When House members return to Tallahassee for the regular session, the speaker doesnt expect there to be much time for items outside of redistricting and the budget.
And those same members shouldnt plan on getting any bill heard if they cant find a senator to champion the effort in the other chamber.
There are only two things that (Florida's) Constitution says the president of the Senate and speaker of the House have to get done: the budget and reapportionment, House Speaker Dean Cannon, R-Winter Park, said during a meeting with the Sunshine State News. I think that if were going to do our job, be faithful to the Constitution and send the right signal to the business community, then we can get our work done on time and we should do it on time.
The 60-day regular session begins Jan. 10, with the session moved up two months to accommodate the once-a-decade reapportionment.
On Wednesday, Cannon sent out a memo to all House members apprising the body that, because of redistricting, they should expect there to be less time in formal session, with no major floor action in the first several weeks.
The policy subcommittees will meet during weeks one through four of session, Cannon wrote. Since the fiscal subcommittees will spend the first three weeks preparing their recommendations for the (fiscal year) 2012-13 state budget, they will be given additional time during weeks five and six to consider member bills.
Cannon deferred most comments about the budget to Rep. Denise Grimsley, R-Sebring, who chairs the Appropriations Committee, while calling Gov. Rick Scotts proposed $66.4 billion budget thoughtful.
I think both on education and on health care, I think we agree with his overarching goal. We may disagree or have an alternative suggestion for the means to get there, Cannon said.
Hes proposed using a banding approach to the Medicaid funding for hospitals. Were still looking at that; it may make sense to do it a different way, but we share the goal of allocating themoney as carefully as we can.
When Scott released his proposed budget Dec. 7, he declared he wouldnt approve a budget from the Legislature that failed to have a significant increase for education.
While calling for $1 billion in additional spending for K-12 education, Scott proposed $1.8 million in cuts to health care through instituting a flat rate for hospital procedures.
Cannons letter to House members reads:
"Members, Florida House of Representatives
"FROM: Dean Cannon, Speaker
"DATE: December 21, 2011
'RE: 2012 Session
"The early start date for the 2012 Session will have a collateral impact on the timing and sequence of our work in the House. To assist you in managing your legislation this Session, I bring to your attention several items:
"We anticipate spending significantly less time on the Floor, in formal Session, than we did last year. I do not expect any major Floor action during the first several weeks of Session.
"The policy subcommittees will meet during weeks one through four of Session.Since the fiscal subcommittees will spend the first three weeks preparing their recommendations for theFY 2012-13 state budget, they will be given additional time during weeks five and six to consider Member bills. If necessary, additional subcommittee time will also be allotted in weeks five or six to the Community and Military Affairs Subcommittee to complete its consideration of local bills, the Government Operations Subcommittee to complete its public records exemption reviews, and the Civil Justice Subcommittee for the consideration of claims bills. The subcommittee agendas for these additional meetings will be limited to those enumerated topics.
"The policy and fiscal committees of the House will continue to meet through week seven of Session.
"Please be reminded that regardless of when you file your bills, referrals are based on content.The more expansive your bill, the more referrals your bill will likely receive.
"Last Session, the House maintained the integrity of its committee process. We did not withdraw a single House bill from a subcommittee or committee, and we did not take up a single Senate bill whose House companion had not reached the House Calendar. It is my intention to adhere to the same principles for the 2012 Session.
"I wish all of you Happy Holidays and look forward to working with you when you return to Tallahassee."
Reach Jim Turner at jturner@sunshinestatenews.com or at (772) 215-9889.
