Anne Lindberg
Tuesday is an important day for freshman members of the Florida Legislature.
They’ll be sworn in and have to start making good on those campaign promises. However, there’s a lot to do before they start filing bills.
“It’s going to be a learning session for me,” said Wengay Newton, who represents House District 70, which covers portions of Pinellas, Hillsborough, Sarasota, and Manatee counties.
Ben Diamond, who won the race for House District 68, which covers a portion of Pinellas County, agreed.
“I’m still taking it all in,” Diamond said. But that doesn’t mean Diamond isn’t busy.
As a Democrat, he’s in the minority party, and that’s going to make it harder to get his proposals passed. The way to do that, he said, is to build relationships. And that’s what he’s started doing already.
“I’m spending today reaching out,” Diamond said. He’s meeting other legislators, talking with them and asking questions. It’s all part of the learning process.
“I think the more time I can spend getting to know the other members,” the better, he said.
He said he hopes that will help when it comes to getting good committee assignments.
Fellow Democrat Newton said he’s also hoping for good committee assignments.
He’s also concerned about Tuesday’s vote on the rules, especially a proposed rule that would impose a six-year ban on lobbying once House members leave the chamber.
“I thought that’s kind of extreme,” Newton said.
