As session started today, Senate President Jeff Atwater, R-North Palm Beach, repeated his call for the state Legislature to demand the federal government balance its budget.
Atwater and Cretul, R-Ocala, proposed Monday that the state join 19 other states demanding a Balanced Budget Amendment to the Federal Constitution, which would require a balanced federal budget and limit federal restrictions on state spending.
Florida is on its way to becoming the third-most populous state in the nation and the tenth-largest GDP in the world.
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The Florida House of Representatives opened the 2010 session on a gloomy wet day in Tallahassee and the mood in the House chamber reflected the weather. Even the opening prayer stressed how Floridians were discouraged by the economic situation and were losing faith.
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Now, I'm second to none in my admiraton of Florida's talented young people. But here are our senators on the first day of the 2010 session, with only 60 days to make some $3.2 billion in cuts to the budget -- and get that budget passed -- while deciding on oil drilling, casino gambling, and taxes, to say nothing of figuring out how they're going to get 1 million Floridians back to work ... and what are they doing? How are they starting? With 20 minutes of show tunes. Little Jennie Moen, age 14, from Bradenton, and Maria Wirries, 12, from Myakka City even brought their instruments.
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Morning Yall,
Im in the state Senate press gallery as session starts.
Gov. Charlie Crist and Attorney General Bill McCollum circled the floor before opening call, and reporters joked about Senators' wardrobes and handshakes.
Prayer just ended, including the words, "We pray for our Governor."
"Me too," comes a comment from the gallery
Its a party all around.
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With publication of "On the Origin of Species" in 1859, the hunt was on for the "missing link." Fame and fortune awaited the scientist who found the link proving Darwin right: that man evolved from a monkey.
Most discussions of health care are like something out of Alice in Wonderland.
What is the biggest complaint about the current medical care situation? "It costs too much." Yet one looks in vain for anything in the pending legislation that will lower those costs.
Despite the Senate's seeming reluctance to lift a 20-year ban on offshore oil drilling in Florida waters, the first legislation on the subject was filed in the upper chamber.
Meanwhile, House leaders said Monday that they would not be deterred by a report last week that found that drilling in Florida waters would "have no discernible impact" on gas prices or the nation's dependence on foreign oil, even if it would pump millions into state coffers.
A sweeping anti-immigration measure filed by Sen. Carey Baker, R-Eustis, could have the dubious distinction of being the legislation least likely to pass for the 2010 session. SB 856 has more committee references than any other bill filed so far this year.
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State Sen. Mike Haridopolos, R-Melbourne, the incoming Senate President, has filed Senate Bill 2622 Regulation of State Lands and Oil Gas Resources as the opening salvo in what looks like a protracted discussion in both the Florida House and Senate during the current session.
State Senate President Jeff Atwater and House Speaker Larry Cretul announced Monday they want Florida to join other states in demanding the federal government balance its budget.
If the federal government, now grappling with a $12 trillion debt, doesnt act more fiscally responsible, the consequences are clear.
Florida will be drowning in its debt, Atwater said, in a joint press conference with Cretul.
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