After more than two years of opposition to the federal healthcare overhaul law, Florida’s Republican leaders are now saying they plan to take it up in the upcoming legislative session. That’s a reversal of course for many Republicans who were staunch opponents of the law, including Governor Rick Scott. But as Lynn Hatter reports, the state’s change of tone, does not mean Florida will be ready to meet looming deadlines, and it still leaves the fate of several of the law’s programs and provisions up in the air.
Between long lines at several Florida polling locations, delayed ballot counts, and late results, Florida has been called “embarrassing” and has become the butt of many election jokes. The Governor and state election officials are now looking into what could be done to improve the state’s elections process, but as Sascha Cordner reports, some say that’s not enough.
Analysts say President Barack Obama owes a big thank you to Latino voters, who many say made up a big chuck of his Florida win. That comes as a surprise to pollsters who predicted a Romney win. But as Thomas-Andrew Gustafson reports, for grass roots organizers in Florida, it wasn’t a surprise at all.
Before the election, officials from both sides of the aisle, and almost every level of government, touted their plan for businesses and job growth. Regan McCarthy reports Pollsters said the economy was many voters’ top priority, and campaigns made sure to highlight how the decisions voters made at the polls, would affect Florida businesses.
It’s been tried before in Florida and it failed. But this week, an advocacy group is trying a new way to get medical marijuana legalized in the state. Jessica Palombo reports the group wants to get the drug reclassified as a less dangerous substance, a path they’re hoping will lead to doctors being able to prescribe it in Florida.