holiday. Even with a near victory on killing balance billing—against the tide of pretty much everyone including the FMA and the ER docs—and having both Negron and Latvala swinging for them, this could have made 2016 one for the ages.
Local taxpayers: Floridians won’t have to shell out more in property taxes this year to help pay for education increases. The Legislature is putting forward $290 million to hold down local property taxes that would have otherwise gone to the state’s school-funding formula.
Oranges: The state fruit now lives in perpe-
one of the first bills Scott signed into law during the 2016 Session. The statewide organization also fought off retroactive denials, step therapy, and prior authorization. It also scored with the repeal of the sales tax on manufacturing machinery and equipment.
FLORIDA SHERIFFS ASSOCIATION: The group took on Sen. Don Gaetz and Rep. Matt Gaetz on the open-carry gun proposal—and won. It also backed a measure that requires 10 jurors to support a death recommendation, a proposal signed by Scott. Also in its win column: A bill that provides additional protections to people on the autism spectrum during interactions with law enforcement officers (mentioned above).
PHOTO: XXX, via floridapolitics.com
Law enforcement officers: The Florida Police Benevolent Association lobbied for legislation to require law enforcement agencies to set policies and procedures for body cameras. Lawmakers heard their call. The Legislature sent the bill—pushed by Sen. Chris Smith and Rep. Shevrin Jones—to the governor, who approved it. The measure also requires departments to have proper training and policies governing camera usages.
HCA Healthcare: The healthcare network flexed its muscles during the 2016 Legislative Session, and the results were big. The hospital system got a $15 million funding boost to serve needy patients; it quashed a certificate of need amendment pushed by Jackson Health System in Miami-Dade County; and it fought off attempts to allow patients to stay three days in recovery care centers (think an ambulatory surgical center on steroids).
Hill+Knowlton Strategies: Alia Faraj-John-
son, Ron Bartlett, Ryan Duffy, Bob Lotane and Susan Thurston are building a powerhouse public affairs practice with blue-chip clients such as U.S Sugar, the Seminole Tribe of Florida, State Farm, Motorola Solutions and many others.
Israel: It might be more than 6,600 miles away from Tallahassee, but the Legislature honed in on Israel this Legislative Session, with measures to ban the state from doing business with companies that boycott Israel and resolutions opposing to the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions Movement (BDS). Kudos to lobbyist Scott Ross for his work on the issue. Also attorney/lobbyist Steve Uhlfelder worked tirelessly and pro bono with Sen. Eleanor Sobel and Rep. Jared Moskowitz to get a “Holocaust Memorial” passed, ensuring a permanent tribute at Florida’s Capitol.
Johnson & Blanton: As the lead firm for the Florida Hospital Association, the boutique/elite firm scored nearly half a billion dollars in revenue over a two-year period, knocked it down with No Casinos, and ended up with a nice come-from-behind victory on the almost dead back-to-school tax
tuity in the House Chamber. Speaker Crisafulli included an orange in his official House portrait. Crisafulli appears to have the only full-body portrait hanging in the chambers, and the orange has a prominent position. Is it just us, or does the state’s favorite piece of citrus appear to be glowing. Citrus greening be damned!
RSA CONSULTING: Rather than list what bills they worked on, allow us to share the sentiments of former Speaker Dean Cannon, who tells FloridaPolitics.com, “Ron Pierce and his partner, Natalie King, did a great job this Session. I know this because we worked on a bill together, and they both demonstrated real professionalism and great work ethic, strategy, skills, etc. I’d recommend adding them to any lobbying team.” Sachs Media Group: Mission-focused on delivering victories for clients, across a spectrum of issues, the Sachs team worked with leaders in the government-relations biz to hit home runs for better health care for patients (HCA Healthcare), saving money for auto policyholders (Consumer Federation of the Southeast), protecting Medicaid dental coverage (MCNA), defending parental choice in education (Alliance for School Choice), defending home rule (Florida League of Cities), and ensuring quality care for elders (Florida Health Care Association).
Utility and telecommunications companies: They pushed for legislation to clarify SPRING 2016 INFLUENCE | 89