Joe Henderson
After the budget compromise reached by Gov. Rick Scott, Senate President Joe Negron, and House Speaker Richard Corcoran, the biggest question hanging over the Legislature’s three-day special session this week is whether there is enough time for some lawmakers to grow a backbone.
Only one of two things can happen.
There will either be a full-blown party revolt at how this was handled, followed by points, counterpoints, then fire and pestilence raining down on the state capital as rank-and-file members stand up to their leaders. I’m not betting on that one, by the way.
Or … party leaders will tell members how to vote because this compromise is the greatest thing since craft beer was invented. After some serious harrumphing in private, those legislators will fall into line, lest their future committee assignments reflect the cost of rebellion.
The latter is the smart wager.
Democrats might as well send their “nay” votes in by Skype because Florida’s one-party system of Republican control has rendered them irrelevant.
In the musical Hamilton, there is a scene that could have doubled for what happened in Tallahassee. Corcoran, Scott and Negron were three key figures in the room where it happened. Decisions were happening, and other leaders need not apply. On Friday, they were kind enough to share news of the deal they reached.
Scott got what he wanted. Corcoran got what he wanted.
What everyone else got was a take-it-or-leave-it deal that smacked of smoke-filled rooms and quid pro quos. Even Republican Sen. Jeff Brandes, who chairs the Senate’s budget panel on tourism and economic development, was left out of the conversation.
That led to this cynical tweet from Republican state Senator and possible gubernatorial candidate Jack Latvala: “It’s a shame the House wouldn’t negotiate during the regular session. Now we have to spend $60-70k a day on a special session.”
Write that on the tombstone for this Legislative Session.
Scott salvaged his priorities — more money for tourism promotion and incentives (read: taxpayer cash) for businesses to create jobs here. In the wake of the statewide backlash against the controversial HB 7069, which diverts millions from public schools to charters, Scott got a little more cash for public schools. I sense that will be coming to a U.S. Senate campaign ad next year.
Educators were not impressed.
“The gaping flaws in HB 7069 haven’t changed with this suggested increase in funding,” Florida Education Association President Joanne McCall said in a written statement.
This is probably a good time to recall that Corcoran called the union “downright evil” last because it opposed his plan for charter schools.
He added that the union’s stance was tantamount to “attempting to destroy the lives of almost 100,000 children, mostly minority, and all of them poor.”
Corcoran really, really wanted more money for those “Schools of Hope” charters that would otherwise have gone to public schools. Assuming lawmakers go along to get along, Corcoran wins.
Scott wins.
And what do we, the people, receive?
As always, we get the bill.
Welcome to Tallahassee.
One comment
Glen Gibellina
June 5, 2017 at 12:15 pm
In the construction business that’s called “a call back”
The contractor foots the bill for not doing the job right the first time
Should our elected officials be held to the same standard…you bet!
Garnish their wages until the bill is paid
Probably would not happen again
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