Taking a parting shot at Charlie Crist during Tuesday's special session, Rep. Seth McKeel blamed the lame-duck governor for the shortfall in the state's home-energy rebate program.
Comments are now closed.
The Florida Senate has passed a resolution urging the U.S. Congress to give the state more flexibility and discretion in administering the Medicaid program within the state. The resolution was passed by acclamation during Tuesday's special session, despite the negative votes of a smattering of senators.
Comments are now closed.
Hours after being named House speaker, Rep. Dean Cannon, R-Winter Haven, led the House during a special session on Tuesday in overriding bills that had been vetoed earlier in the year by outgoing Gov. Charlie Crist.
With Republicans controlling 81 of the 120 House votes, Cannon had enough votes in his caucus to override gubernatorial vetoes provided the Republicans stuck together. However Republicans insisted the special session, held hours after the House organized for the next two years, was not a trial run for how they would govern.
Comments are now closed.
Among the attendees of the opening of the Florida House on Tuesday was newly elected Attorney General Pam Bondi, who announced her transition team later in the day.
Bondi brought out some big-name Republicans, including outgoing Attorney General Bill McCollum, former House Speaker Larry Cretul and former Mayor Rick Baker of St. Petersburg. Bondi named Carlos Muniz, a deputy general counsel to former Gov. Jeb Bush, as executive director.
Comments are now closed.
Sen. Mike Haridopolos, R-Merritt Island, was formally elected and sworn in as Florida Senate president Tuesday, then in an impassioned address signaled his intent to focus on the economy, limited government and fiscal discipline.
Republican U.S. Rep. Cliff Stearns will be holding an event at Westport High School in Ocala on Monday for high school students interested in attending one of the service academies -- the Military Academy at West Point, the Naval Academy, the Air Force Academy, the Coast Guard Academy, and the Merchant Marine Academy.
Comments are now closed.
Sen. Mike Bennett, R-Bradenton, was formally elected and sworn in as president pro tem of the Florida Senate.
Bennett decried the rampant spending during the economic boom times that led to what he called "entitlement slavery."
"We allowed government to grow well beyond our means. When the permit to take and repair a water heater costs more than the actual water heater, something is wrong with government," Bennett said.
Comments are now closed.
Commenting on Sunshine State News' story about problems with sinkhole coverage, the Florida Association of Public Insurance Adjusters downplayed the impact and presence of fraud.
"Though the insurance industry frequently declares that the rise in sinkhole activity is the result of fraudulent claims, the numbers the Office of Insurance Regulation reports tell a different tale," FAPIA spokesman Dan Ward said in an e-mail.
Comments are now closed.
Sen. Mike Haridopolos, R-Merritt Island, has been formally elected and sworn in as Florida Senate president by his fellow senators.
In his speech, Haridopolos cited the need to work in a bipartisan fashion, despite the GOP's supermajority in the Senate. He said the chamber should focus on the legacy left to the next generation instead of partisan politics.
"It's not about the TV, it's not about politics, it's about them (our children)," Haridopolos said.
Comments are now closed.
Many have speculated on a third member of the Bush family making a run for president. While Jeb Bush has ruled out that possibility for 2012, some believe he's left the door open for 2016.
But a new Rasmussen poll shows only one-third (35 percent) of likely U.S. voters believe its at least somewhat likely that Jeb Bush will run for president one day. That includes 10 percent who say it is very likely.
On the other hand, almost half (43 percent) of those surveyed say it is unlikely the former Florida governor will make a run.
Comments are now closed.
