brings certainty to what we have known for over a year […]

Tag: Steve Crisafulli

Welcome (back) to the Florida House: Session 2015 A begins

Julie Delegal: Are poor less worthy of American Dream that includes healthcare?

Julie Delegal: Are poor less worthy of American Dream that includes healthcare?

Five questions heading into Special Session

Uber requests that ride-sharing be part of Special Session in Tallahassee

Senate alters health plan but fails to win over critics

Email insights: When budget money flows again, FEA will be first in line

Andy Gardiner releases Special Session schedule: health care first, budget 2nd

Steve Crisafulli says House can now pass budget, after feds change mind on LIP

Andy Gardiner still wants health access fix in spite of $1 billion in Medicaid money