State House Speaker Larry Crutel, Governor Charlie Crist and Senate President Jeff Atwater (Photo: Alex Quesada)

For the first time in 121 years, all four seats on Florida's Cabinet will be turning over. Thanks to term limits, 14 state Senate seats and 30 state House seats are open. The most powerful players in the Legislature -- the individuals who can get the work done – may be counted on your fingers and toes. They range from next year’s 2011 designates House speaker and Senate president to relatively little known freshmen who have demonstrated early a talent for such things as tactical strategy and fundraising. [See accompanying story: Florida Lawmakers with Juice.]

You may not have heard of the lawmakers Will Weatherford or Andy Gardiner, for instance. But stay tuned. It’s fresh faces like these in the Florida Legislature who will play key roles this year, and in future years, as they grapple with the big issues. Gov. Charlie Crist also will play a critical role -- if he chooses. Even if the governor stays out of the daily fray of the Legislature and instead focuses on campaigning for the U.S. Senate, he has a powerful tool at his disposal to persuade lawmakers to give him what he wants – line item veto power over the budget. The question is whether in this lean budget year there will actually be anything in the budget worth threatening to veto.

Under normal conditions, election years are not the time when controversial or groundbreaking legislation is passed. Thus, for example, it is unlikely lawmakers will vote this year to approve giving the Cabinet power to authorize oil drilling off the coast. Who wants to have to explain that one to voters for whom the issue might rank high? This is not a normal year, however. And the state’s business leaders are making that clear in innumerable ways. They’re out to make this a game-changer election year.

Reshaping Government

Business leaders, including executives from the Florida Chamber of Commerce and Associated Industries of Florida (AIF), are making a concerted push to reshape and reform state government.

"Florida doesn't have a strategic plan. It's always been more about the next election than about the next generation," complains Mark Wilson, president of the state Chamber.

Year in and year out, the state Chamber and its local affiliates outspend other organizations in political races. But this year, along with the money will come a rigorous focus on what Wilson calls the "Six Pillars" – education, economic development, infrastructure, business competitiveness, governance and quality of life.

"We'll ask every candidate about the Six Pillars. We're looking at a 20-year plan that puts the next generation first," Wilson says.