Last Call for 3.20.25 – A prime-time read of what’s going down in Florida

Last Call – A prime-time read of what’s going down in Florida politics.

First Shot

After a lengthy debate, the House Health & Human Services Committee approved legislation expanding the breadth of procedures and prescriptions administered by optometrists.

Sponsored by Rep. Alex Rizo, HB 449 is this year’s edition of the long-running “Eyeball Wars.” Optometrists have sought authority to provide more advanced care, such as laser surgeries for years. Ophthalmologists firmly oppose any scope of practice expansion.

Both professions require extensive post-baccalaureate education.

Ophthalmologists who attend medical school, receive a medical doctorate, and complete a multi-year residency under the supervision of one or more established ophthalmologists; optometrists hold doctorates in optometry, and while sometimes referred to as “optometric physicians,” they neither attend medical school nor do they complete a residency. 

In practice, optometrists’ primary concern is vision care, such as the provision of corrective lenses. By contrast, ophthalmologists’ focus is eye care, which encompasses the diagnosis and treatment of all maladies involving the eye, impact on vision notwithstanding.

Multiple ophthalmology residents stressed the gravity of that distinction during public testimony. Spencer Barrett, a third-year resident physician at Bascom Palmer Eye Institute in South Florida, emphasized the importance of the highly specialized training he and others in his cohort receive.

“I, as a microsurgeon, would not feel qualified in the slightest to perform brain surgery or vascular surgery or know when to do it any more than I would trust a brain surgeon to operate on the eye because I have not undergone the years of training needed to do so safely,” he told members of the committee.

“Giving optometrists the opportunity to conduct these surgeries and procedures without the training required puts Floridian safety at risk.”

Proponents of HB 449 recognize the distinction between the two professions but say that the current state of eye care access in Florida demands legislative action. 

Rizo bolstered this claim — and even converted an initially reticent committee member from a “nay” to a “yay” — by citing American Medical Association data recommending one ophthalmologist per 4,000 residents in a given region. There are approximately 1,700 ophthalmologists in Florida, which would be adequate for a state of 7 million residents, not Florida’s 23.5 million and growing.

Rizo addressed medical doctors directly in closing: “Everything that you do, every single one of you, every single one of you that is in the medical profession. Thank you. Thank you for what you do.”

He then emphasized that optometrists would only be able to conduct specific, less complex procedures — multiple opponents harped on the vagueness of this section of the bill — and that statistics show the action is warranted.

“The question is not what you look at, but what you see. And I hope that throughout today’s presentation, throughout our conversations, I hope that we can see what we need to do,” Rizo said, quoting Henry David Thoreau.

Committee members voted 13-5 in favor of the bill, which next heads to the House Health & Human Services Committee.

Evening Reads

—“How the Justice Department is remaking itself in Donald Trump’s image” via Jeremy Roebuck, Mark Berman, Perry Stein and Spencer S. Hsu of The Washington Post

—”How the GOP went from championing campus free speech to fighting it” via Jeremy W. Peters of The New York Times

—”The left’s misguided critique of abundance liberalism” via Eric Levitz of Vox

—”Dr. Oz is now the grown-up in the room” via Benjamin Mazer of The Atlantic

—”New College of Florida could take over USF Sarasota-Manatee, Senator says” via Lawrence Mower of New College of Florida

—”Florida’s GOP-led Legislature aims to limit the power of city, county governments” via John Kennedy of USA Today Network-Florida

—”Ron DeSantis wonders why ‘young people’ aren’t doing immigrants’ jobs” via A.G. Gancarski of Florida Politics

—”‘A true champion’: Ben Albritton honored for rural advocacy” via Janelle Irwin Taylor of Florida Politics

—”James Uthmeier wants pay raises, promotions for cops who stop Tesla vandals” via A.G. Gancarski of Florida Politics

—”Every ‘Snow White’ controversy over the film’s tortured production” via Krystie Lee Yandoli of Rolling Stone

Quote of the Day

“Why do we say we need to import foreigners, even import an illegal, when, you know, teenagers used to work at these resorts?”

— Gov. Ron DeSantis, questioning why “young people” aren’t doing immigrants’ jobs.

Put it on the Tab

Look to your left, then look to your right. If you see one of these people at your happy hour haunt, flag down the bartender and put one of these on your tab. Recipes included, just in case the Cocktail Codex fell into the well.

Senate President Ben Albritton gets a Country Life for being recognized as a “true champion” for small-town Florida during Rural Counties Day. 

Gov. Ron DeSantis may wonder why Florida youth aren’t snapping up jobs once held by immigrants. We presume they aren’t old enough to enjoy a Rise and Grind.

Attorney General James Uthmeier is offering pay raises and promotions to cops who bust Tesla vandals, so why not complete the set with an ice-cold Bounty?

Breakthrough Insights

Tune In

Gators tip off in Big Dane tomorrow

The Gators begin their run in the NCAA basketball tournament tomorrow against Norfolk State (6:50 p.m. ET, TNT).

After winning the SEC tournament, Florida earned the top seed and ended the season with a 30-4 record. This season marks the first time since 2014 that Florida has entered the tournament as a number-one seed. That season, Florida earned a trip to the Final Four.

The Gators’ impressive season included wins over eight teams ranked at the time, including beating Tennessee and Auburn when each program was #1 in the country.

Florida is led by Walter Clayton Jr., who was named this week as a first-team All-American. It is the first time in program history that a Gator has earned first-team All-America honors. Joekim Noah was a second-team All-America selection in 2007. Claton leads Florida in scoring, assists, and field goal percentage. He made 97 three-pointers this season to lead Florida. 

According to ESPN Bet, the Gators are the second favorite to win the national championship. Only Duke, the top overall seed in the tournament, has better odds. The Gators are 28.5-point favorites against Norfolk State.

The Spartans (24-10) won the MEAC tournament to gain the automatic berth into the Big Dance. Norfolk State faced only one ranked team this season, losing to then-top-ranked Tennessee. 

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Last Call is published by Peter Schorsch, assembled and edited by Phil Ammann and Drew Wilson, with contributions from the staff of Florida Politics.

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