Sine Die 2011 Weekend Edition: Capitol to Courthouse Headliners–Saturday, May 7
May 7, 2011
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Above: Florida House Speaker Dean Cannon is surrounded by legislators at the close of the 2011 Florida Legislative Session, which was briefly extended into the early hours this morning, May 7, after lawmakers become tangled over how to handle dozens of last-minute budget-related bills. (Photo: St. Petersburg Times/Scott Keeler)
Blog: Sine Die finally: House at 2:07 a.m.; Senate at 3:35 a.m.
After midnight and all the troubles started coming out. Senate President Mike Haridopolos said he’ll sleep in his office and called members to return at 10 a.m.
Blog: Senate passed tax cut; adjourned Sine Die
The Florida Senate passed its final version of the 2011 session – a tax cut package – at 3:34 a.m.
Blog: House passed budget, Senate then came back in
A stalemate between chambers of the Florida Legislature led to an extension of the legislative session, an early morning vote for the state’s budget and anger by the House speaker over the Senate killing previously agreed-to bills.
Blog: After midnight–How the Legislature’s wheels came off
The tax provision that caused the Legislature to unravel and miss its scheduled Friday midnight close first emerged last weekend and was ushered into a conforming bill by House and Senate budget-writers.
Senate shoots down deregulation of professions
The Florida Senate shot down a House effort to deregulate a handful of professions, businesses and occupations as the Legislature inched toward adjournment Friday night.
Blog: Gambling over rules and rules over gambling in overtime
After midnight and all the troubles started coming out. Senate President Mike Haridopolos said he’ll sleep in his office and called members to return at 10 a.m.
Pill mill bill comes back from the dead and sails through to victory
A late-night compromise between key lawmakers and Attorney General Pam Bondi gives new life to a crackdown on prescription drug abuse. Bondi and Gov. Rick Scott sit in the House as the legislation is approved unanimously.
Senate says growth management is “absolutely insane” as Legislature approves overhaul
The Legislature passes HB 7207 budget conforming bill rewrites Florida’s landmark 1985 growth management laws in coordination with Gov. Rick Scott’s proposal to eliminate the Department of Community Affairs. But Democratic Sen. Nan Rich says, “The result will be more sprawl, higher taxes and the loss of important critical environmental and agricultural lands.”
Blog: Haridopolos blasts House on claims bills
As the Senate wrapped up its 2011 session, Senate President Mike Haridopolos blasted the House for delaying action on a number of measures, but singled out two claims bills.
Blog: Scott goes to bed as session melts down
Gov. Rick Scott has left the building as the legislative session devolved into chaos around midnight. Forget the traditional sine die white hanky drop
Blog: Cannon–We had a deal; House goes home
House Speaker Dean Cannon told his chamber just after 2 a.m. Saturday that the Legislatures budget conferees from the Senate had blown up that deal earlier Friday night when they refused to pass some of the 44 budget conforming bills.
Blog: Haridopolos–I dont know how we got in a ditch
A visibly upset Senate President Mike Haridopolos sent his lawmakers home early Saturday and hunkered down to sleep onhis officecouch, saying he wasnt quite sure how the session had landed in a ditch.
Blog: Haridopolos – Silly games got in the way
Senate President Mike Haridopolos apologized to his members shortly before the 2011 legislative session fizzled to an end in the wee hours of the morning Saturday.