Former City Official Tapped for Medical Commission Post

The Senate Rules Committee has appointed Fran Florez -- a former candidate for the Assembly and former mayor of Shafter -- to the California Medical Assistance Commission. Florez will receive an annual salary of $56,095, plus travel expenses, to serve on the board, which oversees services in Medi-Cal, California's Medicaid program. In related news, the Senate Health Committee voted 3-6 on Thursday to reject a bill (SB 256) by Sen. Tony Strickland (R-Moorpark) that would have abolished the California Medical Assistance Commission.

• "Fran Florez Appointed to State Commission" (Bakersfield Californian, 4/28).
• "Former State Senator's Mother Wins $56,095-a-Year Appointment" (McGreevy, "PolitiCal," Los Angeles Times, 4/28).
• "Bill Targeting Fran Florez's Commission Post Gets the Ax" (Van Oot, "Capitol Alert," Sacramento Bee, 4/28).