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Public Hospital Deal Under Microscope in Legislature

March 6, 2012 - 6:00pm

Florida lawmakers Wednesday passed a plan to increase scrutiny of the sales or leases of public hospitals, after months of debate stemming from hospital deals that went awry.

The House and Senate passed a compromise plan, HB 711, that would lead to the secretary of the Agency for Health Care Administration reviewing potential sales or leases.

Senators earlier proposed giving that role to the state chief financial officer, while the House wanted to allow circuit judges to sign off on hospital deals. Gov. Rick Scott, who appoints the AHCA secretary, objected to those ideas.

Sneak Attack Alert! Watch Out, Energy Bill!

Nancy Smith

March 7, 2012 - 6:00pm

Watch your wallet Thursday when the Senate is due to take up SB 2094, Adam Putnam's hard-fought-for energy bill.

Jeb Bush Could Be the One for the GOP

Matt Towery

March 7, 2012 - 6:00pm

After the not so "Super" Tuesday results, pundits and experts predicted a much longer march to the Republican National Convention to be held in Tampa. Many experts believe Mitt Romney will ultimately gain the required delegates to win the nomination prior to the convention.

African-American Leaders Join Push for Parent Trigger Bill

Submitted by Anonymous on March 7, 2012 - 6:25pm

Increasing the isolation of the Florida Education Association and its Democratic Party handmaidens, two African-American leaders announced their support for Parent Trigger legislation this week.

T. Willard Fair, president and CEO of the Urban League of Greater Miami, said the reform measure would put power back in the hands of parents.

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Cannon, Haridopolos: Budget Process Safe from Disputed Pension Ruling

Jim Turner

March 6, 2012 - 6:00pm

Legislative leaders dont expect massive last-minute budget chaos to ensue from a disputed court ruling that could require refunding government workers 3 percent of their pay, with interest, that has been collected for their pension plans over the past eight months.

The state appealed the ruling Tuesday by Circuit Judge Jackie Fulford that the Legislature and Gov. Rick Scott failed to follow the state Constitution when requiring workers last year to start paying 3 percent of their salary into the Florida Retirement System.

Key West Schooner Western Union Could Become State's Flagship

Submitted by Anonymous on March 7, 2012 - 5:30pm

A bill to name the Schooner Western Union as Florida's state flagship has been cast toward the governors office.

The House approved SB 326, which would give the designation to the 130-foot vintage, wooden, tall ship that was built in 1939 to service undersea telegraph cables. The ship, now located in Key West, is being turned into a museum.

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Cliff Stearns Denies, Denounces James Jett's 'Buyout' Claim

Submitted by Anonymous on March 7, 2012 - 5:16pm

U.S. Rep. Cliff Stearns denied and denounced a fellow Republican's claim that he tried to "buy" him out of the race.

James Jett, the clerk of courts for Clay County, is among the announced GOP opponents to Stearns, R-Ocala, who is running for re-election in the newly drawn 3rd Congressional District.

Mr. Jetts claim is totally unfounded -- no one is authorized to make any claims or concessions on behalf of Representative Stearns,"Stearns' press secretary Paul Flusche said in a statement obtained by Sunshine State News.

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Rick Scott Orders Capitol Flags Lowered for George Firestone

Submitted by Anonymous on March 7, 2012 - 5:06pm

Flags will be at half-staff at the Florida Capitol and outside the Broward County Courthouse and Hollywood City Hall on Thursday for former Secretary of State George Firestone.

Gov. Rick Scott ordered the lowering of the flags from sunrise to sunset for Firestone, Floridas secretary of state from Jan. 2, 1979, to Aug. 5, 1987. Firestone died March 2. He was 80.

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Late-Night Negotiations Expected over Salvaging PIP Reform

Jim Turner

March 6, 2012 - 6:00pm

Senators anticipate Gov. Rick Scotts desire to reform the states supposed low-cost auto insurance program will require late-night negotiations with theirHouse counterparts.

And with two days left in the regular session, some are bracing for a call back to Tallahassee because the differences in the House and Senate version of the efforts to remove fraud from the personal injury protection auto insurance program may not be resolved by Friday.

Obama Has Seen the Future -- But It Doesn't Work

Submitted by Anonymous on March 7, 2012 - 4:48pm

In a pattern of behavior thats moving from outrageous to simply pathetic, our president now wants to expand the tax credit for the increasingly discredited Chevy Volt (an environmental Holy Grail for green energy fantasists -- and equally fanciful) from $7,500 to $10,000.

Unfortunately, Chevrolet has suspended production of the high-cost hybrid due to lack of consumer interest -- that translates as market failure.

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