The action in Tallahassee is heating up mightily as the
session winds down for 2016. Of
continuing, particular interest to me is seeing language become law that
respects individual constitutional officers’ right to choose, individually,
whether or not to belong to a taxpayer-funded membership association.
The Senate adopted the language in the house-passed HB1155
on Tuesday which would have allowed individual freedom of choice in advocacy
for conservative school board members like me.
Yesterday, just before the vote on this bill was to happen, Sen Stargel,
the bill’s sponsor, TP’d the bill (temporarily postponed it).
“She’s whipping votes” was the reaction from several
supporters present in the Gallery.
Shortly thereafter-she added individual freedom of choice in
advocacy language from HB 1155 to Sen. Gaetz’s massive Train HB 7029 as a floor
amendment. This amendment passed 28-12—with
notable support from two Democrats (Montford, Ring).
Next, Gaetz’s massive bill went back to the House. According to sources familiar with the events
