Legislature organizes, new chiropractor joins ranks

November 29, 2010 — Florida’s Legislature set out to organize itself Nov. 16 following a spirited election season that saw republicans increasing their hold on state government. Both the Senate and House spent the morning in traditional organizational sessions swearing in their newly elected members and selected new leaders for the coming 2011-12 legislature.

The FCA was especially proud to see one of its own, Steve Perman, DC, (D-Boca Raton) sworn in as a new member of the Florida House of Representatives. Steve is one of two chiropractors currently serving in the new legislature joining Sen. Dennis Jones (R-Seminole) who was re-elected in 2008, serving until 2012.

“It is without question one of the most exciting days of my life,” Steve said about his swearing-in. Steve’s wife Irene and their children, together with his parents Bill and Eileen, joined in for the festivities in Florida’s capitol. The Perman name is synonymous with chiropractic. Both Steve’s father and brother are chiropractors and his mother currently serves as a lay member on the Florida Board of Chiropractic Medicine.

Legislators met in special session in the afternoon voting to override several of Governor Crist’s vetoes of bills passed during the 2010 session. One relates to healthcare: a nonbinding resolution to the federal government expressing the legislature’s desire to move Medicaid patients into private managed care companies, while asking the feds to provide the necessary leeway.

Medicaid reform targeted to cut costs is likely to be one of the key issues of the 2011 session as lawmakers struggle to develop a balanced budget for state government facing a predicted $2.5-billion revenue shortfall.

Source: Jack Hebert – Florida Chiropractic Association, www.fcachiro.org