The upcoming Florida legislative session is likely to be so dominated by looming fights over expanding casino gambling and redrawing the state's congressional and legislative districts that there might not be time for extensive work in other areas, House Speaker Dean Cannon said Wednesday.
Speaking to the Associated Press annual legislative planning session in the state Capitol, Cannon, R-Winter Park, said dealing with the state's projected budget deficit will also mean virtually all state agencies and programs are "going to absorb some kind of cuts."
After first citing what he considered to be some of the Legislature's top accomplishments in most recent sessions -- passing a budget without a tax increase, Medicaid reform measures, growth-management reforms and pro-life bills -- Cannon segued into his expectations for 2012.
They were focused on producing a state budget, the only thing required of the Legislature by the state Constitution; redistricting, which the state is required to do every 10 years based on population changes recorded by the U.S. Census; and companion House-Senate bills that would allow three huge casinos in Broward and Miami-Dade counties, which Cannon said he remains "philosophically opposed to."
The redistricting effort is expected to be so contentious the Legislature moved up the session's opening to January to allow time to consider it fully.
The casino gambling proposals, Cannon said, could face a tough fight unless their supporters can back up claims that the expanded gambling would actually rein in gaming in the state. Cannon said he remains "very skeptical" of that idea.
Taking questions after his address, Cannon:
- Said he supported Attorney General Pam Bondi's eleventh-hour decision to appeal a Leon County Circuit judge's ruling in favor of a challenge by the Police Benevolent Association to the state's efforts to private prison operations in 19 South Florida counties. The issue, he said, was "wrongly decided" and should be reviewed by an appellate court.
- Said it is "too soon to tell" whether the Legislature would review changes in voting laws made in the last session, noting, again, that time constraints will severely limit what would be decided -- even extensively discussed -- in the 90 days of the 2012 session.
- Largely declined to get involved in a discussion over whether several high-profile financial claims involving injury and death would have more success in 2012 than 2011. The claims bills, strongly favored by Senate President Mike Haridopolos, R-Merritt Island, foundered on the House side earlier this year.
- Expressed hope that in his last year as House speaker, he could help start a "serious conversation on higher education reform." Significant changes in the state's higher education system are unlikely until future Legislatures can pursue them, he said, but added that foundational work, at least, could begin sooner.
Cannon also briefly chided reporters in attendance, stressing that the speaker's office is not always the source of first resort for the merits of pending legislation, or the chances of whether it will pass.
"I don't and I won't weigh in on every issue," he said. "I'm not saying I don't have any influence, but I encourage you to seek (other members) out ... I encourage you to get to know other members."
Democratic House Leader Ron Saunders of Key West offered his take on what the session would bring later in the meeting, insisting that the Republicans would be forced to lose seats during the redistricting process.
Pointing to two new constitutional amendments passed by Florida voters in the 2010 elections, Saunders said the Republicans cannot make the numbers work. Drawing on his experience with redistricting from the early 1990s, Saunders said the Republicans should bring out their first plan early in the legislative session and predicted that eight House seats currently held by the GOP would be at risk by the time the process is over.
It will be very difficult to pass a plan Republicans will like, said Saunders. There are going to be a lot more upset Republican members than Democratic members. ... Theyve already bottomed us out.
Mulling over the Republican majority, Saunders guessed that the GOP caucus is about evenly split on gambling expansion -- forcing backers of the casino bill to work the Democrats for votes.
The Democrats' votes, we know, will make a difference, Saunders said, adding that he opposed the measure as it stands now, but noting that his caucus remained undecided. We are uncommitted, he said.
Saunders said Democrats would question the role the governor had in shaping a state gaming commission in the current bill. He added members of his caucus would seek to have input on the final bill.
Im not sure the bill will pass, said Saunders. If it were up today, it would fail.
Saunders predicted that Republicans would call a special session to pass a budget as they sought to pass a redistricting plan.
In terms of reforming higher education, Saunders predicted there would be bipartisan opposition to attempts to eliminate tenure at state universities. When asked if that would hold true for attempts to end tenure at community colleges, Saunders said there would be less opposition to that idea.
Saunders dismissed Republicans as focusing on social issues.
We need to get the focus back on job creation, he said.
Reach Kevin Derby at kderby@sunshinestatenews.com or (850) 727-0859. Reach Joe Saunders at jsaunders@sunshinestatenews.com or (850) 727-0859. Joe Saunders and Ron Saunders are not related.
