House Passes SB 736 on Party Lines Vote

The House joined the Senate in passing SB 736 --a measure changing teacher pay based on performance and assessments instead of relying on seniority and tenure --on Wednesday after a lengthy debate. With the bill having passed both chambers of the Legislature, it now goes to Gov. Rick Scott who is expected to sign it into law.

A similar measure, SB 6, passed both the House and the Senate last year but was vetoed by then-Gov. Charlie Crist after contentious debate and demonstrations from teachers. While SB 6 passed the House at 2:26 a.m. on April 9, 2010, by a 64-55 margin with 11 Republicans joining all 44 Democrats in voting against it after a marathon debate, the vote on Wednesday was not as close -- 80 to 39 on a straight party lines vote.

With Rep. Erik Fresen, R-Miami, taking questions on the measure for almost three hours on Tuesday, House Speaker Dean Cannon, R-Winter Park, insisted that Wednesdays session was to debate the measure.

We had more than abundant time to ask questions, said Cannon before the debate began. There should be no questions during debate.

Rep. Bill Procter, R-St Augustine, the chairman of the Education Committee, and Rep. Jim Waldman, D-Coconut Creek, served as floor managers during the six-hour debate. Each side was allowed three hours, in 15-minute blocks, to debate the bill. A procession of representatives -- more than 30 Democrats and more than 20 Republicans -- spoke on the House floor, often drawing upon their own personal experiences and families to explain their positions either in favor of the measure or against it.