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Florida ABLE act moves swiftly through House, Senate panels

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A slate of proposals to create a new statewide framework for assisting people with intellectual disabilities made progress in both chambers of the Legislature Wednesday. SB 7030 and HB 935, sponsored by Sen. Kelli Stargel and Rep. Ray Rodrigues respectively were unanimously passed by House Children, Families & Seniors and Senate Education Appropriations. “Establishing the Florida ABLE Act is part of a larger effort by the Legislature this session to support a path to economic independence for individuals with unique abilities,” said Rodrigues in…

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Bill Day’s latest: A take on gambling addiction

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Florida lawmakers are taking up the possibility of gambling reform once again in the newly launched 2015 legislative session. In honor of that 60-day road ahead, editorial cartoonist Bill Day offers his take on one of the most contentious issues in state politics. “While I’m not against gambling, in general,” Day says, “the great danger is addiction and how it drains the middle class and poor.” As an example, Day uses the City of Detroit, which approved casino gambling in 1996, building…

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The day that was in Florida politics — March 4

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At this pace, Florida’s political class may be exhausted by the end of March when budget writers begin deciding what will be left in and what will be taken out of a $77 billion dollar state spending plan. The state capitol waken Wednesday with word that Gov. Rick Scott had penned a commentary calling on President Barack Obama to work with Florida on some sort of agreement on a Low Income Pool. The $2 billion program reimburses hospitals to treat…

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Senate health care plan emerging as LIP negotiations heat up

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Work requirements, co-payments, and commercial insurance or managed care companies are likely to be featured in a health plan that will emerge from the Senate next week as the chamber begins to discuss a health care plan the state could use if a $2 billion Medicaid financing is cut off by the federal government. Senate Health Policy Committee Chairman Aaron Bean said he plans to make available at the committee’s meeting next week a draft plan with a conservative approach…

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Gwen Graham planning to go directly to the people

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Voters in the 2nd Congressional District are still coming to terms with Congresswoman Gwen Graham’s campaign theme The North Florida Way. To help the process along, Graham Wednesday announced she will hold regular mobile office in the 12-rural counties she represents in addition to Tallahassee and Panama City. A lone bright spot for Florida Democrats in November when Graham defeated Tea Party favorite Steve Southerland, she has since drawn fire from the left for votes in favor of the Keystone…

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House water bill faces questions, teed up for floor vote

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Democrats questioned a House water policy bill on the floor Wednesday while environmentalists said they are turning their hopes to the Senate for a stronger bill. Supporters say HB 7003 provides a statewide approach to dealing with water issues while modernizing the water regulatory system. But environmentalists say it weakens Lake Okeechobee protections while failing to set deadlines for cleaning up springs and restoring flows. Rep. Matt Caldwell, R-Lehigh Acres and chairman of the House State Affairs Committee, was questioned…

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Brandes-Fitzenhagen gun bill passes committees with limited opposition

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A matching pair of proposals to allow Floridians to carry concealed weapons without a permitduring certain emergency situations passed committees in both legislative chambers on Wednesday. First up was Ft. Myers Rep. Heather Fitzenhagen‘s HB 493, which passed the House Criminal Justice Subcommittee by a vote of 9-2, with Democratic Reps. Clovis Watson and Randolph Bracy dissenting. Before the vote Fitzenhagen amended her bill to create a 48-hour time limit on the bill’s exemption to concealed-carry statutes during evacuations, with a provision that allows the governor…

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