There may be only two days left in the 2015 regular legislative session, but the drama between the House and Senate continues to rage on with both chambers making power plays.
The Florida Senate had a strong message for the Florida House Wednesday afternoon: Come back to Tallahassee or were ready to head to court.
The House called it quits Tuesday amid an impasse over whether or not the state should expand Medicaid.
By Wednesday, Senate President Gardiner had amplified the tension over the Houses abrupt end, raising the possibility of bringing the early adjournment to the Florida Supreme Court to see if the House violated state law.
Gardiner read aloud the Florida Constitution, which says neither house shall adjourn for more than 72 consecutive hours except pursuant to a concurrent resolution.
The course of action you have taken is not only unconstitutional; it is unprecedented under our present state Constitution, wrote Gardiner in a letter to the House.
The Orlando Republican condemned the Houses actions and requested that they reconvene to finish the important work of the people of Florida.
For House to do what they did [it] is wrong, Gardiner said on the floor.
Coming back for a regular session? No way, no how, said House Speaker Steve Crisafulli, R-Merritt Island.
Crisafulli was quick to fire back after the Senate convened late Wednesday afternoon. In a letter to Gardiner, Crisafulli said the House would be ready to negotiate with the Senate over Medicaid expansion, but not during the regular session.
The House speaker seemed to imply Gardiner knew all along that the House wouldnt go along with the expansion.
I told you that the House could not pass Obamacare expansion, he wrote. Its not something I can force them to pass.
Crisafulli also questioned why Gardiner didnt ask a member of the House to file a bill over the expansion.
He wrote:Why did you not send us your bill so we had something to consider? Why did you not ask it to be a part of the Joint Work Plan?
Crisafulli and the House GOP have been at the center of the apparent dysfunction between the chambers, with some criticizing them for throwing their hands up in the air and leaving their posts early because they couldnt reach an agreement.
The infighting has been blood to Democratic sharks like Florida Democratic Party Chair Allison Tant, who had been mostly silent this legislative session.
The House GOP was so unwilling to even discuss expanding access to health care, they have now abandoned priorities essential to all Floridians, from environmental protections to expanding the right to vote and helping kids with special needs," she said.
Other House members disagreed that the blame should fall on them for leaving early.
It became apparent we werent going to get any budget done in any way, shape or form, Rep. Matt Caldwell, R-North Fort Myers, told Sunshine State News Wednesday. Why stick around for three more days?"
Caldwell said the Senate was just as much to blame for the impasse.
It takes two to tango, he said.
Yet Caldwell remained hopeful there would be a "happily ever after" even after the trauma.
I think we are going to get to a good resolution on this, he explained. Ive got to hope senators and the Senate president are ready to negotiate.
Reach Tampa-based reporter Allison Nielsen by email at allison@sunshinestatenews.com or follow her on Twitter: @AllisonNielsen
