Politics

Chances Of A Medicaid Special Session Unlikely

Lynn Hatter — Fri, 10 May 2013 16:46:21 +0000

Who won during the 2013 legislative session? Teachers and state workers won. They’re getting pay raises. Democrats helped kill a controversial bill giving parents a greater say in the fate of failing schools. Senate President Don Gaetz and House Speaker Will Weatherford can claim victory. They got bills through revising the state’s ethics, elections and campaign finance laws. A budget surplus this year means there were plenty of goodies to go around. So who, or what, came out on the losing side?

Firm Started By Sen. President Gaetz Accused Of Medicare Fraud

The News Service of Florida — Fri, 10 May 2013 13:10:39 +0000

The U.S. Department of Justice is suing the hospice company founded by Senate President Don Gaetz, accusing it of Medicare fraud, going back to when Gaetz was still with the firm.

The lawsuit, filed May 2 in the U.S. District Court in Kansas City and reported Thursday by The Miami Herald, alleges Vitas Hospice Services and Vitas Healthcare Corp. have misspent millions in taxpayer money collected from Medicare.

Wednesday's House Meltdown Clouds Attempts At Cordial End To Session

Lynn Hatter — Thu, 02 May 2013 21:00:28 +0000

Tempers were short. Emotions were high. Lawmakers were tired. A bad combination for a 96-page bill that included a strike-all amendment in it delivering Governor Rick Scott’s top priority: a sales tax exemption for manufacturers. The result: a testy exchange between Democrat Representative Jim Waldman and Republican Representative Carlos TrujiIlo:

“We invoked a constitutional privilege that’s there for both sides. It’s there to protect against what you are trying to do. It’s outrageous, improper, and in my opinion, boarders on unethical," Waldman said

Weatherford Defends House Manufacturing Tax Vote As Questions Persist

Lynn Hatter — Thu, 02 May 2013 13:28:39 +0000

House Speaker Will Weatherford is defending the House vote on a manufacturing tax exemption. The measure passed the chamber on a 68-48 vote, but Democrats say that House vote may have violated Florida’s Constitution.

At issue is whether the manufacturing tax exemption needed two-thirds support of the House to pass. Democrats seem to think it did, and had the numbers to block it. They and four Republicans sided against the tax exemption. But House Speaker Will Weatherford says he’s confident the vote will stand.

Texting While Driving Bill In Jeopardy After Late Amendment Added

Thomas Andrew Gustafson — Wed, 01 May 2013 21:29:04 +0000

There are only five states in the nation without texting-while-driving bans. Florida could bring that number down to four. But Thomas-Andrew Gustafson reports, the bill passed through the house Wednesday, but a last-minute amendment could end up bringing about the bill’s demise in the Senate.