April 14, 2011. Voucher & Union Gag Prison Blues: ” … But the bills keep a-movin’, And that’s what tortures me.”
Day 41 of the 2011 Legislative Session
(April 13, 2011)
The earworm is back—this time playing Johnny Cash singing Folsom Prison Blues… Why Folsom Blues? Because of the line “I hear the train a comin.’” We are entering the legislative bill train season. That’s the time when one bill becomes the engine that pulls all the other bills through the process. We think this year’s education trains will be SB 1696 and HB 1255. Those bills will be pulling everything from expansion of charter schools and voucher programs to digital learning, School Board gift ban to VPK screening, and student assessment to budget transparency.
Union Gag bill on the move
The Senate Budget Committee passed SB 830 the Union Gag bill by a vote of 10 to 9 with one Senator not voting.
107 spoke against and 6 paid lobbyists spoke in favor of the bill.
· Voting against the bill: Democrats Joyner, Margolis, Montford, Rich, Siplin, Sobel and Republicans Altman, Fasano, and Flores.
· Voting for the bill were Republicans Alexander, Negron, Benaquisto, Bogdanoff, Gaetz, Hays, Ricther, Simmons, Thrasher and Wise. No Democrat voted for the bill.
Republican Senator Lynn did not vote.
Sunrise Mayor Michael Ryan reminded the Senators that they ran on creating more jobs and improving the economy. Then he summed it up, “What are you doing? Where does this fit? We didn’t ask you for this. We don’t need Tallahassee’s help. The union is part of the solution not part of the problem… if this bill passes, you will be asking my municipality to police political activity!”
SB 830 will next be heard by the Rules Committee – currently scheduled for Friday, April 15.
Senate and House budget Conference Committee on standby
At the start of the Senate Budget Committee meeting, Budget Chair JD Alexander (R-Lake Wales) updated the committee on the status of the Budget Conference Committee negotiations.
Alexander explained that three main issues that have dominated the discussion so far and differences are currently quite large:
· Medicaid – Governor Scott likes pieces of both the House and Senate proposals, so the chambers will also go to conference on Medicaid
· Cuts to public education funding
· State employee contribution to retirement
Alexander indicated that conference committee meetings would likely begin after the holiday week (April 18-22).
The Senate Budget bills are:
SB 2000 – Appropriations
SB 2002 – Implementing Appropriations
SB 2100 – Retirement
SB 2120 – PreK-12 Education Funding
The House bills are:
HB 5001 – Appropriations
HB 5003 – Implementing Appropriations
HB 1405 – Retirement
HB 5101 – PreK-12 Education Funding
Questions? Call FEA Public Policy Advocacy at 850.224.2078
I hear the train a comin’
It’s rollin’ ’round the bend,
And I ain’t seen the sunshine,
Since, I don’t know when,
I’m stuck in Tallahassee,
And time keeps draggin’ on,
But that train keeps a-rollin’,
On down to Sine Die.
…But the bills keep a-movin’,
And that’s what tortures me.