A meltdown paralyzes the Florida House

Republicans have 76 of the 120 votes in the state House, but they resorted to a procedural tactic Friday reminiscent of the Johnnie Byrd era to prevent Democrats from prolonging debate on a bill that tweaks FCAT standards in schools. The GOP maneuver, which quickly backfired, blocked consideration of a proposal by Republican Sen. Don Gaetz, R-Niceville, that included broader FCAT reforms.

The move by Rep. Ellyn Bogdanoff, R-Fort Lauderdale, was to call the previous question, which limited debate to three minutes per side and denied Democrats a forum to call once again for FCAT reforms. Minority Leader Dan Gelber, D-Miami Beach, rose and said: "I don't know why we have to resort to unbecoming procedural rules to stop a full and fair debate ... if this is what this House has come to, it's something you all should be ashamed of, and I mean that."

A few minutes later, Gelber demanded that every bill on Friday's calendar be read in its entirety, an even more obscure and rarely employed procedure.

To defeat that motion required a two-thirds vote, but it barely fell short by a 70-41 margin. Sergeants-at-arms secured the chamber and House Speaker Marco Rubio ordered absent members rounded up and extra reading clerks brought in. "I hope you guys like condominium law," Rubio cracked, as a young clerk began reading a lengthy condo bill.

The meltdown threatened to prevent Jewish lawmakers from making afternoon flights to get home by sundown Friday, when Passover observances begin.

As the clerk read the bill, lawmakers clumped together in the middle of the floor, plotting strategic moves. After a few minutes, Rubio slammed the gavel. "I'd ask you respect the work this young man is trying to do," he said.

Comments

[kitty]

01:15 PM, why do you assume Rep Gelber has no respect for his religion? What's wrong with expecting our elected officials to do their job? And who is to say they won't be finished by sundown on Saturday - approximately 30 hours from now?

1:49...I was referring to the fact that someone said Democrats have no respect for faith and the irony of the fact that it was a Jewish member who's making these motions. I am sure Gelber does have respect for his religion...I just wanted to point out the irony of it.

-1:15

Nope, they can't starve people - but they CAN LAY OFF CHILD ABUSE INVESTIGATORS and LAY OFF FOSTER CARE WORKERS and ELIMINATE NURSING HOME INSPECTIONS!!!

Just as long as they Don't ELIMINATE $700 TO CSX or ELIMINATE $265 TO RUBIO'S FRIEND or ELIMINATE ANY OF RUBIO'S PORK!!

Oink, oink, oink!

[Larry Craig, Newt Gingrich, Bob Allen & Tom Delay]

1:49 is right - Democrats don't have respect for faith.

great move rivera and rubio! keep referring those d*** democrats' bills to rules.

[doug]

Get your faith out of MY government...keep it to yourself where it belongs! Just because it's friday doesn't mean you get to home early. Work, or don't eat!

re-elect nobody!

[jack]

FloriDUH!!

[Pat]

FloriDUMB - florida politicians as useless teets on a bull, or fake bulls balls on 4x4! Morons!

[Poor Leadership Coalition]

Of course...if House leadership had not lost 9 seats this would be a non-issue...they would have the votes to stop this non-sense....unfortunately the children in charge put personal ambition above the party and the House...

Remember this November - the GOP is counting on you forgetting.

Waive the rules, motion to not read bills in full, voice vote and don't recognize the 5 hands...

Problem Solved!

Bring back Johnny Byrd.

Problem Solved!

[Leeanne]

Hand in the pocket politics.....

[Liberal Democrats]

are very toxic. avoid like the plague.

[Keith]

It is time to vote all of them (dems & reps) out and start over. Egos and party mean more to them than serving the people.
Our two party system is obsolete and we really need a change. How about a party that represents working people and not special interests? What happened to term limits, insurance, taxes, the economy?
How short are your memories?

[Marc]

I love Rhonda Storms, she is sooo hot and a wild one to boot. Is she going to read any of the bills?

Is this leadership?

The problem is this is the first time many of them have even heard these bills.

[Marc]

I figured out the problem!!! If you look at the above picture with Dan Gelber in it, guess who is standing to the right of him.

It's Omarosa! No wonder they are freaking out! She is sowing her usual FUD. That's Fear, Uncertainty and Doubt for those of you that don't know. Somebody get the Donald to Fire Omarosa!

"MAN" CAUCUS UPDATE:

Rick Krise-man just owned Baxter Trout-man. No word yet on Wald-man, Alt-man, Ho-man, Needel-man,

[Donald Lance]

Be it ever so crumbly there's no place like Rome
Nero, he was the emperor and the palace was his home
But he liked to play with matches and for a fire yearned
So he burned Rome to ashes and fiddled while it burned!

It's time to vote out every democrats especially fat cats Dan Gelber & Steve Geller.

What a mess they have caused. They are one of the big reasons we have no meaningful property tax relief.

[Marc]

10:59, I think you read the article wrong, its those obstinate fat-cat Republicans at fault. Vote out all the Republican bastards. We need more even-keeled Democrats to balance out the system.

great job reagan! bet no democrap has the ba**s to get up there and read considering they are the reason this mess is going on

11:19pm, If that idiot democrat Gelber did not called for the childish reading of every word, this would not be happening.

VOTE OUT EVERY DEMOCRAT INCLUDING THE IDIOTS IN WASHINGTON LED BY NANCY PELOSI.

They have an approval rating much lower than Pres. Bush

Well, at least it keeps the idiots off the streets. What has the Common Man's party come to?

anyone besides me still watching this stuff?

10:59...

Ummm...

Did you happen to read the part of the story where they mention that it was the REPUBLICANS who initially pulled the "procedural tactic" to PREVENT Democrats from debating? And that this was the response?

Yet it's the Republicans who are exempt from fault here? Ummm, ok, sure.

[Bio Hazard]

How did this dumbing down of our society happen? Florida has to be the retard central headquarters for the United States. If breathing didn't come natural, most of the citizens of Florida would die for sure. Floridians should be made to purchase a license to pro-create. There are just too many morons in Florida and I feel if something isn't done pretty soon the rest of world might be contaminated by an inferior gene-pool of retarded Floridians. Dark ages here we come! Just goes to show you welfare along with the public school system doesn't work. The government has subsidized stupidity breeding for years and now the chickens have come home to roost.

[rick from Largo]

As to all Pope stuff and any religion which seems to be in vogue right now, the rule is pure separation of church and state. I think it's fine a person practices the fellowship of faith (on the off time) but leave it outside the door if you work for the federal or other high level government.

It is the basis of our constitution and for good reason. In the past seven plus years this administration has watered down everything. They forget the constitution in general and should think no single religion should be allowed to float around in essence on any official basis and mentioned by any high placed office holder. Religion has no place in government and visa versa. This is not to say I am against schools that like to say prayers, or states rights issues-states have individual rights past federal controls. If they express a demographic rooted in a faith based community-fine. But not in the Federal Government. Besides, I think this pope looks like a devil. I just can't understand Bush at all. I can only imagine that he wanted the pope around because the church is rich beyond belief. In the Boston area they had to sell off a lot to pay the bill for child molestation. I think the church is a sick and greedy thing. Used to be a one of them. Not any more. It's as annoying as Scientology. Sorry if I offended anyone. But I keep my religion to myself. I believe in Jesus as well. Just won't see me howling about it. End

[Char]

As it should be.

[MT]

Please. This is probably the most work the House has done in ages. Half of them mill about, not even paying attention and band together for stupid crap like this.

The legislative process in this state is a joke. I think everyone should go and watch how bills are passed. I think there'd be even more outrage. They're all a bunch of over-privileged children who can't string 3 intelligent words together, let alone figure out how to act mature, spend resources appropriately or make decent legislative decisions.

Throw them all out and let's get some intelligent people in there for once who actually care about the people of Florida and not their own selfish projects (that goes for both parties, incidentally).

[Rick]

Rubio may not be a Byrd, but he is a childish, partisan, "sound bite" driven lightweight whose political aspirations overwhelm sound judgment. His persona and style are polarizing and do nothing but damage to the republican party. Keep putting people like him in charge of the legislative sessions and Democrats will come back into power - and no gerrymandering will stop it.

[Jeb]

If the voters of Florida had any sense at all, they would vote straight Democrat and let them fix what's wrong with this backward, good-ole-boy system that has been in place since Lawton died.