Politics
Senate Committee backs Shevaun Harris confirmation despite lawmakers’ tough questions
The Senate Ethics and Election Committee advanced Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA) Secretary Shevaun Harris’ confirmation despite lawmakers grilling her over the Hope Florida scandal.
Sen. Tina Polsky, a Boca Raton Democrat, took the lead in questioning Harris most aggressively over the scandal, where the state funneled $10 million in a Medicaid settlement that ended up passing through Hope Florida and going toward political purposes to defeat 2024’s marijuana legalization ballot initiative.
“Now that you are at AHCA, which is the agency that would have overseen any future Medicaid settlement with any of its providers, would you have approved $10 million being siphoned off and sent to a political committee?” Polsky asked Harris during one of the more dramatic moments of questioning.
“I have had the opportunity to talk with the attorneys involved. The staff involved. They were all very well intentioned. No one thought they were doing anything wrong,” Harris answered. “Obviously, looking at how it has been perceived, looking at how many people’s names have been dragged through the mud, the fallout from it — no, I would not.”
Polsky pressed Harris in response.
“Only because there’s been bad fallout? Or because it’s the wrong thing to do because this money’s owed to Florida taxpayers?” Polsky asked. “Now that you’re in charge of AHCA, don’t you want that money back to use for the services that you provide in your agency? In other words, you have $10 million less than you might’ve had when you walked into this role?”
“If you’re asking does the agency intend on trying to recoup those dollars, the answer is no,” Harris said.
Republican Sen. Jennifer Bradley also pushed Harris to account for millions of state dollars spent on anti-drug ads before the 2024 election.
“They were just a coincidental ad campaign that ran right before the election. Did I understand that correctly?” Bradley asked.
Harris argued the ads were meant to clear up misinformation before the election.
“Nowhere in our ads did we say don’t vote on this amendment or that amendment. We strictly were providing information particularly about the dangers of marijuana use,” Harris said.
Polsky lamented that no one has been charged with a crime over the Hope Florida scandal or held accountable.
“How is it that no one, not a single person, has been held responsible for the theft of $10 million from the Florida taxpayers in response to the Centene settlement?” Polsky said before the final late Monday afternoon vote. “I don’t know how we can just let this continue to slide. For the last two years you oversaw the agency where it happened.”
But Sen. Darryl Rouson, a St. Petersburg Democrat, defended Harris by saying, “stealing and theft are harsh words” and pointed out that the State Attorney has not indicted anyone in the Hope Florida scandal.
“Certainly, there’s a smell around the way the money was used and diverted. But until such time as there is a State Attorney’s decision, I would be loath to use the words ‘stealing’ and ‘theft,’” Rouson said. “I’m voting for this confirmation based on personal and professional interaction, and I would hope that my fellow Senators do the same.”
Ultimately, Polsky voted Harris down, but Harris won the support from Republicans and Rouson, who praised a devoted and passionate public servant with a long tenure in state government.
“In my dealings with you, I have found you to be respectful, responsive and direct,” Rouson said. “I have never had a phone call to you go unreturned or without response and it concerned constituents and their needs.”
Harris’ official confirmation was stalled last year but appears to be gaining momentum with Monday’s vote. It’s the second Senate Committee to back her confirmation.
Harris has spent more than 20 years as a state employee and worked under Govs. Jeb Bush, Charlie Crist and Rick Scott.
“Helping others is deeply important to me. It is my why,” Harris said in her remarks to lawmakers. “I don’t know a world or see a future where I will not be trying to make a meaningful impact on others’ lives.”