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Jackie Schutz

Rick Scott announces Jackie Schutz Zeckman as next chief of staff

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Jackie Schutz Zeckman has been tapped to serve as Gov. Rick Scott’s right hand woman. The Naples Republican announced Tuesday that Schutz Zeckman will serve has his chief of staff beginning July 1. She’ll replace Kim McDougal, Scott’s current chief of staff, who is departing to pursue opportunities in the private sector. “Jackie has been on my team since my first year in office and has done a great job leading my communications efforts and conveying my vision of Florida…

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Rick Scott to appeal denial of federal emergency funds for Orlando massacre

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Gov. Rick Scott is planning to appeal the denial of his request for the declaration of a federal state of emergency in the wake of the Orlando nightclub mass shooting. Scott doesn’t understand why the request was denied, representative Jackie Schutz told The Associated Press, especially since an emergency was declared after the Boston Marathon bombing. The Governor has 30 days to appeal the decision, Schutz said. Officials from the Federal Emergency Management Agency argue that the disaster fund is not appropriate…

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Planned Parenthood asks court to block Florida abortion bill

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Planned Parenthood filed a lawsuit Thursday asking a federal district court to block restrictions on abortions signed into law earlier this year by Gov. Rick Scott. The bill is similar to legislation being challenged in court in other states, including Texas. State and federal laws already prohibit public money for abortion, but Florida’s bill goes a step further by preventing any state funds from going to any service by an organization that also provides abortions. It also requires that doctors…

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Florida to spend $700,000 to settle public records lawsuits

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Florida is paying $700,000 to settle allegations that Gov. Rick Scott and other state officials flouted the state’s public records laws. The state agreed this week to pay that amount to Tallahassee attorney Steven Andrews. Andrews sued the governor and other top state officials back in 2013. He alleged the Scott administration failed to turn over calendars and emails and text messages. Jackie Schutz, a spokeswoman for Scott, said “it was the right thing to do for the state.” The…

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Will Gov. Rick Scott be showing up in court next week?

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There could be some courtroom drama next week in Gov. Rick Scott’s lawsuit against the federal government over the fate of $2 billion in supplemental Medicaid money known as Low Income Pool. It was expected that oral arguments would be held on June 19 in the fast-moving lawsuit. But Chief Judge M. Casey Rodgers, in an order issued on Wednesday, said she would hold an evidentiary hearing on the governor’s motion for a preliminary injunction that, if approved, could force the federal government to…

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Rick Scott’s office on health care funding: “we are continuing to watch the process”

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After making quick progress early on Saturday, legislative health care budget writers announced at 4 pm they wouldn’t meet again until Sunday. House and Senate legislative leaders have agreed to pour $400 million in recurring general revenue into hospitals in an attempt to absorb the loss of $1 billion in supplemental Medicaid dollars known as Low Income Pool. It’s a move that could put the Legislature at odds with Gov. Rick Scott who has said he doesn’t want to “backfill”…

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Teaching hospitals losers, for-profits winners, under Rick Scott’s alternative LIP proposal

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The state’s largest teaching hospitals would see a $200 million reduction in Medicaid payments under a proposal Gov. Rick Scott has floated to the federal government in hopes of keeping Florida’s supplemental Medicaid funds at a full $2 billion. Conversely, the for-profit facilities would gain the most under the proposal being advanced by Scott, the former chief executive officer of the nation’s largest hospital chain. According to spreadsheets distributed by the governor’s office, Scott’s reworked spending formula would mean deep reductions…

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