State Capitol Briefs - Thursday, March 4, 2010

The News Service of Florida

TOP LEGISLATIVE BRIEFS

SOVEREIGN IMMUNITY FOR DOCTORS MOVES

Emergency room doctors, staff and even ambulance drivers would be shielded from deep-pocket lawsuits under legislation approved Thursday by a Senate committee, over opposition from the state’s influential trial lawyer lobby. The Senate sponsor, Sen. John Thrasher, R-St. Augustine, was on the receiving end of a multi-million dollar opposition campaign financed largely by trial lawyers last fall, when he won a Senate seat in a special election. Thrasher at the time vowed that he would work to rein-in the industry. And the emergency room legislation – which has been introduced in the Legislature for the past seven years – has the potential to do just that. Thrasher last month was elected chairman of the Florida Republican Party, which frequently is at odds with the trial bar. The measure (SB 1474) cleared the Health Regulation Committee 5-2. Sen. Dennis Jones, R-Treasure Island, and Senate Democratic Leader Al Lawson of Tallahassee opposed the measure. Senate Democrat Eleanor Sobel of Hollywood, whose 2008 election campaign drew heavy support from a political committee tied to the Florida Medical Association, supported Thrasher’s bill. The legislation caps at $100,000 per incident claims against emergency health care providers – giving them the same legal protections as public employees and institutions. Any legal awards beyond that level would have to be approved by the Legislature.

CHAMBER BACKING FOREVER

The Florida Chamber of Commerce on Thursday signed on to a coalition of environmental groups urging lawmakers to set aside $4.8 million in funds during a tight budget year to levy $50 million in bonds for Florida Forever, the state's pre-eminent environmental land-buying program. With 5 million people expected to move into the state within the next decade or two, state officials need to take advantage of current property values to set the stage for future economic growth, the statewide business group concluded by choosing to lend its name and political clout to the effort. "The next generation of high-wage, highly trained workers are going to go where the quality of life is high," said Mark Wilson, president of the Florida Chamber. "Employers will follow those workers." Wilson has sent letters of support to Senate President Jeff Atwater and House Speaker Larry Cretul. Gov. Charlie Crist recommending $50 million in Florida Forever funding in his budget request.

DOCKERY JOINS MCCOLLUM AGAINST HEALTH CARE MANDATE

Sen. Paula Dockery, a Republican candidate for governor, said Thursday that she supports a Senate joint resolution that would enshrine in the state constitution that no Florida resident can be compelled to have health care, joining her GOP rival for governor Bill McCollum, who has also vowed to fight any requirement for health care coverage. “The federal government has no business telling Americans how to spend their hard-earned money, let alone fining them for not buying a product like health insurance,” Dockery said. The proposed amendment (SJR72) is one of three strongly anti-Washington measures she is backing – as tea partiers nationwide vent their anger at just about anything coming from the banks of the Potomac. Dockery also announced her support for a memorial to Congress telling it to respect state's rights and a bill (SB 98) that says that any gun made in Florida isn't subject to any federal or laws or state regulations. “It’s time to say enough to the Washington establishment that is trying to impose its tax-and-spend agenda on Florida citizens,” Dockery said.

BUDGET BRIEFS

COLLEGE STUDENTS WARY OF BUDGET CUTS

University students rallied Thursday at the Capitol against what is likely to prove another round of budget cuts, the third straight year of belt-tightening for an already low-ranking higher education system. But Gov. Charlie Crist later huddled with a mostly supportive group of student body presidents who offered only muted criticism of the program cuts, faculty layoffs, and classroom crowding students have endured. University of Central Florida student president Brian Peterson said it was “disheartening” to serve as a leader and “have to tell students that their programs were being cut. It’s one of the hardest things I’ve had to do.” Sholom Neistein, student president at Florida International University’s Biscayne Bay-campus, said most students support the 15 percent tuition hike approved by lawmakers last year, which are likely to continue annually until Florida’s rate reaches the national average. But Neistein conceded students were growing frustrated with getting less, while paying more. “We want the bang for the buck,” he said. The students also urged Crist to blunt legislative attempts to require students to have health insurance coverage – a proposal pushed by the University of Florida and University of Central Florida. State analysts reported that mandatory insurance could cost full-time students an additional $1,250 annually. Crist offered few commitments, but touted the prospect of gaining a $1 billion injection of money into education if Florida can land the federal “race to the top” award for which it is now among 16 state finalists. The award is expected to be made by mid-April. “If we can do that, get a (gambling) compact, and some other things in the bank, we’ll be okay,” Crist said.

TAXWATCH FINDS $3.3 BILLION IN SAVINGS

Reduce the number of no-bid contracts, end free health care benefits and shift state employees to 401Ks were just a few of the 88 suggestions offered Thursday by Florida TaxWatch that could save the state $3.3 billion a year or more without reducing critical services. Flanked by task force members that included Attorney General Bill McCollum, TaxWatch President Dominic Calabro said results of the year-long exercise could help lawmakers reduce costs on a continual basis by reducing the state's inmate population and renegotiating bulk item contracts.

SANDS RENEWS CALL FOR TAX LOOPHOLE CLOSURE

House Democratic Leader Franklin Sands on Wednesday used the majority's release of budget allocations to renew a call for closing “unnecessary tax loopholes.” House Speaker Larry Cretul said in a memo accompanying the allocations on Wednesday that the House's top principle was no new or increased fees or taxes, which Sands applauded. “Protecting small businesses and the middle class during these tough economic times is a high priority for Florida House Democratic Caucus members,” said Sands, D-Weston. “Today, I urge House Republican leaders to address Speaker Cretul’s goal by giving full consideration to proposed legislation that would close unnecessary tax loopholes, as well as bills that would clamp down on fraud and abuse in state spending.” Of course one man's loophole is another man's common sense economic development necessity. Measures in past years to remove exemptions from the sales tax – even seemingly strange ones like ostrich feed – have failed to pass even as lawmakers have had to deal with budget shortfalls.

ALSO

PITTS SERVED AT CAPITOL

Justice 2 Jesus lobbyist Brian Pitts now faces a clock even sterner than the Legislature’s 60-day session. Pitts, who was found guilty of practicing law without a license, could face jail time in Pinellas County as early as next week, after being served a court order Wednesday at the state Capitol. Pitts told the News Service of Florida on Thursday that he intends to request a rehearing in the matter before the high court. Pitts was sentenced to five months in jail last week for repeatedly violating a 2003 Supreme Court order barring him from practicing law. The order calls for him to be locked up within five days of being served. Sen. Gary Siplin, D-Orlando, earlier came to Pitts’ defense, filing legislation aimed at compensating him for his long battle with the Florida Bar. Pitts repeated Thursday his assertion that the legislation is what’s prompted the tough order. “It’s all about power,” Pitts said.

This information originally published on March 4, 2010.

Tell them you saw it on Wakulla.com!

Click here to discuss this topic in our Online Discussion Forums.

Per Wakulla.com policy, all reader comments (submitted below) must include a valid first and last name.

Click here to have the Wakulla.com Weekly E-Newsletter delivered directly to your inbox!

Written by :