Tampabay.com
FEBRUARY 25, 2008

USF gets House muscle in hospital bid

House Speaker-in-the-making Will Weatherford just filed a bill that would allow USF to build its own teaching hospital by exempting state universities meeting certain benchmarks from certificate of need (CON) requirements.

The proposal from Weatherford, R-Wesley Chapel, is similar to a bill filed recently by Sen. Dennis Jones, R-Seminole. But Weatherford's support is a notable boost for USF, given his high profile and political clout.

Then again, the Florida Hospital Association is a mighty force opposed to such certificate of need changes...

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Gradebook features education articles and insights on schools in Florida, focusing on Tampa Bay area schools. What's the latest from the Florida Department of Education? How is the FCAT being used to compare Florida schools? What's going in on in Tampa Bay schools? Get an insider's view from the Times education reporting team.

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Rebecca Catalanello covers Pinellas County schools. E-mail her: rcatalanello@tampabay.com.

Tony Marrero covers Hernando County schools. E-mail him: tmarrero@tampabay.com.

Marlene Sokol covers Hillsborough County schools. E-mail her: sokol@tampabay.com.

Ron Matus covers Pinellas County schools. E-mail him: matus@tampabay.com.

Jeffrey S. Solochek covers Pasco County schools. E-mail him: solochek@tampabay.com.

Kim Wilmath covers the University of South Florida. E-mail her: kwilmath@tampabay.com.

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