FEATURED
STORIES
House approves big pension changes
By Bill Cotterell
Florida Current
Related: Policy Note: Pension Reform
After a long and starkly partisan debate, the House advanced a bill Thursday to close the Florida Retirement System to public employees hired after next Jan. 1, requiring them to join an investment systems similar to the 401(k) plans popular in the private sector.
Florida Senate offers privatized alternative to Medicaid expansion
By John Kennedy
Palm Beach Post
A Senate panel on Thursday introduced a proposal to broaden Medicaid coverage to about 1 million low-income Florida residents through a privatized plan that would use money available under the federal health care law.
After three years, healthcare reform is closing the gap
By Kathleen Sebelius
Miami Herald
This week marks the third anniversary of the Affordable Care Act. For Floridians, that means a healthcare system that is stronger than it was three years ago — and a future that looks even brighter.
Florida House set to vote Friday on banning gaming centers
By Matt Dixon
Florida Times-Union
The Florida House is ready to pass legislation banning the type of gaming centers used by Allied Veterans, which is accused of perpetrating a $300 million money laundering scheme.
Hillary's the favorite for president in Fla. in new Q poll
By Steve Bousquet
Tampa Bay Times/Miami Herald Tallahassee Bureau
Hillary Clinton is the most popular pick for president among Florida voters -- more popular than Jeb Bush or Marco Rubio -- and Floridians overwhelmingly support mandatory background checks on gun buyers.
BEST
OF THE BLOGS
The Medicaid Expansion Dilemma in Florida: Does No Mean No?
By Gary Stein
Huffington Post
To say that the future of Florida's health care assistance plan is in flux is a gross understatement.
How ALEC Legislators Are Fueling Efforts To Block Paid Sick Leave And Other Pro-Worker Policies
By Rachel Curley
Think Progress
The American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC), which has been described as a “collaboration between multinational corporations and conservative state legislators”, is waging a campaign against workers, especially those in minimum wage jobs with few to no benefits.
Florida’s Lt. Gov. Resigns After Questioning in Gambling Investigation
By Trish Ponder
Pensito Review
The ground is shifting under the feet of Florida Republicans, as Lt. Gov. Jennifer Carroll resigns after being questioned in a federal racketeering investigation.
House Republicans Reeling From Opposition and Weak Defense of Parent Trigger
By Bob Sikes
Scathing Purple Musings
Most observers say that Rep. Carlos Truillo (R-Miami) was bested by a handful of Florida democrat legislators in this week’s Parent Trigger debate in the House.
Florida Senator Marco Rubio goes after wrong government extremists
By Daniel Tilson
West Palm Beach Liberal Examiner
Marco Rubio took to the U.S. Senate floor yesterday and made an interesting series of statements about the trouble that radicals in government can cause.
FLORIDA
POLITICS
Florida Governor Rick Scott dodges question on vetting of Jennifer Carroll
By Preston Rudie
First Coast News Jacksonville
Gov. Rick Scott dodged a question about the vetting of former Lt. Gov. Jennifer Carroll Tuesday when he declined to answer whether he reviewed Carroll's financial disclosures before selecting her as his running mate.
Scott noncommittal on Internet cafe ban
By Mary Ellen Klas
Tampa Bay Times/Miami Herald Tallahassee Bureau
As the Florida House prepares to vote on its bill to ban Internet cafes in Florida, Gov. Rick Scott told the Miami Herald editorial board Thursday that he had not made up his mind on whether to support it or not.
Florida Dems torch Scott over voting lines in Web ad
By Aaron Sharockman
Tampa Bay Times
The Florida Democratic Party today released a Web ad attacking Gov. Rick Scott over the long lines some Floridians faced during the 2012 election.
Two more witnesses cooperating in David Rivera campaign-finance investigation
By Marc Caputo
Miami Herald
A former aide of U.S. Rep. David Rivera and a printing company have both become witnesses in the federal investigation of the Republican politician’s ties to an illegally funded congressional campaign, The Miami Herald and El Nuevo Herald have learned.
Florida House Remembers Rep. Clay Ford
By Sascha Cordner
WFSU Tallahassee
The Florida House held a special session Thursday to remember State Representative Clay Ford, who passed away Monday.
ENVIRONMENT
AND ENERGY
Everglades compromise hailed, passes Senate committee
By Bruce Ritchie
Florida Current
Related: Policy Note: The Everglades
A Senate committee voted Thursday to rewrite Everglades legislation to win support from environmental groups and sugar farmers.
New Everglades bill contains fewer favors for farmers
Editorial
Palm Beach Post
The Everglades cleanup bill still would give farmers more than they deserve, but it no longer would sell out the “River of Grass.”
LGBT
|Poll: 74% of Fla GOPers back gay marriage or civil unions
By Adam C. Smith
Tampa Bay Times
It was barely four years ago that nearly 62 percent of Florida voters passed a state constitutional ban on same-sex marriage and civil unions.
Florida gay students find school unwelcoming
By Jeffrey S. Solochek
Tampa Bay Times
Florida's gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender students find the state's public schools hostile and unsafe places for them, according to a survey report released Thursday by GLSEN (the Gay, Lesbian & Straight Education Network).
EDUCATION
Key education issues move through Florida legislative committees with little fanfare
By Jeffrey S. Solochek
Tampa Bay Times
Parent trigger and teacher raises have garnered the lion's share of the attention being paid to education issues under debate in the Florida Legislature.
Will Weatherford: 'Obvious' our budget includes money for teacher salaries
By Matt Dixon
Florida Times-Union
Gov. Rick Scott’s Tuesday said it was “interesting” House Speaker Will Weatherford’s budget does not include pay raises for teachers.
Group critical of FCAT encourages parents to 'opt out'
By Tracy Jacim
WOFL Fox 35 Orlando
The Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test, or FCAT, will be administered until 2014, at which time a new standardized test is set to take its place.
Florida Poly future unclear, Weatherford says
By Michael Van Sickler
Tampa Bay Times/Miami Herald Tallahassee Bureau
So perhaps JD Alexander should be worried that his dream of a 12th university in Polk County will get dashed.
New UF students will be required to have health insurance
By Clare Lennon
Gainesville Sun
Students at the University of Florida will have to find health insurance or find another school, starting with the incoming students in fall 2014.
JOBS,
BUDGET, AND ECONOMY
House poised to end guaranteed pension plan
Associated Press
Palm Beach Post
The Florida House is poised to pass a bill that would end traditional pensions for new state and county employees and teachers.
Gov. Scott defends car insurance overhaul but does not rule out scrapping PIP
By Charles Elmore
Palm Beach Post
After a court injunction against one of his signature legislative initiatives, Gov. Rick Scott on Thursday defended attempts to fix Florida’s auto insurance problems but said it was “appropriate” for legislators to consider options including ditching the no-fault system in place for more than four decades.
Red light camera fines survive in Senate
By Michael Van Sickler
Tampa Bay Times/Miami Herald Tallahassee Bureau
Red light runners would have paid less for getting violations and had more time to pay them under SB 1342 by Sen. Joe Abruzzo, D-Wellington, but the lobbying muscle of the agencies and governments that produce revenue from the fines overturned it.
Legislature looks at lower car registration fees
Staff Report
Tampa Bay Times
The Florida Senate is considering lowering fees that car owners pay when they register their vehicles, a reversal from 2009, when lawmakers increased fees to raise revenue.
Bill raising caps on sovereign immunity claims moves in the House
By Gray Rohrer
Florida Current
After surviving attempts to water it down, a bill to increase caps on liability claims subject to sovereign immunity passed through the House Select Committee on Claims Bills on Thursday.
HEALTH
AND SENIORS
Negron offers alternative to Medicaid expansion
By James Call
Florida Current
Related: Policy Note: Medicaid Expansion
Lobbyists lined the walls of the Senate Appropriations Committee meeting room to watch Sen. Joe Negron attempt to walk a narrow path on Medicaid expansion.
Senate finds compromise in optometrists vs. ophthalmologists dispute
By James Call
Florida Current
A compromise has been found in a long-running dispute between optometrists and ophthalmologists.
Courthouse Steps Getting Steeper for Patients, Families
By Carol Gentry
Health News Florida
In Florida, medical-negligence cases already take more time, money and evidence to bring than any other kind of civil suit.
Struggling with Illness, Irony in Health Debate
By Susan Clary
Florida Voices
It’s hard to imagine Palm Beach County in the late 1800s.
IMMIGRATION,
CIVIL RIGHTS AND SOCIAL ISSUES
Survey finds 6 in 10 Floridians support pathway to citizenship
By Alex Leary
Tampa Bay Times
More than 6 in 10 Floridians support allowing illegal immigrants to become citizens if they meet certain requirements, according to a new poll. The finding matches national support.
Poll: 9 of 10 Fla. voters favor background checks
Associated Press
Daytona Beach News-Journal
A new poll shows Florida voters - by better than a 9-to-1 margin - say they would like to see the state require background checks on those who want to buy guns.
JUSTICE
AND THE COURTS
Bill against Shariah law in courts passes panel
By James L. Rosica
Associated Press
After it failed last year, lawmakers on Thursday revived a bill that would ban Shariah, or Islamic, law and other foreign laws from Florida courts.
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