While the House had been a barrier to previous gambling pacts in 2007 and 2009, state representatives joined the Senate on Monday in passing a Seminole gaming compact by a 74-39 vote.
Rep. Bill Galvano, R-Bradenton, maneuvered the measure through the session, bringing it to both a second and third reading on Monday and then moving it through questions and debate.
While the number of Medicaid enrollees and their costs continue to grow, the House passed an attempt to reform the program Monday after a week of bipartisan work to amend the bill. The House passed Medicaid reform 80-34.
Fresh after vetoing a bill to implement a teacher performance pay standard, Gov. Charlie Crist spent Saturday on the campaign trail for his U.S. Senate bid. Crist was stumping in the district of Sen. John Thrasher, R-St. Augustine, the chief champion of performance pay in the Legislature
The wizard behind Florida's investments drew back the curtain Friday to reveal some details of how his office operates.
Ashbel Ash Williams, executive director and chief investment officer of the Florida State Board of Administration (SBA), spoke to the Economic Club of Florida, focusing on how Florida public pensions measure up to other state retirement programs.
Hundreds of conservatives rallied at the Capitol on Thursday afternoon at the Tallahassee Tax Day Tea Party to protest big government and call for more responsibility from politicians.
A number of local campaignsset up at the rally, including Republican congressional candidates Steve Southerland and David Scholl.
While the rest of the Capitol buzzed about Gov. Charlie Crist vetoing the teacher performance pay measure, the House assembled to hammer out a reform package for Medicaid and pass a number of non-controversial bills.
The afternoon session focused on a plan to reform Medicaid and proved to be surprisingly harmonious. With 2.7 million Floridians on Medicaid and that number looking to rise dramatically, members of both parties in the House worked together to set the stage for passing Medicaid reform.
Despite repeated assurances that he would sign it, that the bill represented a powerful improvement in Florida's education standards, Gov. Charlie Crist announced Thursday that he had vetoed SB 6.
With Floridians due to vote on two redistricting amendments in November, a House panel met Thursday to tackle the issue at both the congressional and state levels by pushing another amendment.
The amendments already on the ballot, sponsored by Fair Districts Florida, would change how the Legislature will draw up congressional and legislative seats. They prohibit the Legislature from creating districts to benefit or hinder an incumbent or a political party and require the districts to be compact.
When the Florida House convenes, Medicaid reform will be at the top of the agenda. There are more than 2.7 million Floridians currently participating in the program, and that number as if it will rise -- along with the price tag.
Medicaid is not functioning and, from a fiscal standpoint, is not sustainable, said Rep. Denise Grimsley, R-Lake Placid.
Starting Friday, Floridians will be able to save money while helping to save the environment and the Sunshine States sluggish economy.
At a media event Wednesday, Gov. Charlie Crist met with legislators, representatives of the Florida Retail Federation and employees of Badcock, Best Buy, Home Depot, Lowes and Sears to promote a rebate program on energy-efficient appliances.
