Since the completion of the 2013 legislative session in early May, Governor Rick Scott and his team have received two hundred eighty-five bills for consideration. As of July, he has acted on all of them. The Governor is also working to appoint a new Lieutenant Governor. Since former Lieutenant Governor Jennifer Carroll’s resignation in March, Read more about July 2013: From the Capitol…[…]
Governor Rick Scott recently reappointed Norman Tripp to the Board of Governors of the State University System. Tripp is a Ft. Lauderdale lawyer and has previously served on the Board of Directors for Annenberg College, the Board of Trustees for the University of Miami, and the Board of Trustees for Florida Atlantic University. Governor Scott Read more about Movers and Shakers[…]
The 11th Circuit Court of Appeals in Atlanta upheld the temporary ban on Florida’s drug-testing for welfare recipients. The Court stated that Florida failed to show that the drug testing plan was so critical that the Fourth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which bars unreasonable searches by the government, should be suspended. Governor Rick Scott immediately Read more about March Issues of Interest[…]
Health Care Reform – Both the Senate and House have now rejected an expansion of the Medicaid program under the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act to include Floridians at or below 138% of the federal poverty level. Senate Committee Chairman Joe Negron (R-Stuart) said he would like to pursue a “Florida Plan“, a voucher-like alternative that would Read more about Other Major Legislative Issues[…]
Campaign Finance Reform – The Legislature’s campaign reform proposals, SB 1382 by the Senate Ethics & Elections Committee and HB 569 by Representative Robert Schenck (R-Spring Hill) would: Raise campaign contribution limits. Eliminate certain political committees. Require candidates to file campaign finance reports more frequently. Senate Committee Chairman Jack Latvala (R-Clearwater) and Representative Schenck are working Read more about 2013 Legislative Leadership Priorities[…]