The Florida House convened for the second time in the 2011 session Wednesday, taking care of some in-house matters, setting the legislative rules and preparing for the first debate of the fledgling session on unemployment compensation.

With protesters gathered in Tallahassee to oppose the plan to reduce unemployment compensation from 26 weeks to 20 weeks -- and down to 12 weeks if the unemployment rate drops below 5 percent -- the House will debate the matter Thursday. The chairman of the House Rules and Calendar Committee, Rep. Gary Aubuchon, R-Cape Coral, set the stage for the debate, announcing that each side will be given 30 minutes to debate the matter on Thursday.

Rep. Doug Holder, R-Sarasota, introduced the measure on Wednesday morning while Democrats, who held a vote on Tuesday taking a caucus position opposing it, gave signals that they intended to continue the fight against the bill.

“It’s an honor to present this bill,” said Holder, who argued that the measure offered “tax relief” that would help Floridians get back to work by freeing up businesses. “It takes a step moving the state unemployment system to a state re-employment system.”

“It creates a message to the business community that Florida is the most business-friendly state in the nation,” said Holder. “It will create more jobs.”

Democrats took aim at his comments, arguing that the purpose of the legislation was to help Floridians who are out of work -- not save businesses money.

“The actual purpose of this bill is to provide for workers who lose their jobs through no fault of their own,” said Rep. Jim Waldman, D-Coconut Creek.

Holder spent the better part of an hour fielding questions from hostile Democrats and warding off attempts to amend the legislation.

Under questioning from Rep. Marty Kiar, D-Parkland, Holder said that 400,000 Floridians were currently receiving unemployment benefits.

Rep. Dwayne Taylor, D-Daytona Beach, asked Holder why unemployment compensation was being cut from 26 weeks to 20 weeks. Holder responded that the state unemployment compensation fund has been out of money since 2009, forcing Florida to turn to the federal government for help.

Rep. Scott Randolph, D-Orlando, attempted to amend the bill to restore the weeks to 26. Insisting that “Wall Street wrecked the economy,” Randolph maintained that out-of-state businesses -- based in New York and, in a less-than-subtle swipe at Wal-Mart, Bentonville, Ark. -- would benefit from the bill more than Floridians.

“Please understand, this bill is an attempt to balance the needs for employers with the needs of these employees,” said Holder, who argued that “business taxes” would “increase.”

Randolph also attempted to amend the measure by having businesses that hire more than 25 employees use E-Verify, creating a second-degree misdemeanor for any companies that knowingly hire illegal aliens -- and doubling the unemployment compensation for workers of companies that hire aliens. Rep. Dorothy Hukill, R-Port Orange, raised a point of order, arguing that the measure was not germane and it was sustained by Aubuchon and Cannon.

Democratic attempts to amend the measure failed on votes that mirrored party lines.

Protesters rallied at the Capitol to voice their opposition to the proposed changes.

“The governor and some legislators continue attacking working- and middle-class Floridians,” said Badili Jones, from the liberal activist group Florida New Majority. “Right now, instead of looking out for the victims of the economic crisis, unemployed Floridians, they are moving to dismantle the unemployment insurance system. This is bad leadership.

“With over 1 million Floridians without a job and only a third of them receiving unemployment insurance, our elected leaders should be expanding coverage for more of our neighbors,” added Jones.

Besides preparing for the debate, the House honored Mayor John Land of Apopka during Wednesday's session. Land is the longest serving mayor in the state and nation, having led that Orange County town for 58 years.

The House also handled internal matters.

House Speaker Dean Cannon, R-Winter Park, sent a memo out to House members early Wednesday morning, laying out some of the rules he will be following during the 2011 session.