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Another hit for gender-affirming care as FL osteopathic board reverses itself
Chances the state might continue to allow nonsurgical gender-affirming care for some minors under close medical oversight were dashed Friday when the Florida Board of Osteopathic Medicine rescinded its previous tentative support for the treatments. The board had earlier voted to retain the treatments under supervision by institutional review boards at hospitals, but that was […]
FL House approves state control over Disney’s special tax district
The GOP-controlled state House passed legislation Thursday to assume state control over Disney World’s special tax district, with the governor able to make all board appointments. Democratic state Rep. Anna Eskamani of Orlando attempted to ensure that the five-member board would include local elected officials, but that failed. “Of the concerns of myself and other […]
DeSantis on proposal to control Disney’s Reedy Creek tax district: ‘There’s a new sheriff in town’
Amid a legislative special session and committee meetings this week in Tallahassee, Gov. Ron DeSantis, Senate President Kathleen Passidomo and House Speaker Paul Renner traveled to Ocala, in Central Florida, to discuss tax relief efforts — though the governor also talked about the fate of Disney’s special tax district. Flanked by the GOP legislative leaders […]
DeSantis: ‘They come after me and they do a lot of slander, but I fight back’
Gov. Ron DeSantis on Tuesday hosted another roundtable discussion that resembled a television show, lamenting over people who were allegedly victims of defamation by major media platforms. DeSantis, who is a lawyer, welcomed several guests including Nicholas Sandmann, a former high school student from Kentucky who went viral years ago after a confrontation with a […]
House Democrats ‘cannot see any logical reason’ for a special session catering to Gov. DeSantis
State lawmakers are convening this week for yet another special session on a variety of issues that are priorities for Gov. Ron DeSantis — but not to Floridians who need help with other urgent needs such as affordable housing and health care, Florida House Democrats said on Monday. Those Democratic legislators will be compelled to […]
Trans kids want ‘lives of dignity and acceptance’; DeSantis, surgeon general want bans on therapies
James, of Central Florida. Nov. 15, 2022: “This rule cruelly and unfairly attacks vulnerable trans youth in our state by banning their access to gender-affirming healthcare. Young people who want only to be who they are and live lives of dignity and acceptance, something we ask for all people. In addition, as this rule does […]
Proposed state budget 2023-24: Unlike other states, still no Medicaid expansion for FL
Funds for postpartum and pregnant women, Alzheimer’s programs, cancer research and more, will likely be included in the 2023-24 state budget related to health. But Gov. Ron DeSantis on Wednesday didn’t mention any plans to expand Medicaid, an issue that many Democrats have been pushing for years in the GOP-led Legislature. “One of the things […]
DeSantis is appointing new medical board members while slamming gender-affirming care for youth
With the state considering a ban on gender-affirming care for minors, two key medical oversight boards scheduled to discuss the issue next week have undergone changes to their members in just a couple months. Gov. Ron DeSantis is responsible for appointments to both the Florida Board of Medicine and Board of Osteopathic Medicine and they must […]
‘Heartbeat bill is the most likely legislation’ that could be pushed by GOP in 2023
Amid court challenges to Florida’s 15-week abortion ban, the leader of a statewide policy council who’s against the medical procedure believes GOP lawmakers could push for a more restrictive ban — at around six weeks — during the Legislature’s spring session. Democrats fear that such a restriction — connected to a so-called “fetal heartbeat” bill […]
Frequent commuters in FL to receive first toll discount in February
Frequent commuters are expected to see a 50 percent discount in February for using at least 35 toll transactions in a month, Gov. Ron DeSantis said on Monday, offering an update on the new toll initiative that only lasts a year. “I think people in Central Florida will be benefiting very soon,” DeSantis said during […]
FL Black leaders furious about Gov. DeSantis’ rejection of AP African American studies course
Gov. Ron DeSantis’ rejection of an Advanced Placement pilot course on African American studies elicited a resounding response from a crowd of at least a hundred people gathered in the state Capitol Wednesday, praying and loudly chanting about the importance of protecting Black history taught in Florida’s public schools. Some held signs that read “Black […]
Medicaid coverage could end soon for vulnerable Floridians, but state doesn’t want to ‘incite panic’
With Florida preparing to take another look at eligibility for Medicaid recipients amid the COVID-19 pandemic, state agency leaders on Monday pointed to an expected decrease in enrollment in the health care program for many low-income families and children. That’s because what’s called the “continuous Medicaid coverage” requirement is scheduled to end on March 31. […]