On the heels of the break with tradition last month, where congressional Republicans and Democrats sat together during President Obama’s State of the Union address, Rep. Alan Williams (D-Tallahassee) sent a letter to House Speaker, Dean Cannon and Senate President, Mike Haridopolis, proposing mix seating during the upcoming State of the State address.
“As we welcome New Members to the State Legislature and unite for the first Session under new leadership, it is important to remember that we are colleagues, not enemies”, Williams wrote in his letter on Thursday. “Though we are elected as Republican or Democrat, we are all dedicated to the same goal, though the means by which we pursue that goal may differ. We must send the message to the state of Florida that cooperation, not division, is the method by which that goal is attained.”
Williams added that mixed seating during the State of the State address would encourage members to ignore party lines, focus on the important issues and help change the tone of political discourse in the state.
No word yet on whether Republicans in Tallahassee would go for this.
Gov. Rick Scott is slated to deliver the State of the State address on March 8, the opening day of the 2011 Regular Session of the Florida Legislature.
Stay tuned!
