Senate President Andy Gardiner kicked off the first day of the 2015 legislative session with an opening address focused on Senate unity, setting the stage for the next 60 days of lawmaking in the Sunshine State.
We are going to work very, very hard, Gardiner told the group of 38 senators during his opening remarks.
Gardiner, first elected to the Florida Legislature in 2000, will reign over the Republican-controlled chamber for the next two years. His opening address heavily focused on relationships with fellow senators and how each has contributed to solving some of Floridas most pressing issues.
He hit on several hot topics for this years legislative session, including high-stakes testing and the Department of Corrections.
When I asked Chairman Legg and President Gaetz to chair the committees that oversaw our education policy, we talked almost immediately about the ongoing issues dealing with testing in the state, said Gardiner on assessment tests.
We are not going to wait around, he continued. If theres an issue with testing that needs to be addressed, then the Senate will act, and we will act quickly.
On Medicaid expansion, Gardiner said he was uncertain on how the issue would end up, but said the Senate would start discussion on Medicaid expansion.
We have an obligation to look at this issue, he explained. We should at least have the discussion.
Gardiner expressed his confidence in fellow legislators when it came to budget discussions.
We are going to do it deliberately, we are going to do it right, and we are going to do it smart, he said.
Gardiner also said hed take this years session as an opportunity to focus on an issue close to his heart: helping Floridians with disabilities achieve economic independence.
The Senate president said he would promote a bill to increase opportunities for state government jobs to those with unique abilities as part of this years legislative agenda.
Gardiner has a close connection to the cause -- his son, Andrew, was born with Down syndrome.
The Senate has embraced this journey that my family has been on for 11 years and I am forever grateful, he said.
In closing, Gardiner emphasized his willingness to put the power not in himself, but in the chamber hell oversee for the next two years.
There will be many times where youll come to me and say What do you want to do? and Ill say Whatever you want to do, said Gardiner to his fellow senators. This will be the last speech you hear from me. Its not my thing. But what is my thing is to make you all ... empowered and successful.
Reach Tampa-based reporter Allison Nielsen by email at allison@sunshinestatenews.com or follow her on Twitter: @AllisonNielsen
