The only thing standing in the way of a proposed bill sponsored by Florida Representatives on both sides of the aisle is Miami Lakes Republican House Speaker Jose Oliva.

Filed on February February 15, 2019, House Bill 857 (2019) had its first reading by the House committee on March 5, 2019, but has yet to be placed on the House Calendar for a second reading, an act that can only be done by the Speaker of the House.

In this case, Speaker Jose Oliva is refusing to allow the bill to move forward.

On April 15, 2019, the Tallahassee Democrat reported, “A bill requiring local governments to provide insurance and death benefits to firefighters with cancer would cost less than $5 million across a $90 billion state budget, and it has the support of the Senate and more than two-thirds of the House membership.”

The bill’s two main sponsors are Wellington Democrat Representative Matt Willhite and Clearwater Republican Representative Chris Latvala.  The Tallahassee Democrat article also notes that the bill’s other sponsors are from all over the state and “cover the entire political spectrum, from the most ardent leftist to the staunchest conservative.”

In her April 15, 2019 article, Jose Oliva holds firefighter cancer bill hostage for political payback, Political Cortadito blogger Elaine de Valle (a/k/a Ladra) explained:

House Bill 857 would require municipal governments to provide full cancer coverage, including disability and death benefits, to firefighters who meet a certain criteria, like being non-smokers and on the job for at least five years. Instead of workman’s comp, firefighters who are diagnosed with any of several specific cancers in the bill would get a lump sum one-time $25,000 payment, money that can help their families pay for the healthcare and keep their homes.

De Valle also noted:

It is a fact that firefighters get cancer and die of cancer at a higher rate than the rest of us — 14% higher. Study after study shows that job-related cancer is the number one killer of firefighters.

It is a fact that no fewer than 45 states have addressed this issue by passing laws that provide additional cancer coverage or health benefits for them.

It is a fact that a bill to extend cancer coverage for firefighters has sailed through and is certain to pass in the Florida Senate and has a whopping 82 sponsors in the House. That’s two thirds of the membership — more bipartisan support than any other bill this year, or perhaps any year ever, practically guaranteeing passage.

All of which makes it that much more puzzling why Speaker Oliva is denying the Legislature the opportunity to vote on this bill … and denying Florida’s first responders this desperately needed coverage.

Although Oliva claims that “he’s concerned about the cost to local governments,” firefighters insist that its because he is still holding a grudge against Coral Gables firefighter David Perez, who in 2018 ran against Manny Diaz, “Oliva’s friend and political ally,” according to the Tallahassee Democrat.  The article also noted, “A close Oliva ally, Frank Artiles, who resigned from the Senate in 2016 for racial slurs made at a Tallahassee bar and is soon to be reinstated as a lobbyist, posted on Perez’s Facebook page that the bill was doomed, according to the Political Cortadito website written by former Miami Herald reporter Elaine De Valle.”

The Speaker has so far refused to speak to any representatives of the firefighters unions.  He also ignored an email sent in February by Jim Tolley, president of the Florida Professional Firefighters, requesting a meeting.

Local firefighters, however, were heard by CBS Miami’s Jim DeFede.  Watch:

Oliva’s argument that the bill is too costly simply doesn’t hold water.  The Tallahassee Democrat noted, “An actuarial study conducted by Senate staff showed the annual cost to be $1 million for the state, and $3.28 million for all counties,” a cost that the bill’s Senate sponsor, Miami Republican Anitere Flores said was “very manageable.”

Or, as Ladra explained:

But the truth is the $5 million estimated impact it would statewide is a drop in the bucket in Florida, where, just last year, the legislature approved $147.5 million worth of budget turkeys, otherwise known as individual appropriations that circumvent the thorough and thoughtful committee and budget process, most of the time for legislator’s pet projects.

The truth is this bill’s blockage has nothing to do with the budget. This is nothing more than political payback. At its ugliest.

If you agree, please take action now!  The 2019 legislative session ends on May 3, 2019, and time is of the essence.  Please call or text House Speaker Jose Oliva at 305-761-6144 or 305-305-2110 and urge him to support Florida’s firefighters and move this bill forward immediately.

Thank you!

Stephanie

UPDATE: BREAKING NEWS!  Political Cortadito reported this morning, “State Rep. Jose Oliva, the Speaker of the House holding the firefighter cancer bill back all session, reversed his earlier decision and said Tuesday that he would bring HB857 — or something very similar to it — to the floor in the near future.”

To read her entire article, click here.