A happy house - minus one

Over the past few weeks, outgoing members of the Florida House have given farewell speeches. There have been tears and jokes and copious applause. But when Sine Die falls today, one man will stand silent: Rep. Don Brown, R-DeFuniak Springs.

Brown, 56, has refused to share his final thoughts. The sometimes pugnacious, sometimes charming, always interesting Brown has run afoul of his party over the years and hard feelings remain.

In January 2007, Brown and Rep. Dennis Ross were the only two Republicans to vote against a sweeping property insurance legislation (turns out most everyone else came to see the bill as junk) and were forced from committee chairman spots by House Speaker Marco Rubio. Brown also was one of the first Republicans to criticize some of the moves of Gov. Charlie Crist.

Ross is also passing on a good-bye speech, but he gave one last year, when it looked like he was leaving. (Photo: Florida House) Rep. Stan Mayfield, R-Vero Beach, is also taking the silent route, but he got a sendoff of sorts yesterday when Rubio praised his leadership and friendship.

Comments

Good for him someone who actually knows when to shut up. Everyone else just loves to hear themselves talk. I think Cusack is going on 30 minutes for her painful goodbye speech. LEAVE ALREADY!!!!!

Dear God will that woman not shut the hell up?????

where's the oscar's cut-off music?

bills be dyin'

This is the last time (thankfully) Joyce Cusack will have a very big microphone.

[Mickey]

11:08
Other than the budget-if it ain't passed by now-it can't be very worthwhile.

Who is Don Brown?

DON BROWN for GOVERNOR!

Waaaaaaaaaaaa!

Obviously Marco anticipated some serious competition for the Huggies award. Don't worry though, he won hands down!

59 and 1/2 Days!

[Doug McAlarney]

One of the leading voices in med mal reform, workers comp reform, broad based tort reform,election reform, joint & sev., and insurance reform.

One of the only Legislators to look Jeb in the eye and say no. One of the only Members unwilling to kneel before Rubio and Rivera. One of the only Members to publically call Crist as he sees him. One of only two Members with the courage to vote how they really felt in the insurance special.

Don Brown - One of the toughest, most fearless and most effective House Members in recent history.

[Doug McAlarney]

One of the leading voices in med mal reform, workers comp reform, broad based tort reform,election reform, joint & sev., and insurance reform.

One of the only Legislators to look Jeb in the eye and say no. One of the only Members unwilling to kneel before Rubio and Rivera. One of the only Members to publically call Crist as he sees him. One of only two Members with the courage to vote how they really felt in the insurance special.

Don Brown - One of the toughest, most fearless and most effective House Members in recent history.

[Deja yawn!]

One of the ...

11:38 - that's good, stir up the pot naming all the leadership brown's run up against (including the sitting governor) just as brown is about to start his own firm - great selling point to clients "sign me, look at all the people i've ticked off!"

[Omega83]

I would have applauded Don Brown for bucking the leadership.

Were it not for the fact he is a bigot.

Omega83 - You mean by having a bill for designating a main road in his district named after MLK, Jr or the American Indian tag?

Omega83 - You mean by having a bill for designating a main road in his district named after MLK, Jr or the American Indian tag?

[Omega83]

no, I mean using state money to create a Confederate license plate

12:38 - 1) the bill never went anywhere and 2) private groups that want specialty plates pay to create the tags not the state

that being said, it was a bad tag idea

Even better, 12:05, is that 11:38 is Brown's business partner.

12:52 yes it was. But that does not change the fact that Don Brown and only Don Brown sponsored it nonetheless.

I have been involved in politics for nearly 20 years. Don Brown is one of the greatest statesmen Florida has ever had. A true man of integrity who is unwaivering on principle, and a man who has proven time and time again to have good solid judgement...even when it wasnt popular.

How vote against the insurance package will look like a genius move when we get hit with our next big storm.

The process could use more Don Browns, and less slick-dressed, fast talking politicians.

For those who criticized Rep. Cusack's speech, I for one believe that anyone who chained themselves to lunch counters to change their community has more than earned the right to speak a few extra minutes. Cusack is a class act and was a hard working legislator.