In the frantic final hours of the 2012 regular session, as bills were debated regarding auto insurance, Citizens Property Insurance, the parent trigger for charter schools and the budget, senators found time to slip in the confirmation of eight appointments by Gov. Rick Scott -- and failed to confirm almost 400 others.
The harried pace came following days where hours of floor time was dominated by going-away speeches by departing senators and a portrait-unveiling for the Senate president.
Senate President Mike Haridopolos, R-Merritt Island, said they got jammed for time.
Thats what happened and the session is over, Haridopolos said.
Among those making the Friday night cut were Ananth Prasads job reappointment as secretary of transportation and Kathleen Rooneys position on the Governors Mansion Commission.
No action was taken on another 392 appointments and reappointments from the governor to such key posts as the Enterprise Florida board of directors, the Board of Governors of the State University System, Florida Citrus Commission, regional water management district boards, as well as numerous selections to various hospital, college and regional planning counsels.
Most notably, the Senate didnt confirm Scotts appointments of Secretary of Corrections Ken Tucker, Secretary of State Ken Detzner and Melissa Meeker, as executive director of South Florida Water Management District.
Another 15 were listed as not being considered by the Senate.
The majority are expected to be reappointed, with Scott saying he will reappoint those he believes "are doing a great job."
Speaking to reporters Wednesday in the Capitol, Scott added that he didn't feel snubbed by the lack of confirmations of his appointments.
"They had a lot of things to do," Scott said, noting that the reform of personal injury protection and boosting funding for education, which legislators approved, were bigger priorities.
The governor has 45 days to reappoint each person and is in the process of reviewing the appointments, said Lane Wright, the governors press secretary.
He plans to reappoint or make new appointments within the designated time period," Wright wrote in an email. "Those who are reappointed may retain their seats through the next legislative session when they will hopefully be confirmed by the Senate.
Haridopolos said the eight the Senate did approve were ones who were not confirmed a year earlier and would have lost their position without confirmation through a second session.
Those who were up this year, and it was their last shot so to speak, we placed those up and they were approved, Haridopolos said.
The Senate will not address the appointments in the special session on redistricting that began Wednesday.
Contact Jim Turner at jturner@sunshinestatenews.com or (772) 215-9889.
