Government
Ron Saunders, House Dems Get Ready for GOP Supermajority
Around the State
Ron SaundersThe thin ranks of the House Democratic caucus convened Tuesday morning, choosing leaders to face two years of a dominant Republican majority.
With five incumbents losing to Republican candidates on Election Day, Democrats control only 39 of the 120 House seats.
“This is a bittersweet moment,” said outgoing House Minority Leader Franklin Sands of Weston. “We’ve lost some very good friends in the last election cycle.”
As expected, the Democrats unanimously selected Rep. Ron Saunders of Key West to serve as the leader of their caucus. The son of former Rep. Jack Saunders, he is a true House veteran. First elected in 1986, Saunders served four terms before stepping down in 1994. During that period, he chaired the Appropriations Committee and the Community Affairs Committee. He returned to Tallahassee in 2006 and has been re-elected twice. While Republicans had high hopes to defeat Saunders in 2010, he defeated former Key West Mayor Morgan McPherson, taking 55 percent of the vote. Saunders represents all of Monroe County and part of Miami-Dade County.
As Sands handed leadership over to Saunders, the outgoing leader joked, “Now all of this belongs to you.”
“We have some difficult times ahead but I know we have a great team,” said Saunders, who insisted he was upbeat despite the reduced number of Democrats in the House. “We may not have quantity but we have quality.”
Saunders’ message was repeated by his new second in command, Rep. Joe Gibbons of Pembroke Park, who was unanimously elected Democratic leader pro tempore.
“We are low in numbers but long in skill,” insisted Gibbons.
Gibbons hinted that the Democrats were willing to work with the commanding Republican majority.
“We’re not going to throw rocks at people who can throw boulders at us,” said Gibbons.
Despite controlling less than a quarter of the House, Saunders insisted there is a role Democrats can play and he said they will be important during the committee process. Saunders said he will be naming ranking Democrats for the session later in the week.
There was a surprise guest to the caucus meeting. Two weeks after losing the gubernatorial election to Republican Rick Scott, state CFO Alex Sink, the Democrat in the race, received a standing ovation from the House Democratic caucus. She pledged she will not leave the public stage.
“We all voted for you here,” said Rep. Jim Waldman of Coconut Creek, to laughter from the caucus. Waldman will be leading Democrats on rules.
“It’s a very challenging time in our state,” said Sink, who told the House Democrats that they will represent the 2.5 million voters who backed her. “We need to hold people accountable every single day.
“I was so proud to stand up and call myself a Democrat,” insisted Sink, who added that she is not going to bow out despite losing to Scott. “My voice is not going to be silent going forward.”
“Let’s get out there and go to work,” said Saunders, stealing Scott’s campaign slogan to laughter and cheers.
Reach Kevin Derby at kderby@sunshinestatenews.com or at (850) 727-0859.
Comments (1)
1. Audacity of Nope extracted exceedingly low possible jobless rate compared with the extremely critical market situation, while D.S. economy was held hostage by Audacity of Nope, and time was running out.
Prior to the full recovery, the Stimulus Package was all about Lehman Brothers or not of D.S. economy.
2. Last year, Warren buffet warmed in an interview with NBC that the D.S. economy was in free fall. Plus, tragically, the Japan economic leader committed suicide before the strong export report, last year.
As we know, blocking Free Fall From Cliff requires multiple efforts.
3. Global austerity policy dealt a harsh blow to the burgeoning economic activity. By ruling out this critical factor, Power-only party of objection for objection & Almost Dead Media led Independents to Fuel the reps Gains.
For example, Japan export recently took a hit from the low demand world-wide.
4. As a groundwork, the Stimulus Package alone can't complete a perfect building. Sadly, extension of oil wars displaced Energy Independence or A Jobs law, empowering the war party and leaving healthcare law near demise before survival. Accordingly, the Stimulus Package lost momentum creating Synergy.
5. The most efficient deficit-cut way of government would be slashing the destructive war & military waste.
Slashing the destructive war & military waste alone supposedly could be enough to balance the budget.
Regrettably. opponents are instead critical of sound investments. ( Depression : New Deal = Great Recession : Stimulus Package (Groundwork) )
Weapon Sell = Mexican Drug Trafficking = Destroy all, driving global economy in a destructive direction.
Even Overall US intelligence budget tops $80 billion annually.
6. I think Corrupt Money & Almost Dead Media led Independents to Fuel the no idea' Gains. That explains why Moneycracy & Money-driven media call for urgent overhaul.
7. Amid Massive Lay-off Panic, Change & Healthcare for all, After Stimulus Package, Opposition from lots of the Ungrateful.
Taking advantage of benefits from Stimulus Package, Corrupt Money & Almost Dead Media & Power-only party turned U.S. into D.S.
8. Over the duration of healthcare debate, using the preliminary cost analysis of CBO, the reps opposed the public option stubbornly, but
after the release of final score, they have been defiant on the referee.
** Chanting deficit :
a. Amid chanting deficit, the same old failed policy.
b. Amid chanting deficit, hands-off approach over huge trade deficit from oil money spill & trade imbalance with China from remorseless health care premium.
c. Unfortunately, as a direct consequence of remorseless health care premium, numerous folks have no choice but to hang onto affordable offerings, since one in two households is said to face a hard decision between necessity & drug.
d. Inaction cost in relation to health care reform totals $9trillion over the next decade.
e. Over the next 10 years, total Bush tax cut costs will equal $3.9 trillion, .... the tax cuts would increase deficits by nearly $4 trillion between 2005 and 2014.
9. Title : A businessman is angry at his lost cash bag.
A businessman is drowning in the ocean.
Stimulus : we should rescue him immediately.
Power first : Nope ! How do we pay for it ?, Just let him go under much like Lehman Brothers.
Stimulus : He is dying right now.
Power first : Nope ! You can't save his money bag.
Stimulus ( clock is ticking ) : : We can do everything.
Go under : We are serious about jobs. Where are jobs ?, echoed by the angry businessman.
10. Former President Bill Clinton said "It took me four years to balance the budget, then I gave you four surpluses, paid $600 billion down on the national debt,"
And I'd say : It took 8 years for the Bush mishandling to get a final verdict.
Let's not fall for the outrageous claim : Heal the 8 year-long chronic disease quickly, but do not see a doctor, adding to the deficit.