Shortly after 1 p.m. Tuesday, Florida House Speaker Steve Crisafulli stunned observers when he announced the House of Representatives would adjourn three days before the Legislative Session’s scheduled conclusion. He laid the cause to the continued impasse with the Senate over Medicaid expansion.
“No, we didn’t get everything we wanted,” Crisafulli told House members. “And we won’t get everything we hoped for, but we have done all we can do for this session.”
Crisafulli said he didn’t see a need to keep House members in town in hopes of negotiating a budget. The House and Senate exchanged health care appropriations offers late this past week. The House offered the Senate an additional $600 million to back off its position that Medicaid be expanded to 800,000 working and low income Floridians. The Senate, though, didn’t back off its position.
“So having accomplished all that we can do, it’s time for us to go home,” Crisafulli said. He said it’s his belief that a “recess, and a clean state is the best way for us to accomplish this goal.”
Crisafulli made clear the he doesn’t think the House’s move to sine die killed legislation.
House Minority Leader Mark Pafford criticized the abrupt move.
“Walking away from your responsibility is questionable. We are here to work,” said Pafford. “With (this) Legislature there is not a whole lot of shock this year. It has been off-kilter from the beginning. We stand ready to come back here and talk about Medicaid. Clearly that is what is being set up at this point. And that will be the issue.”
Pafford later issued a prepared statement, where he said, “I respect the speaker’s decision as his own to make, but I surely am ready to do the job I was sent here to do. It’s clear Gov. Scott has shown zero leadership and has only served to make things worse. I hope Speaker Crisafulli and President Gardiner will work together to come up with a special session call that represents the interests of the people of Florida. We don’t need Gov. Scott, never elected by a majority, to set the agenda for our Legislature.”
Afterward, Crisafulli issued his own statement praising the House for the legislation it did pass this session.
“Together, the Florida House passed bills to cut taxes by $690 million, create a comprehensive water policy bill, establish a transparent structure for Amendment 1 funding, reduce student testing while maintaining accountability (signed into law), lower tuition, strengthen families by promoting adoptions (on the governor’s desk), and secure pathways to economic independence for persons with disabilities. I firmly believe that each of these bills will greatly benefit Floridians.”
He also said that despite differences on Medicaid expansion, “It is noteworthy that the House and Senate appear to have found common ground on long-contentious issues such as PSC reform, ALF reform, comprehensive Department of Corrections reform, mental health reform, and Grandparents’ Rights (sent to the governor).”
Florida Democratic Party Chairwoman Allison Tant also blasted the House move, saying, “House Republicans have given up on Florida’s families, and put partisan point-scoring ahead of doing what’s right for the people who elected them. The House GOP’s obsession with denying working Floridians health care no matter the cost is too high a price for Floridians to pay. The House GOP was so unwilling to even discuss expanding access to health care, they have now abandoned priorities essential to all Floridians, from environmental protections to expanding the right to vote and helping kids with special needs.”
There was no word from Senate President Andy Gardiner. The Senate was continuing its work through at least the rest of Tuesday, apparently.
The Legislature will need to convene after Friday to come to terms on a budget agreement, which by law must be passed by June 30.
Reporters Christine Sexton and James Call contributed to this report.
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Mitch Perry
