Lee Constantine Gets His Moment in the Sun

In what is at least the third sign of a farewell this week for Altamonte Springs Republican Lee Constantine, Senate President Jeff Atwater, R-North Palm Beach, ceded his podium to the long-time lawmaker. Constantine has served in the Legislature for roughly 18 years. He started in the House in 1992 before moving on to the Senate in 2000.

The Senator is well-known for trying to improve the state recycling rate, and he may see one of his most far-reaching bills discussed on the Senate floor today. Constantine has proposesd a bill that aims to make the state recycle 75 percent of its solid waste by 2020. The bill originally required schools and state, city and county agencies and businesses with 25 or more employees to report their recycling rates. Those that didnt comply would not be given preference when seeking government contracts.

The requirement was scaled back at the bill's last committee stop to exempt businesses from the requirement.

Will the Senate go for it? The bill has been put on the calendar for second reading today, so we may get a good idea soon.