Senate GOP chief picks Democrats to head 4 panels

TALLAHASSEE -- Senate President Jim King, a Jacksonville Republican, made good Tuesday on his promise to work with Democrats.

King appointed four Democrats to committee chairmanships and several others to vice chairmanships. House Speaker Johnnie Byrd, R-Plant City, named only Republicans to lead committees.

King said the Senate will produce better legislation with members of both political parties leading committees. He said Democrats also are less likely to try to block bills that they help write, but he acknowledged his appointments angered some Republicans.

"There's talent in the Democratic caucus in the Senate," King said.

King appointed Sen. Skip Campbell, D-Fort Lauderdale, to head the Finance and Taxation Committee. With a tight budget and several expensive constitutional amendments to consider, lawmakers are expected to discuss eliminating some sales tax exemptions to raise money.

Sen. Steve Geller, D-Hallandale Beach, heads the Comprehensive Planning Committee. Sen. Al Lawson, D-Tallahassee, is chairman of the Natural Resources Committee. Sen. Rod Smith, D-Alachua, will oversee the spending committee for the state courts.

King earlier had named Seminole Republican Dennis Jones as Senate majority leader and Brandon Republican Tom Lee as head of the powerful Rules and Calendar Committee.

Sen. Nancy Argenziano, R-Dunnellon, will chair the Agriculture Committee.

Sen. Jim Sebesta, R-St. Petersburg, remains chairman of the Senate Transportation Committee. Sen. Mike Fasano, R-New Port Richey, will be chairman of the Military and Veterans Affairs, Base Protection and Spaceports committee.

Sen. Victor Crist, R-Tampa, is chairman of the criminal justice spending committee.

King surprised some by appointing Sen. Mandy Dawson, D-Fort Lauderdale, as vice chairwoman of the Ethics and Elections committee. Dawson faces prescription fraud charges.

A spokeswoman for Byrd said the House speaker appointed only Republicans to chairmanships because there are 16 committees, 81 Republicans and 39 Democrats.

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