By Peter Schorsch
Sixty Days
February 15, 2022
Republicans have been blaming the surge in inflation on President Joe Biden. That’s especially true in Florida, where House Republicans have included a new $2 billion trust fund to account for higher costs in their new budget proposal. The name: Budgeting for Inflation that Drives Elevated Needs, or the BIDEN Fund. The narrative has led to a dip in Biden’s and Democrats’ approval ratings, but state Democrats plan to push back. Rep. Fentrice Driskell, a Tampa Democrat, has filed an amendment to the BIDEN Fund bill (HB 5011) that she said would “inject some truth serum” into the inflation debate. The amendment notes the increased federal spending that contributed to the spike in inflation started under President Donald Trump in 2020 and was initially passed with Republican support to address the economic downturn caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Here’s your nightly rundown.
Major differences. Both chambers agreed to eliminate additional “critical care” hospital funding, but the House went a step further, shifting $100 million currently used to reimburse hospitals toward nurse training programs.
Ounce of prevention. The House Health Care Appropriations Subcommittee advanced a bill (HB 1315) to establish a pilot program to address veteran suicide.
Direct care. The House Health Care Appropriations Subcommittee advanced a bill (HB 1239) that would allow staff without nursing degrees to fulfill a portion of nursing home direct care hour requirements.
A few tweaks. The House Health Care Appropriations Subcommittee OK’d a bill (HB 1277) to tweak the state’s Baker Act and Marksman Act laws.
‘Education recovery.’ A $4 million proposal (HB 1117) to create scholarships for K-12 students to mitigate learning loss cleared its first of four House panels.
Emancipation Day. Countering anti-critical race theory rhetoric, Democratic Sen. Randolph Bracy touted his Emancipation Day bill (SB 1500) as the kind of Black history legislation Florida needs.
Blurred lines. Rep. Joe Harding has moved to Ocala to run in the new House District 24, avoiding a Primary with Rep. Chuck Clemons.
House call. Democratic Reps. Anna Eskamani and Dianne Hart joined doctors and health care advocates in urging the Senate to oppose the appointment of Dr. Joseph Ladapo as the state’s Surgeon General.
Standing their ground. On the fourth anniversary of the Parkland shooting, Florida Democrats said gun control reforms (HB 199) are still needed, but Republicans are standing in the way.
‘Mandate mafia.’ Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronisissued a proclamation supporting Canadian truckers — or the “freedom convoy” — opposing the nation’s vaccine mandate.
Gee Tallahassee,
While you are concerned with the “issue dejure”, I can’t seem to find a new “Homeowner’s Insurance Policy”. My present agency says nothing is available because my roof just turned 15 years old? I have shoes (in fact all of my shoes), older than that!