from left: House Speaker Dean Cannon, Sen Pres Mike Haridopolos, Gov Rick Scott announce passage of performance pay bill | Photo: Lane Wright

The Legislature sent its first bill of the year to Gov. Rick Scott Wednesday, when the House joined the Senate in passing the hotly contested SB 736, a measure basing teacher pay on performance and assessments instead of seniority and tenure.

Flanked by legislative leaders at a press conference after the vote was taken, Scott praised the passage of the bill. “This will help attract and retain the best teachers,” said Scott, adding that it was part of his plan to increase jobs in the Sunshine State.

Senate President Mike Haridopolos, R-Merritt Island, thanked Sen. Steven Wise, R-Jacksonville, for sponsoring the bill. 

“We’re creating an education system that will work for students,” said Haridopolos. “This is the future of Florida right in front of us, empowering teachers, empowering students.”

“It’s a refreshing change to have a governor celebrating the passage of the bill instead of vetoing it,” laughed Cannon, who praised both Democrats and Republicans in the House for a “philosophical debate.”

A similar measure, SB 6, passed both the House and the Senate last year but was vetoed by then-Gov. Charlie Crist after contentious debate and days of angry demonstrations from teachers and their unions throughout the state. While SB 6 passed the House at 2:26 a.m. April 9, 2010, by a 64-55 margin with 11 Republicans joining all 44 Democrats in voting against it, the vote Wednesday was nowhere near as close -- 80-39 on a straight party-line vote.

With Rep. Erik Fresen, R-Miami, taking questions on the measure for almost three hours Tuesday, House Speaker Dean Cannon, R-Winter Park, insisted that Wednesday’s session be spent debating the measure.

“We had more than abundant time to ask questions,” said Cannon before the debate began. “There should be no questions during debate.”

Rep. Bill Proctor, R-St Augustine, the chairman of the Education Committee, and Rep. Jim Waldman, D-Coconut Creek, served as floor managers during the six-hour debate. Each side was allowed three hours, in 15-minute blocks, to debate the bill. A procession of representatives spoke on the House floor, often drawing upon their own personal experiences and families to explain their positions either in favor of the measure or against it.

Fresen, the chairman of the K-20 Competitiveness Subcommittee and the vice chairman of the PreK-12 Appropriations Subcommittee, opened the debate for Republicans, calling for them to pass the bill. “This bill will move Florida forward,” he insisted, saying it would improve accountability for teachers.

Democratic Leader Ron Saunders of Key West opened for the other side. Invoking public union protests in Wisconsin, Saunders claimed that teachers opposed the measure and stood against the increased tests the proposal would mandate.

“This bill will divert millions of dollars from the classroom to pay for more tests that teachers do not feel are needed,” said Saunders.

Controlling only 39 of the 120 seats in the House, Democrats admitted right off the bat that they would lose the vote. That did not deter Rep. Evan Jenne, D-Fort Lauderdale, who spoke right after Saunders. “We will be heard on behalf of every teacher, student and parent in the state,” insisted Jenne.

Just as they had before the 2010 elections, in which they lost every single statewide race as well seats in Congress and the Legislature across the Sunshine State, the Democrats called for Floridians to pay attention to events and remember in November 2012.