 Gutman resigned his post as chair of the Senate Health Care Committee over alleged improprieties in brokering a Medicaid health plan during his term as vice chairman of the committee.He had obtained the permission of the Senate legal counsel before brokering the deal and maintained his position on the Senate Select Committee on Social Services Reform and the Ways and Means subcommittee.Gutman accused his opponent in the 1998 senatorial election of using voodoo against him after Santería paraphernalia was tossed at him and scattered on his vehicle by his opponent's supporters; Gutman won the election.