Matt Hudson Brings Back Health Care Deregulation Bill

The umpire strikes back -- and no, this has nothing to do with Roberto Alomar, who once spat on an umpire, being named to the hall of fame on Wednesday.

Rep. Matt Hudson, R-Naples, whose passion for umpiring in baseball was featured in a campaign ad he ran in 2010, filed a measure to deregulate health care in the state, amending the Health Care Licensing Procedures Act and streamlining parts of the Agency for Health Care Administration.

This legislation removes several burdensome regulations, creates jobs, and is a cost savings to the state, all of which are extremely crucial for getting the state of Florida back on the right track, said Hudson on Wednesday. Hudson filed a similar measure in 2010 which passed the House and Senate but was vetoed by then-Gov. Charlie Crist.

Hudson clearly hopes that newly inaugurated Gov. Rick Scott will back the measure -- even using a phrase from the governors inaugural address on Tuesday.

HB 119 will be essential in fighting the axis of unemployment and ensuring that the tax dollars of Floridas citizens are not being wasted, said Hudson.