Throwing down the gauntlet at Gov. Charlie Crist who left the Republican Party earlier in the year, House Speaker Larry Cretul, R-Ocala, convened the special session of the Legislature -- and adjourned it 43 minutes later -- rejecting the governors call to put a proposed constitutional amendment banning oil drilling in state waters on the November ballot.
The Florida Constitution authorizes the governor to call the Legislature into special session for any legislative purpose, said Cretul. When the call is issued, we are compelled to assemble.
But from the moment a quorum assembled here, the agenda in this House is and always will be set by its membership.
The governor has no direct authority to propose constitutional amendments to voters, said Cretul. The governor has no veto power over proposed constitutional amendments. The fact remains that he has called us here at the last possible moment to consider a constitutional amendment for which he never proposed language and permitted far too little time for reflection and review. That is a terrible way to propose constitutional changes.
Cretul said that he and Senate President Jeff Atwater, R-North Palm Beach, were reviewing the situation in the Gulf and that they would convene later in the year to tackle issues resulting from the oil spill. We agree that we can do this week to improve the situation more than we could in September.
For the House, this is not the time for traditional committee meetings, hearings and roll-call votes, said Cretul. Instead, its time to roll up our sleeves and figure out what state government can do to help.
Cretul said he would create work groups in the House to uncover problems and offer meaningful legislative solutions, if possible. The work groups would finish their recommendations and report to Cretul at the end of August.
The speaker said in no uncertain terms that Crist called the Legislature into session on Tuesday because of his campaign for the U.S. Senate. We were called here today because of politics, he said. But we are leaving today with a concrete work plan to provide real aid for those most in need.
Cretul ended his remarks with a last shot at Crist. If I were an adviser to the governor, I would have encouraged him to focus on creating jobs and on helping Floridians in need, and not calling a session at the last moment, he said before calling for a motion to adjourn.
Led by Democratic Leader Franklin Sands, D-Weston, Democrats argued against adjournment during limited debate and praised the measure and attacked Republicans for not listening to the voters.
I think the members trying to limit debate today should be embarrassed, said incoming Minority Leader Ron Saunders of Key West.
Hours before the Legislature convened at noon on Tuesday, proponents of the oil ban --including Crist and House Democrats --called for the Republican leadership to forward the measure to the November ballot.
The issue today is to pass legislation to allow people to vote whether to let Florida become an oil state, said Sands.
Even people who oppose the drilling ban want a say in this issue, said Rep. Keith Fitzgerald, D-Sarasota.
We think we should hear this amendment and let the voters decide, said Saunders.
But the Democratic leadership did not sound optimistic about the Legislature doing much in the special session.
We are told we will gavel in and gavel out, said Sands, who added that voters would remember in November. The Republican Legislature must be held accountable.
With the primary election coming up on Aug. 24, with many close contests looming in November, politics were on the Democrats minds.
Sands called the clash over the proposed amendment a contest between the governor and the Republican Legislature.
They do not trust their elected leaders and their Legislature, and they shouldnt, said Fitzgerald about Florida voters.
Trying to counter Republican claims that it was pointless to propose a constitutional ban to something that was already prohibited in state statutes, Saunders said that Republicans did exactly that in 2008 when they forwarded a proposed amendment against same-sex marriage.
Its the height of hypocrisy, said Saunders, who singled out Republican leaders in the House -- namely Speaker Larry Cretul of Ocala, Incoming Speaker Dean Cannon of Winter Park and Will Weatherford of Wesley Chapel.
House Republicans, led by Majority Leader Adam Hasner of Delray Beach, praised Cretul for adjourning this session and planning for the September session instead.
The process here requires that we defer this decision to a later date, said Rep. Tom Grady, R-Naples. Grady attacked Crist for flipping on oil drilling, saying that the governor had previously supported it.
Rather than simply banning something that is already banned, we are appropriately responding by preparing a meaningful agenda that will provide real solutions on the critical issues impacting those Floridians who have been affected the most by this disaster, said Hasner.
Floridians deserve strong leadership and meaningful solutions in a time of crisis, added Hasner. Right now its more important for us to focus on doing whats right for Floridians to help create jobs and start the recovery in the Panhandle.
Four days in a special session is simply not enough time, added Grady, saying the Legislature needed more time.
An hour before the session convened, Gov. Charlie Crist spoke to Floridians who were visiting the Capitol to lobby for the constitutional amendment. He received a standing ovation for his support of the ban.
Thank you for caring so deeply about our beautiful Florida, said Crist to the group -- which was being organized by a number of environmental groups, including Audubon of Florida and the Florida Wildlife Federation.
The people should be heard on this issue, said Crist, but he seemed aware that the House was planning to adjourn. Im not going to presume they will go one way or the other, but I am a hopeful guy.
Crist added that while there were other important matters, the proposed amendment was the only time-sensitive one. The Legislature needs to forward the amendment by Aug. 4 in order to make the November ballot -- a fact Saunders addressed earlier in the morning.
We think politics are at work here, said Saunders. I am very suspicious of the timing.
Cretul was more than happy to agree, saying he was happy for the future sessions of the House to consider the amendment down the road.
I trust your judgment whether or not to submit a question to the people of Florida for their ratification at the 2012 general election, said Cretul to backers of the proposed amendment.
Reach Kevin Derby at kderby@sunshinestatenews.com, or at (850) 727-0859.
