January 20, 2011 - 6:00pm
Florida's soaring Medicaid costs cry out for radical cuts, and Gov. Rick Scott, a former health-care executive, is prepping for surgery.
Gov. Rick Scott Calls Unemployment Numbers "Unacceptable"
Submitted by Kevin Derby on January 21, 2011 - 11:31am
Gov. Rick Scott's office released a statement Friday on Florida's 12 percent unemployment rate for December, calling the number "unacceptable."
"Todays report of a 12 percent unemployment rate for Florida in December means that more than 1.1 million Floridians are jobless. This is not acceptable. The numbers reaffirm my commitment to getting Florida back to work, and prove that we must put job creation first by making Florida the best place to do business, Scott said.
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Florida Chamber Praises Rick Scott's New DMS Secretary
Submitted by Kevin Derby on January 21, 2011 - 11:26am
The Florida Chamber of Commerce praised Gov. Rick Scott for selecting Jack Miles to lead the Department of Management Service.
As a veteran business leader highly skilled in sourcing and contract management, Jack Miles brings the expertise needed to help government run more like a business, said former House Speaker Allan Bense, who chairs the Florida Chamber of Commerce. Governor Scotts appointment of Jack Miles further solidifies his commitment to reduce costs and ensure government is living within its means.
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Political Bits and Pieces
January 20, 2011 - 6:00pm
Gov. Rick Scott continues to have a busy first month in office. He touched base with Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal in a telephone call on Friday before heading off to Orlando to speak to the Florida Realtors Forum in Orlando. Earlier in the week, he met with golf legend Jack Nicklaus
Vern Buchanan Introduces Bill to Stop Cuban Offshore Drilling Near Florida
January 20, 2011 - 6:00pm
Florida Republican Congressman Vern Buchanan introduced a bill Friday that could have a deep impact on Florida, because it seeks to stop Cuba from establishing oil rigs only 50 miles from the coast of the Sunshine State.
Rick Scott Names Jack Miles to Head DMS
Submitted by Kevin Derby on January 21, 2011 - 10:52am
Gov. Rick Scott named Jack Miles, a former senior director at CIGNA, to lead the states Department of Management Services on Friday.
Pointing to his new appointee saving more than $80 million in less than two years at CIGNA, Scott insisted that Miles would be able to cut costs and provide returns on investments in his new role. Miles also worked as a vice president at Computer Associates and for American International Group.
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Vern Buchanan Looks to Stop Cuba from Drilling off Florida
Submitted by Kevin Derby on January 21, 2011 - 10:42am
Florida Republican U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan introduced a bill on Friday that could have a deep impact in Florida as he looked to stop Cuba from launching oil rigs only 50 miles from the Sunshine States coast.
Cubas plan to drill for oil in its sovereign waters off the Florida Keys poses a serious threat to our tourism industry and our environment, said Buchanan, adding that Cuba was not prepared to deal with a spill like the one that impacted the Gulf last year.
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Florida's Jobless Rate Stays at 12 Percent in December
Submitted by Kevin Derby on January 21, 2011 - 10:13am
Florida's unemployment rate didn't budge in December 2010, remaining at 12 percent, the same as the previous month, according to the seasonally adjusted numbers released Friday by the state Agency for Workforce Innovation.
There were 1.1 million people out of work out of a total labor force of 9.2 million in Florida, representing a nonagricultural employment drop of 17,900 jobs from November, but an increase of 43,500 jobs from December 2009. That means December 2010 was the sixth month in a row the state witnessed a year-over-year increase in jobs.
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John Mica Assigns Steve Southerland to Aviation and Highways Subcommittees
Submitted by Kevin Derby on January 21, 2011 - 10:04am
Florida Republican U.S. Rep. John L. Mica, the chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, made subcommittee assignments sending freshman and fellow Florida Republican U.S. Rep. Steve Southerland to the Aviation and Highways and Transit subcommittees.
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'Donut Hole' Medicare Recipients Get a Check and a Promise
Submitted by Anonymous on January 21, 2011 - 9:55am
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius announced that 221,744 Medicare beneficiaries in Florida have received prescription-drug cost relief through the Affordable Care Act.
Nationally, 3 million eligible beneficiaries who fell into the drug coverage gap known as the donut hole during 2010 have been mailed a one-time, tax-free $250 rebate check.
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