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“Right to Try” expansion bill adding medical marijuana passes Senate panel

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A bill to allow terminally ill patients to use medical marijuana passed its first committee stop in the Senate on Tuesday, hours after a House panel OK’d a similar bill. Debate focused on eliminating roadblocks to care amid nearly two years of delays since a bill to allow low-THC cannabis derivatives was enacted in 2014. Bill sponsor Sen. Rob Bradley acknowledged the 2014 Compassionate Use Act passed by the Legislature “could have been better.” Asked by Sen. Don Gaetz – Senate president at the time…

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Rick Scott will refuse 425 Syrian refugees, seek Congressional action to stop federal relocation plans

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Gov. Rick Scott announced Monday afternoon his administration will not grant requests to relocate some 425 displaced Syrians inside Florida’s borders, and is asking Congress to help ensure it cannot be coerced to. Scott addressed the issue in a letter to House Speaker Paul Ryan and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell. The governor told the Congressional Republican leaders though his state will do what it can to prevent an influx of Syrians into Florida, further action is require by Congress to ensure it does not…

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Don Gaetz, Matt Gaetz call on Rick Scott to refuse Syrian refugees

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A prominent father-son pair of Northwest Florida lawmakers are calling on Gov. Rick Scott to join a push by a number of conservative governors to defy the Obama administration’s plan to accept more refugees displaced from war-torn Syria. On Monday, state Sen. Don Gaetz and Rep. Matt Gaetz sent a letter to Scott urging him to not accept any additional Syrian refugees. “We do not believe the federal government is prudent, wise or vigilant in bringing vast numbers of young Syrian males to…

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Matt Gaetz opponent George Gainer holds major SD 1 funder, proves he isn’t “standing alone in the mirror”

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Bay County Commissioner George Gainer pushed back hard on accusations he is “standing alone in the mirror” for his Florida Senate District 1 campaign. As proof, the Northwest Florida Republican hosted a major fundraiser, attended by what supporters call a “who’s who” of Bay County business, civic and political leaders. Gainer faces state Rep. Matt Gaetz in the GOP primary for the seat now held by Gaetz’s father, state Sen. Don Gaetz. Held Tuesday night in Panama City, the reception took…

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Don Gaetz strikes back against ‘bully’ Jack Latvala

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For the first time in recent memory, a sitting Florida senator invoked the Senate Rules during a floor session to call out a colleague specifically for impugning his integrity. State Sen. Don Gaetz, a Niceville Republican and previous Senate President, raised a “question of personal privilege” to defend his honor against attacks made in the press by Clearwater Republican Jack Latvala. Latvala is vying for the next Senate presidency against Stuart Republican Joe Negron; Gaetz previously committed his support in that…

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Diane Roberts: Charm and grace again flow downhill from Capitol

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OCCUPIED TALLAHASSEE – Another Special Session! Why, it’s just like Christmas – minus the joy. Minus the presents, too. While the members of the Florida Legislature rake in lobbyist largesse during committee weeks and every other hour that God sends, trawling for dollars during a Session is verboten. This makes them surly. Surlier. They aren’t exactly enjoying being forced to revisit redistricting for about the 400th time since the spring. No one expects the Special Session, which is supposed to…

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Senators say anti-pill mill law has seen patients’ pain go untreated

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Members of the Senate Health Policy Committee discussed a 2011 law designed to crack down on illicit painkiller prescriptions through “pill mills,” which Chairman Aaron Bean said has sent “the pendulum from one direction to the other.” The law, HB 7095, was spearheaded by a newly elected Attorney General Pam Bondi and then-state Sen. Mike Fasano in the midst of a widespread painkiller abuse epidemic that earned Florida the title of “pill mill capital of the U.S.” A pair of experts corroborated accounts senators…

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Pam Bondi goes to Nevada

Drawing on lessons learned after a nightclub massacre last year in Orlando, Attorney General Pam Bondi and members of her

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