Legislative Session Update - Week 2

SAVE FLORIDA'S CANCER RESEARCH PROGRAMS
Weekly Session Update
3/5/10

During Week 2 of the 2010 session, the budget remained the primary topic of conversation in Tallahassee. State economists this week pegged Florida’s budget deficit for the upcoming year at $3.2 billion, meaning the Legislature faces enormous challenges crafting an appropriations bill for FY 2010-11. It also means our task of saving Florida’s biomedical research programs, which are scheduled to expire on January 1, 2011 barring action by the Legislature before then, all the more difficult.

As Florida’s economic woes continue, several critical programs are on the chopping block and our Advocacy Team is doing everything it can to protect our priority issues. The news, however, is not all bleak. Sen. Durrell Peaden (R-Crestview), chairman of the Senate Health and Human Services Committee, released his initial budget recommendations on Thursday, and our efforts to Save Florida’s Cancer Research Programs have had a positive impact thus far in the upper chamber. In Chairman Peaden’s proposed budget, he has allocated $50 million toward biomedical research, contingent upon the passage of our priority legislation, SB 620 by Sen. Don Gaetz (R-Niceville). The bill is currently in the Senator Peaden’s Senate HHS committee, and with the budget process moving along rapidly, it is likely a hearing of SB 620 in that committee is imminent.

The House Health Care Appropriations Committee, chaired by Rep. Denise Grimsley (R-Sebring) has not yet released its budget proposal. As in the Senate, we’re asking the House health care budget writers to include $25 million each for both the James and Esther King Biomedical Research and Bankhead-Coley Cancer Research Programs. Moreover, we’re urging the House to move HB 861 by Rep. Marti Coley (R-Mariana), the companion measure to Senator Gaetz’s research legislation, through the committee process. The House bill still remains in its initial committee of reference, House Health Care Policy Regulation.

Also included in Sen. Peaden’s budget recommendations was our other top legislative priority, continued funding for Amendment 4, the Tobacco Prevention and Education Program. The Senate HHS Appropriations budget has the Tobacco Prevention and Education program appropriately funded at nearly $61.3 million.

As always, we appreciate your ongoing efforts in support of our life-saving mission. With your vigilance and timely action, we can have yet another successful session waging our battle against this insidious disease.

Yours in the Fight,

Paul

Paul Hull
Vice President, Advocacy & Public Policy
American Cancer Society, Florida Division

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