Florida Senate President Andy Gardiner, R-Orlando, named former Senate President Tom Lee, R-Brandon, as the chairman of the powerful Appropriations Committee on Tuesday. Gardiner also tapped Anitere Flores, R-Miami, to lead the newly formed Fiscal Policy Committee.
The new Senate president weighed in on what he hoped the two committees would accomplish in the next two years.
Each year we have a constitutional duty to pass a balanced budget, Gardiner said. Sound management and careful oversight of the year-round appropriations process is critical to meeting our obligation to craft our budget within the time-sensitive environment of a 60-day session.
Gardiner said the newly formed committee would handle fiscal bills with far less budgetary costs than the bills Appropriations would handle.
While the committee on Appropriations will remain the primary vehicle to produce the General Appropriations Act, the committee on Fiscal Policy will provide an alternative path to the Senate Calendar for bills with a minimal fiscal impact, said Gardiner before turning his focus to the new committee chairs.
Lee is no stranger to the Senate, having first been elected to the chamber in 1996. Presiding over the Senate as president from 2004-2006, Lee was the Republican candidate in 2006 who came up short against Democrat Alex Sink in the state CFO race. In 2012, Lee made a political comeback and reclaimed a Senate seat. Over the last two years he was deputy majority leader.
Having previously served as our Senate president, Tom has a great deal of experience and a keen understanding of the multifaceted appropriations process, Gardiner said of Lee. He will be a key member of the Senate leadership and will work to ensure all senators have the opportunity to play a role in drafting our state budget.
Gardiner also praised Flores who has more than a decade of experience in Tallahassee.
I have served with Senator Flores for a number of years in the House, and now the Senate, and have witnessed her ability to manage complex policy and budget issues, Gardiner said. Anitere is a strong leader and I am confident she will be an effective member of the Senate leadership in this important role.
First elected to the House in 2004, Flores served three terms, rising to become part of the GOP leadership as deputy majority leader. In 2010, Flores was elected to serve in the Senate, serving as majority whip during her first two years in the chamber.
Reach Kevin Derby at kderby@sunshinestatenews.com or follow him on Twitter: @KevinDerbySSN
