Has anyone else but me noticed that there have been more than a few stories on controversial bills that carry the name āTrujillo“? Good for him. Too often, too many lawmakers come to Tallahassee to go along and get along. But when you choose to take on the FMA or Publix or abortion clinics in your career ā that takes guts. But when you take them on all at once in three different bills, well, thatās worthy of a 10-gallon…
Groups opposed to an effort to do away with retailers having separate stores to sell liquor have banded together asĀ Florida Businesses Unite. The new alliance includesĀ ABC Fine Wine & Spirits, the Florida Independent Spirits Association and Publix, according to a Wednesday news release. For three years now, various lawmakers have carried legislation ā orĀ “whiskey and Wheaties” bills āĀ pushed by Wal-Mart, Target and other big-box retailers that would ease regulations on the sale of alcohol. State Rep. Carlos Trujillo, a Miami…
Carlos Trujilloās attempt to fix balance billing (HB 221 – Health Insurance Coverage for Emergency Services) is LITERALLY lifted from the federal law commonly referred to as āObamacareā ā or as some Republicans have called it, āThe end of the world as we know it.ā To be fair, sometimes Trujilloās bill tracks the federal law word for word, and other times it merely acts like a college student not wanting to be seen as plagiarizing a Wikipedia page. Trujillo’s bill…
Mission: NEXT, Jeb Bushās NASA-inspired bundler program for young Republicans, lands in Miami next month for a fundraising reception hosted by Jeb Bush, Jr. The event, which focuses on donors under 40, begins 7:30 p.m. Thursday, September 24 at American Social, 690 SW 1st Court in Miami. Evening reception tickets start at $250 ā with a special $100 reception ticket for individuals under 30. A spot as co-chair costs $1,000 and includes a pre-reception for two and entry to the…
Palm Coast Sen. Travis HutsonĀ filed a bill on Wednesday that would create a separate, more severe class of penalties for Floridians who commit crimes while in the country illegally. Hutson’s bill —Ā SB 150Ā ––Ā Ā would enhance the penalties for crimesĀ that fall under one of several statutory categories of violent crimes, if the offense is committed by someone who is unlawfully present in the United States. A first-degree misdemeanor assault charge, for instance, would carry the greater penalties of a third-degree felony under…
Florida’s leading law enforcement associationĀ recognizedĀ 10 legislators this week forĀ providing significant advancementsĀ in 2015 to the state’s overall public safety. Florida Sheriffs Association is a for-profit corporation representing Florida Sheriffs, as well as nearly 3,500 business leaders and 70,000 Floridians. The association released itsĀ annual list of Legislative Champions on Monday night during the group’s Summer Conference in Broward County. State senators named as FSAĀ Legislative Champions for 2015 include Rene Garcia of Hialeah, Denise Grimsley of Sebring, Tampaās Arthenia Joyner, Jack Latvala of…
Health insurers and HMOs may have won the battle in a House healthcare committee on Thursday but they may end up losing the war this session. The House Health and Human Services Committee approved a bill that would ban nonparticipating providers from balance billing patients in need of emergency care under CS/HB 681. Additionally, the measure would place into law a reimbursement schedule for nonparticipating providers. But CS/HB 681 bill sponsor state Rep.Ā Carlos Trujillo acknowledged that he didnāt think the…
