A House committee on Tuesday approved a sweeping overhaul of the Public Service Commission aimed at preventing questions about ethics and relationships with regulated utilities that rocked the panel beginning in 2009.

The committee bill (ENUS 11-02) would make several changes to the PSC, including tightening rules against ex parte communications, implementing new education requirements for commissioners and -- in the provision that proved most controversial Tuesday allowing the attorney general to appoint the public counsel.

The Florida House advanced two Medicaid reform bills Tuesday -- HB 7107 and HB 7109 -- setting the stage for a debate and vote later in the week on one of the most pressing issues impacting the Sunshine State.

With a host of worthies -- including Gov. Paul LePage, R-Maine, and Bishop McKinley Young of the AME
Church -- watching the proceedings, Rep. Rob Schenck, R-Spring Hill, the sponsor of the measures, took often-pointed questions from Democrats for the better part of two hours.