Author Archive

Haridopolos: Prison privatization bill will get more vetting

By at 20 January, 2012, 4:16 pm

TALLAHASSEE — Only a day after Senate President Mike Haridopolos’ office decided that a prison privatization plan would get only one full legislative hearing, it is backtracking and saying it will now also get a full vetting before the influential Senate Budget Committee. Read More

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House knight takes Senate bishop: No need for budget delay

By at 19 January, 2012, 5:07 pm

TALLAHASSEE — House Speaker Dean Cannon just released budget allocations for committees to begin piecing together a spending plan that would boost per-pupil spending by about 2.3 percent — in line with the increase Gov. Rick Scott requested last month. The Winter Park Republican has Read More

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Docs v. Florida Business Lobby All-Stars tips off in Senate committee

By at 19 January, 2012, 4:22 pm

TALLAHASSEE — A Florida Senate committee stepped into a food fight Thursday between doctors, pharmacistsand the influential business lobby that underwrites campaigns by advancing a bill prohibiting doctors from charging higher rates for re-packaged prescription drugs for injured workers. Read More

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No Casinos group launches latest TV spot

By at 19 January, 2012, 3:48 pm

TALLAHASSEE — Anti gambling group No Casinos launched its latest ad slamming the destination casino proposal. The ad points out Nevada’s high rates of crime, divorce and economic woes. “We do not intend to stand by and allow these out of town gambling interests to have their Read More

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Friday Morning Reads: STEM, ALFs and a ‘parade of horrible’

By at 19 January, 2012, 12:00 pm

TALLAHASSEE — Happy Friday to everyone. We’re sure you want to get going on any weekend plans, so we’ll get to the top five stories of the day without dragging this out. * The Orlando Sentinel reports that an audit of Florida’s early learning programs shows a Read More

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Thursday Morning Reads: Prisons, casinos and hospitals

By at 19 January, 2012, 11:53 am

TALLAHASSEE — To recap yesterday, capitol watchers saw the Senate introduce new prison privatization bills, the governor nominate a new Secretary of State and Rep. Erik Fresen , R-Miami, file amendments to his casino bill. To catch up on that and more, here are the top five stories you Read More

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Weatherford asks for Democratic redistricting votes, pledges not to mow over them

By at 18 January, 2012, 7:24 pm

TALLAHASSEE — House Redistricting Chairman Will Weatherford asked minority-party Democrats for their votes Wednesday, and said it was “not part of the plan” to roll over their objections when the re-drawn political maps hit the House floor. Weatherford’s committee will Read More

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Senate unveils privatization re-do plan

By at 18 January, 2012, 6:48 pm

TALLAHASSEE – A Senate panel opened the door Wednesday to give the Senate a second shot at privatizing 29 prisons in South Florida and eliminate some of the obstacles that led a Tallahassee judge to reject a similar plan this summer. The Senate Rules Committee, chaired by Sen. John Thrasher, Read More

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