Get Involved, signup today!

Tallahassee, Fla. – Floridians for Government Accountability, Inc. today unveiled a new television spot that exposes the inner workings of the Low Income Pool (LIP) Council.  The council, comprised primarily of lobbyists and special interests that  work for the hospitals  receiving the Low Income Pool (LIP) taxpayer funds, is responsible for recommending the distribution of over $1 billion of taxpayer funds for healthcare.

“The television spot describes how members of the LIP Council allocate more than $1 billion in tax-payer money back to the hospitals they work for,” said retired Gen. Jim Hart, chairman, Floridians for Accountability.  “It is our goal as an organization to bring attention to this group of unelected lobbyists and special interests in an effort to ensure accountability and transparency in the distribution of taxpayer funds. Lobbyists and special interests should have nothing to do with the distribution of the people’s money,” added Hart.

(Watch the TV commercial)

TV Script

Here’s an idea. Let the lobbyists and special interests spend our tax dollars. 

• Florida House Bill 3B, 2005 Special Session B

Outrageous? Well, it’s happening right now.

It’s called the LIP Council.

• Letter dated February 25^th, 2008, from the Chair of the Florida Low Income Pool Council to Secretary Holly Benson, outlines the Council’s recommendations for how approximately $1.2 billion is to be spent reimbursing hospitals for unreimbursed care.

A board made up of special interests and lobbyists. They divvy up over 1 billion of our tax dollars for healthcare and who gets the money - the people they work for.

• Members of the Low Income Pool (LIP) Council, 2007-2008, were primarily  salaried and contract employees of the very hospitals that benefit from the funds.

It sounds outrageous - because it is. Stop the special interests, stop the lobbyists - abolish the lip council.

The television spot will begin airing February 2 in the Tallahassee media market with likely expansion to other markets across Florida.  Additionally, the commercial can be viewed on the Floridians for Government Accountability Web site www.AccountabilityFlorida.com.

The organization recently launched their Web site www.AccountabilityFlorida.com, and plans to distribute educational materials to lawmakers, public policy experts and the general public on topics pertaining to fiscal policy.  This information will assist lawmakers and the public in making informed decisions on issues related to fiscal responsibility and accountability in all levels and branches of government.

For additional information, or to become involved, please visit www.AccountabilityFlorida.com. 

# # #