Guest AuthorI was elected to the Florida House of Representatives in 2000 and quickly participated in my first session — a special session called to determine which candidate for president would be awarded Florida’s electoral votes.
There were 14 sessions during my first three years in office. Many of those sessions were special sessions needed to work out some very significant differences between the House and Senate. In two out my three first years in the House we did not pass a budget during the regular session. Often tempers flared and the tension between the House and Senate was palpable.
Back then the last night of session was a loud and lively event. It was not uncommon for a session to end late at night. On more than one occasion the House and Senate concluded the session at different times — meaning there was no ceremonial “dropping of the hanky” at the center of the 4th floor lobby. After the session hundreds of people would leave the Capitol and jam nearby Adams Street until the wee hours of the morning.
Since my first session there have been 40 sessions (a combination of regular, organizational and special sessions). Yet it was not until the end of this year’s session that I actually saw the Sine Die hanky drop. Unlike sessions of old, it was an orderly event with a relatively small and well-behaved crowd in attendance.
The end of this year’s session was a microcosm of the 60-day session. For the most part it was methodical and without incident. To be sure there were some differences between the House and the Senate, but their disagreements were handled quickly and behind closed doors.
House Speaker Will Weatherford had a session reminiscent of his father-in-law and former Speaker Allan Bense. The speaker stuck to his guns on his highest priority (in-state tuition for college students who are undocumented residents) and pushed ahead in a professional manner. There was no drama, but rather a workmanlike approach to the session.
A few votes this year would have created major fireworks in years past. Tops on the list was passage of the “non-euphoric” medical marijuana bill. The fact that a Republican-led Legislature passed a marijuana bill of any kind would have been unthinkable just a few years ago.
Even more amazing was that a bill backed by the NRA was defeated. I saw my friend, and former president of the NRA, Marion Hammer, outside the Florida Senate chamber immediately after the Senate voted down the bill. She told me it had been a very long time since she had lost on a bill she supported. Knowing Marion, it will be a long time before it happens again.
For a time it appeared the budget was going to crash and burn. After some long and tough negotiations during the last weekend of session, the House and Senate ironed out their differences and the budget passed with little controversy. Much of that can be attributed to the budget chairs for each chamber. State Sen. Joe Negron and state Rep. Seth McKeel were focused, determined, efficient and skillful in their approach.
After the post-session speeches by Speaker Weatherford, President Don Gaetz and Gov. Rick Scott, those who were still in attendance left the Capitol and apparently went home. Adams Street was empty and quiet, symbolizing the end of a rather low-key session. In an election year that is sure to be filled with controversy and fireworks, this year’s session was the calm before the storm.
Jeff Kottkamp served as Florida’s 17th lieutenant governor. He is president of Jeff Kottkamp, P.A. Column courtesy of Context Florida.
