House Dem Leader Ron Saunders: 'Let's Get to Work'

While the Republicans have dominated the opening ceremony of the 85th Florida House of Representatives -- no surprise, considering they have 81 of the 120 House seats -- the Democrats had their moment on Tuesday morning when Democratic House Leader Ron Saunders of Key West offered his opening address.

Our state faces many challenges, said Saunders, noting the states high unemployment and continued mortgage crisis.

Saunders pledged that he and the House Democrats would work with the Republicans to help Florida, noting that while that he belonged to a different political party than the majority of the House, they were all Floridians.

Lets get to work, said Saunders, quoting incoming Republican Gov. Rick Scotts campaign phrase. A smiling House Speaker Dean Cannon, R-Winter Park, mouthed the words as Saunders said them.

Saunders had used the line earlier in the morning when the House Democrats caucused and unanimously chose him to be their leader.