Pill Mill Issue

Attached a link to an article http://www.tampabay.com/news/health/gov-rick-scott-announces-plan-to-combat-pill-mills/1160274 reporting that Gov. Rick Scott on Monday launched his own initiative to fight the problem. At a news conference where he was flanked by Attorney General Pam Bondi and a handful of law enforcement officers, Scott announced a statewide drug trafficking "strike force." Florida Department of Law Enforcement Commissioner Gerald Bailey will lead the effort, coordinating with local law enforcement agencies. Scott directed the FDLE to use $800,000 in unspent federal grant money to help pay for overtime and other costs associated with the effort. State Senator Fasano, a strong supporter of the Prescription Drug Monitoring Program, said he found it curious that the governor was able to come up with $800,000 for the law enforcement effort but not for the database. AG Bondi, who supports the database, acknowledged that she and the governor have a difference of opinion. But she praised the governor for taking action on the law enforcement front. "We need more tools for all these people standing behind us," she said. Later, Bondi said she considers the database one of those "essential" tools.
Further legislative update regarding the PDMP:
The state House of Representatives, at the urging of Speaker Dean Cannon, has proposed eliminating the database. But Senate President Mike Haridopolos has said that proposal won't make it through his chamber. In fact, fellow Republican Sen. Rene Garcia got nowhere in a Senate committee Monday with a bill amendment that would have killed the database. The amendment was dropped without even being put up for a vote.

Yours
Bernd