Rick Scott 'Nada Bucks' passed out at disability protest

Rick Scott "Nada Bucks" was the currency of choice at a rally in Tallahassee this morning to protest an announcement last week that the governor was drastically cutting reimbursement rates to people who care for the developmentally disabled.

The Times/Tallahassee Bureau report:

Gov. Rick Scott's announcement last week that he was drastically cutting reimbursement rates to people who care for the developmentally disabled has sparked yet another protest at the state Capitol. Hundreds have gathered for a rally in opposition to the reductions, which range from 15 percent to 40 percent.

Gov. Rick Scott's announcement last week that he was drastically cutting reimbursement rates to people who care for the developmentally disabled has sparked yet another protest at the state Capitol. Hundreds have gathered for a rally in opposition to the reductions, which range from 15 percent to 40 percent.


Scott says the rate cut is the only way to get the Agency for Persons With Disabilities under control. It is on pace to exceed its budget by $174 million by the end of the budget year, June 30. Scott has refused to use savings money or raise taxes to fill the deficit.

Advocates, parents and providers say the rate cuts are too deep too fast. They say vital services will be cut. Some people, known as "support coordinators" will have their money cut so deeply that they'll essentially be working for less than minimum wage to care for people with autism, cerebral palsy and Down Syndrome.

At the protest this morning, protestors handed out Rick Scott emblazoned currency called "Nada Bucks" that say "In Solantic We Trust" -- a reference to the chain of clinics founded by Scott that could profit by changes to Medicaid he supports.

On the back of the buck is a "Don't Hold Your Breath" Voucher that asks protestors to request Rick Scott perform the services for people who could go without.

 For more about the planned reimbursement cuts, read the story from Monday's Bradenton Herald.

Election Day '12 is more than a year off, but in Manatee some are already running

The filing deadlines for the 2012 elections are more than a year away, and Election Day isn't until Nov. 6, 2012.

But already some local candidates -- all incumbents -- are positioning themselves for the next campaign

Freshman state Reps. Jim Boyd, R-Bradenton, Greg Steube, R-Bradenton, and Ray Pilon, R-Sarasota -- who are barely halfway through their first legislative session -- have already filed for re-election. So have state Rep. Daryl Rouson, D-St. Petersburg, and state Sen. Nancy Detert, R-Venice, according to the Florida Division of Elections.

They were all beaten to the punch by Bill Galvano, who on June 12, 2009 -- when he was still a state representative -- filed to run for the Florida Senate seat now held by Mike Bennett, R-Bradenton, who cannot run for re-election because of term limits.

Between when he filed and Dec. 31, 2010, Galvano raised more than $216,000 in campaign contributions, and spent more than $72,000 -- giving him a big head start on any prospective rivals, according to the Division of Elections.

At the county level, Manatee commissioners Larry Bustle and Donna Hayes have filed for re-election to their respective seats. And so has Sheriff Brad Steube and Clerk of Courts R.B. "Chips" Shore, according to the Manatee County Supervisor of Elections Office.

Manatee County Commissioner John Chappie, whose seat also is up for election next year, has not yet filed.

But still has plenty of time.

The qualifying period for state and county-level positions isn't until June 18-22, 2012.

Buchanan pushes for his 'pill legislation' on House floor

U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan took to the floor of the U.S. House on Tuesday morning to advocate for legislation he is sponsoring that would beef up punishment for illegal "pill mills" and fund databases that track the prescribing and dispensing of certain medications.

Here is his speech:

The saggy pants debate in Florida: There's a song for that

The Florida Legislature's consideration of a bill that would set standards for how people wear their pants may need a theme song.

Here's one possibility:

Impeach Rick Scott? Good luck with that

There are an online petition and several Facebook pages calling for it, but impeachment likely won't be the way to rid Florida of Gov. Rick Scott.

The Herald/Times Tallahassee Bureau reports:

Impeach Gov. Rick Scott?

Several hundred Floridians are calling for just that only three months after Scott took office, signing an online petition letter on the social networking site www.change.org. The petition cites Scott's rejection of federal rail money, his opposition to seeking federal approval of two voter-approved fair-redistricting measures and support for drug-testing welfare recipients.

"It is time to investigate and impeach this self-promoting man. Florida can do better!" the petition states.
But given state law, impeachment of Scott is very unlikely.

Only the state House has the power to impeach a governor — by a two-thirds vote — and more than two-thirds of House members are Republicans like Scott. If he were impeached, he would be tried by the Senate, where 28 of the 40 members are Republicans.

"Absolutely not," said Sen. Jack Latvala, R-Clearwater, when asked if Scott deserved to be thrown out of office. He had received at least 67 petition letters as of Monday.

"It's silly," said Sen. Mike Fasano, R-New Port Richey, who also received several dozen letters. "I totally disagree with that."

Fla. lawmakers poised for lively second half

As Mary Ellen Klas of our Herald/Times Tallahassee bureau reported in the Herald this morning,  Florida legislators are halfway through the 2011 session -- and in the next 30 days, they;re poised to make it easier for insurance companies to raise rates, make it more difficult for women to receive an abortion and hand over control of prisons to private companies.

Here's what Bradenton's Republican Sen. Mike Bennett had to say: “You’ve got a very conservative governor, president and speaker, so they’ve gone down some roads that people have kind of been afraid to go down before.’’

Buchanan's 'pill mill' bill wins bipartisan support

Backed by bipartisan coalition of co-sponsors, U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan today will formally introduce legislation he says is designed to fight prescription drug abuse and crack down on illegal "pill mills."

Among the co-sponsors are another dozen members of Congress from Florida -- the nation's top supplier of illegally prescribed and purchased prescription medications.

“Today, we take a crucial step toward putting these pill mills out of business,” Buchanan, R-Sarasota, said in a news release. “Many of these so-called pain clinics are nothing more than illegal drug distribution networks that bring untold misery to our children, our families, and our communities. I appreciate the bipartisan support I’ve received from members across the country who recognize the severity of this epidemic.”

Specifically, Buchanan’s bill, titled the "Pill Mill Crackdown Act of 2011," would:

• Toughen federal penalties for pill mill operators by doubling the prison sentence from 10 to 20 years and tripling the fine from $1 million to $3 million.
• Stipulate that assets seized from violators be used to: fund drug monitoring databases in the states; fund Drug Enforcement Administration actions against pill mills; and support drug treatment programs within the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.
• Reclassify hydrocodone combination drugs to make them a Schedule II drug that is more difficult to prescribe and obtain.

 In addition to the support from at least 25 of his colleagues who have signed on as co-sponsors, Buchanan's legislation has been endorsed by the National Coalition Against Prescription Drug Abuse.

“Prescription drug abuse has become a national epidemic that has no boundaries,” said April Rovero, founder and president of the NCAPDA. “The pill mills that are fueling this epidemic simply must be shut down."

You can view the bill here.