Years after it became law, the Federal Affordable Care Act – “Obamacare” if you prefer – is still a topic of ferocious debate and political grandstanding. Florida was one of the states that chose not to set up a health care exchange of its own in support of the federal law. But, quietly and without much fanfare, Florida did roll out a health insurance marketplace of sorts earlier this week. Lynn Hatter reports that marketplace should not be confused with the federal health insurance exchanges and should by no means be associated with Obamacare..
A measure making it a separate criminal offense in Florida to cause the injury or death of an unborn child is heading to the House floor. Sascha Cordner reports.
Hispanic Democratic Florida lawmakers are rallying to change state immigration policy after the Florida Supreme Court unanimously ruled Thursday undocumented immigrants cannot be admitted to the Florida Bar as lawyers. As Jessica Palombo reports, undocumented students are also calling on President Barack Obama to push federal immigration reform as he visits Miami today [Friday].
Lawmakers are working to do more than a little paper shuffling this legislative session. Regan McCarthy reports legislators are moving forward with a bill requiring all schools to implement a paper recycling plan.
Finally this week, Florida lawmakers are likely to take up some bills affecting the state’s most precious resource in the course of this legislative session. That resource is water. Amy Green with member station WMFE in Orlando reports a looming water shortage for much of Florida is pushing the issue into a much brighter spotlight, statewide and in Tallahassee.