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Christine Jordan SextonApril 21, 2015

The 2015 session of the Florida Legislature came crashing down Tuesday as both House and Senate Republicans calcified their positions regarding hospital funding and Medicaid expansion. The impasse prompted Gov. Rick Scott to finally weigh in late in the day, saying he will call lawmakers back into special session if they can’t quickly resolve the […]

Christine Jordan SextonApril 17, 2015

Senate President Andy Gardiner has scheduled a Tuesday workshop for senators to brush up on the Medicaid issues that have brought the session to a standstill. In a Friday memo to senators, Gardiner said he asked Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Tom Lee to use the first portion of his all-day meeting to discuss Low Income […]

Christine Jordan SextonApril 16, 2015

Gov. Rick Scott‘s announcement that he will sue the federal government for withholding Low Income Pool dollars caused a firestorm on Thursday, rounding out what has been topsy turvy health care week in Tallahassee. The announcement drew praise from conservatives such as Koch-brothers backed group Americans for Prosperity which issued a release saying, “the Obama […]

Bruce RitchieApril 16, 2015

Sen. Jack Latvala on Thursday cautioned against any elected state official opposing his bill that would allow Duke Energy Florida to issue bonds for closing its Crystal River nuclear plant. His warning came after a vote on the House version was delayed this week. Duke says the plant closing cost is $1.4 billion. Latvala said […]

Bruce RitchieApril 16, 2015

Gov. Rick Scott’s lawsuit against federal healthcare agency over hospital funding would be a “frivolous” would represent the “tea party gone wild,” House Democratic Leader Mark Pafford said Thursday The impending loss of $2 billion in Low Income Pool money and Medicaid expansion has been at the center of a budget impasse in the Legislature. House and Senate […]

Bruce RitchieApril 15, 2015

There has been no action publicly in the Legislature this week on Amendment 1 spending or bills dealing with water policy but those issues are being worked on, Sen. Tom Lee, the Senate’s chief budget writer, said Wednesday. Amendment 1 is the water and land conservation funding initiative approved by voters in November. The measure is expected […]

Christine Jordan SextonApril 14, 2015

What started out smoothly a few months ago now appears to be falling apart as leading Republicans in the House and Senate began finger-pointing over a health care dispute that appears likely to derail the 2015 session. The latest evidence that the May 1 session will not end on time came after the Department of […]

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 […]

Bruce RitchieApril 8, 2015

House Speaker Steve Crisafulli said Wednesday that the Senate is getting closer to the House on a comprehensive water bill but differences remain. SB 918 was rewritten in a committee on Wednesday in response to requests by business groups and environmentalists, both of whom had raised concerns. Both sides still have issues, with environmentalists remaining […]

Ryan RayApril 7, 2015

Rep. Travis Hutson prevailed big time Tuesday in his bid to jump up to the Legislature’s upper chamber, defeating Democratic nominee Adam Cox by a margin of about 2-to-1 with nearly all precincts reporting. Hutson will be District 6 senator-elect on Wednesday. Down the ballot, the battle to replace Hutson — who in turn is resigning from the House […]

Tag: Steve Crisafulli

Facing budget train wreck, Rick Scott offers “continuation” plan

Andy Gardiner calls for meeting on Medicaid funding options

Rick Scott’s decision to sue the feds over Medicaid gets mixed reactions

Jack Latvala warns against opposing his nuke plant financing bill

Dems’ leader calls healthcare lawsuit “Tea Party gone wild”

Amendment 1, water spending work going on, Tom Lee says

House, Senate, feds stick to guns on Medicaid as session slips away

Budget impasse continues as time ticks away on regular session

Speaker says water bills closer, advisory council possible sticking point

Republicans sweep NE Florida House, Senate special elections