As expected, the House unanimously chose Dean Cannon (R-District 35) as its new speaker on Tuesday and Supreme Court Justice Ricky Polston swore in 41 new members. On the Senate side, Mike Haridopolos officially took over as Senate president, also with a unanimous vote and 13 new senate members were sworn in.
The Legislature, which faces a $2.5 billion deficit in the upcoming 2011/2012 budget, will have two choices new Senate President Mike Haridopolos said, either raise taxes or spend less. “We will spend less”, Haridopolos said. “It’s not our money. It’s their money and if we think about that every day, we’re going to be a lot better off.”
The new House members, sworn in in groups of five, are:
Rep. Doug Broxson, R-Gulf Breeze.
Rep. Clay Ingram, R-Pensacola.
Rep. Elizabeth Porter, R-Lake City.
Rep. Reggie Fullwood, D-Jacksonville.
Rep. Daniel Davis, R-Jacksonville.
Rep. Keith Perry, R-Gainesville.
Rep. Dennis Baxley, R-Ocala.
Rep. Larry Metz, R-Yalaha.
Rep. Fred Costello, R-Ormond Beach.
Rep. Tom Goodson, R-Cocoa.
Rep. Jason Brodeur, R-Sanford.
Rep. Jimmie Smith, R-Inverness.
Rep. Richard Corcoran, R-Trinity.
Rep. James Grant, R-Tampa
Rep. Larry Ahern, R-St. Petersburg
Rep. Jeff Brandes, R-St. Petersburg
Rep. Dana Young, R-Tampa.
Rep. Shawn Harrison, R-Temple Terrace.
Rep. Ben Albritton, R-Bartow
Rep. Greg Steube, R-Bradenton
Rep. Jim Boyd, R-Bradenton
Rep. Ray Pilon, R-Sarasota
Rep. Matt Caldwell, R-Fort Myers
Rep. Kathleen Passidomo, R-Naples
Rep. Steve Perman, D-Boca Raton.
Rep. Gayle Harrell, R-Stuart
Rep. Pat Rooney, R-West Palm Beach
Rep. Lori Berman, D-Boca Raton
Rep. Bill Hager, R-Boca Raton
Rep. Jeff Clemens, D-Lake Worth
Rep. Irv Slosberg, D-Boca Raton
Rep. George Moraitis, R-Fort Lauderdale
Rep. John Patrick Julien, D-North Miami Beach
Rep. Daphne Campbell, D-North Miami
Rep. Cynthia Stafford, D-Miami
Rep. Jeanette Nunez, R-Miami
Rep. Ana Rivas Logan, R-Miami
Rep. Jose Felix Diaz, R-Miami
Rep. Carlos Trujillo, R-Miami
Rep. Michael Bileca, R-Miami
Rep. Frank Artiles, R-Miami
Returning House members were then sworn in for the new term.
LEADERS ELECTED: Rep. Ari Porth, D-Coral Springs, then moved that the House find and declare all the members duly elected representatives to the 85th House since statehood. The voice vote was nearly unanimous – one of the children of Rep. Jimmy Patronis, R-Panama City, yelled “No.”
The floor was then opened for nominations for speaker of the House.
Rep. Chuck Chestnut, D-Gainesville, then approached the well to make a nomination. He nominated Rep. Ron Saunders, D-Key West, to be the Democratic leader. The motion was seconded by Rep. Scott Randolph, D-Orlando.
Rep. Bill Proctor, R-St. Augustine, then approached the well to place the name of Dean Cannon in nomination for speaker “in what is acknowledged to be the most challenging economic period in history since the Great Depression.” The motion was seconded by Rep. Carlos Lopez-Cantera, R-Miami.
Rep. Saunders moved that a unanimous vote be recorded for Rep. Cannon for speaker. The motion was agreed to and Cannon was elected speaker unanimously.
Rep. Dean Cannon then approached the well and gave opening remarks.
CONTEST TO BERNARD SEATING NOT WELL FOUNDED
Rep. Gary Aubuchon, R-Cape Coral, and chairman of the House Rules Committee, then rose to address a contest to an election. Aubuchon said that a contest had been filed with the House against the seating of Rep. Mack Bernard, D-West Palm Beach, alleging that Bernard didn’t meet residency requirements. Aubuchon said Bernard had printed a voter registration card showing his address as in the district and Aubuchon moved that the House accept the documentation as proof of residency in the district and find the contest not well-founded.
The motion passed unanimously.
NEW RULES
Aubuchon then moved HR 1-0 establishing the rules of the House for the coming term. Aubuchon said the new rules largely are the same as the previous ones. One difference is the name of committees and subcommittees instead of councils and committees, but Aubuchon said they’ll operate the same.
The House unanimously adopted the resolution.
MORE LEADERS
Rep. Denise Grimsley, R-Lake Placid, then moved that a committee notify the Senate the House is organized. The vote was unanimous and Cannon sent a committee to notify the Senate of the House’s organization.
Rep. Geraldine Thompson, D-Orlando, then approached the well to nominate Rep. Joe Gibbons, D-Hallandale Beach, Democratic leader pro tem. Rep. Darren Soto, D-Kissimmee, seconded the nomination.
Rep. Will Weatherford, R-Wesley Chapel, then nominated Rep. John Legg, R-Port Richey, as speaker pro tem. Rep. Dorothy Hukill, R-Port Orange, seconded the nomination. Gibbons moved that the vote be unanimous for Legg, which made Legg speaker pro tem.
A committee from the Senate arrived to notify the House that it was organized. Senate President Haridopolos joined Speaker Cannon at the well to sign the proclamation for a special session on veto overrides to be held later in the day.
“We’re partners to bring jobs and opportunities to Florida,” Haridopolos told Cannon.
Saunders, D-Key West, gave brief remarks as incoming minority leader.
Justice Polston then administered the oath of office to House Clerk Bob Ward and Sergeant at Arms Earnest Sumner.
ADJOURNS: Rep. Weatherford moved at 11:54 a.m. that the House adjourn its organizational session sine die. The House will return at 3 p.m. for a special session.
The News Service of Florida
