ST. PETERSBURG - After six years in the Florida House, Frank Farkas says he still has unfinished business.
So the St. Petersburg Republican is running for a final term before term limits force him out in 2006.
"We have more to do on education and health care," Farkas said. "There are many issues that have not been finished."
Farkas, 48, is chairman of the House Health Care Committee, which crafted a bill this year aimed at helping millions of Floridians without health insurance.
The legislation promotes health savings accounts and will also help patients with high deductibles shop for the cheapest hospital or clinics. But it did not include a high risk pool for the uninsured or allow small businesses to effectively pool their purchasing of medical services.
Critics said the bill promoted "bare bones" insurance policies that may not help people when they get sick. But Farkas called it a good start.
"Since I played such a large part, I want to continue my role in making sure we get the best coverage for the best price," he said.
On Tuesday, the Florida Hospital Association paid for a full-page advertisement in the St. Petersburg Times thanking Farkas for his role in health care issues during the legislative session, particularly for stopping a proposal that would have reduced payments by HMOs to hospitals.
Farkas has taken some heat recently over a controversial telephone rate increase. He voted for the increase last year, but this year he voted to block it.
The Public Service Commission's interpretation of the bill and a federal court ruling that blocks the FCC's ability to let states regulate phone charges caused him to reverse his position, Farkas said. Those were the same reasons House Speaker Johnnie Byrd cited in arguing to freeze the rates.
Farkas' District 52 includes portions of Northeast St. Petersburg, Pinellas Park and Largo.
Democrat Liz McCallum is challenging Farkas, who was first elected to the House in 1998 after losing a 1996 bid. He is a graduate of St. Petersburg Catholic High School, St. Petersburg Junior College, Eckerd College and Palmer College of Chiropractic.
Farkas is a chiropractor, married and has two children.
