Two bills that were originally part of 10 measures slated for a veto override vote during a special session Tuesday have been dropped from the agenda.
Incoming House Speaker Dean Cannon, R-Winter Park, announced Monday that HB 5603, which would provide measures to reduce costs related to prescription medication benefits from workers compensation claims, and HB 5611, which would move oversight of the Department of Management Services from the governor to the full Cabinet, would not come up during the special session.
Cannon and incoming Senate President Mike Haridopolos, R-Merritt Island, have stated that the two bills, plus the measures remaining on the special session schedule, were picked because they received overwhelming support from legislators and were considered uncontroversial, even though outgoing Gov. Charlie Crist vetoed them anyway. More controversial bills vetoed by Crist, such as SB 6, which would have tied teacher pay to performance, were intentionally left out of the session.
Although HB 5603 passed unanimously in both houses, Cannon said there was confusion among legislators about the bill.
It has come to pass that not only is there a controversy about what is in the bill, there is a controversy among our members about what the bill will do, Cannon said.
The legislative leaders decision to drop HB 5603 from the special session, however, could prove more contentious than the bill itself.
Automated Healthcare Solutions, a South Florida-based company opposed to the bill, gave $1 million to political committees headed by Cannon and Haridopolos during the campaign season. The move to drop the bill from the special session could be seen as payback to a wealthy contributor, but Cannon insists the bill needs closer review.
This should not be interpreted as taking a position either way, Cannon said.
Judging solely by negative votes, HB 5611 was the most contentious piece of legislation originally on the special session agenda, as it passed unanimously in the Senate but receiveda 76-44 vote in the House. Cannon said that Governor-elect Rick Scott deserves a chance to sort out the Department of Management Services before the Legislature dilutes his oversight capabilities.
Other bills that made the special session cut but have received grumbling from some quarters include HB 1565, which would require legislative approval of new regulatory rules that would cost $1 million over five years (it originally passed unanimously in both houses), and HB 981, which would provide a tax exemption for agricultural lands (it originally received one negative vote apiece in the House and Senate).
The special session is expected to begin Tuesday at 3 p.m. after new legislators are sworn in.
Reach Gray Rohrer at grohrer@sunshinestatenews.com or at (850) 727-0859.
