Setback to House Leadership on Retiree Subsidies

A stunning loss for Speaker Larry Cretul, R-Ocala, and the leadership moments after the House passed the budget.

HB 5701 which would have ended the Retiree Health Insurance Subsidy (HIS). The state contributes between $30 to $150 per month to retirees based on their years of service with the average retiree getting $105 a month.

The bill made it through the Full Appropriations Council on Education & Economic Development on an 11-6 vote. But it went down to defeat on a 57-59 vote when it was in the House.

A number of Republicans including staunch social conservative Rep. Charles Van Zandt, R-Keystone Heights, and Rep. Kevin Ambler, R-Tampa, voted against the measure. Rep. Sandy Adams, R-Orlando, did not vote even though she backed the bill in committee. Rep. Kurt Kelly, R-Ocala, also did not vote on the measure one way or the other.

Politics may be in play here. Ambler is running in a competitive Republican primary for state senate and Adamsand Kelly arebothmaking bids for Congress.

While Democrats broke into cheers, Cretul surveyed the scene and said they were lucky this was not a football game since the referee would throw a penalty flag for excessive celebration.

UPDATE:

The leadership got back on track after some rocky moments and brought the bill back. It passed 63-56.

After the House took a recess, Rep. Charles McBurney, R-Jacksonville, who voted against HB 5701 the first time around, moved to reconsider the bill. Rep. Ron Saunders, D-Key West, led the opposition, saying the Senate would still kill the measure and some Republicans up for re-election would now be forced to explain why they voted to end HIS.

"This is a hard bill and I know it," Adams said, asking the House to back McBurney's bill.

Kelly also voted for the measure but did not take the high profile role that Adams did.