OK, the door to power and prominence is about to close on Florida's term-limited legislators. It's a blow to the ego, I get it. But what's with the nauseating, never-ending farewell speeches?
LETTER FROM THE EXECUTIVE EDITOR
March 1, 2012
Pull out the streamers and raise the pita Its an exciting day in the world of Sunshine State News: March 1, 2012, marks our second anniversary delivering Floridas political news and insight to all of our dedicated readers. Thanks to so many of you who have written, phoned and emailed to give us your feedback and tell us you like what were doing!
A bill that originally sought to limit how much doctors can charge for dispensing repackaged drugs to workers' compensation patients died after one Senate subcommittee vote, but it got a kiss of life when, moments later, one senator changed his vote and another returned to his seat.
"Never seen that before," said Delmus Ralther, a law enforcement officer waiting to speak on another bill. "They were rushing every other bill through, but they take time to revisit one after the vote? Wow."
Rolling under the radar like a Stealth bomber, through committee after insurance committee, are HB 4087 and SB 1152 -- among the worst proposed legislation of the 2012 legislative session.
Rather than just limit the amount doctors can charge their workers' comp patients for dispensing repackaged drugs in their offices, the Senate Health Regulation Committee's tennis match of amendments ended Wednesday in a bill that basically would do the following:
Bill Nelson scares America with a fundraising letter invoking "Karl Rove's dark-money group" and not a howl from a media watchdog. Not even one.
Repeat bad information often enough and it sticks. Luckily, though, some senators are getting wise to a bogus pitch coming from a coalition of business groups and the insurance industry.
At least with debates, you've got issues. No debates, round-the-clock, TV-time silliness.
Seems odd to me why a Florida senator would want to continue a system that exposes thousands of Floridians to identity theft. But Jack Latvala is sticking to Florida's turkey of a law like a cheap suit in the rain.
Does the Florida Legislature really want to set itself up as the state food police?
