When Republicans make all the rules

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By MARTIN DYCKMAN

© St. Petersburg Times, published March 22, 2001

TALLAHASSEE -- The House of Representatives spent a great deal of money on a computer and video technology system that was to be used, among other things, for visual presentations during debate.

It has been used to illustrate the governor's State of the State address and to show a new documentary movie on the history and procedures of the House -- starring, of course, Speaker Tom Feeney.

But when the Democrats wanted to use it to make their points during the intangibles tax debate earlier this month, the Republicans said no. Too confusing, they said. So the Democrats had to photocopy their slide show and pass it out to the press.

That's how it goes when someone else makes the rules.

Were the Democrats heavy-handed when they were the majority? Yes. Were their hands this heavy? No. The most conspicuous difference is the new rule that not only allows the time for a debate to be limited in advance, but also permits the majority to ration the number of amendments and bar those they don't like.

Everyone is so polite. Nobody throws punches the way they sometimes did in frontier days, though some must surely wish. The nastiest remark Wednesday consists of one member asking another when he last read the Florida Constitution. The speaker rules that he doesn't have to answer.

But beneath the civility, the House resembles a typical Senate committee in the Pork Chop Days, when chairmen met by themselves with their pockets full of proxies. Debate may be enlightening, even brilliant, but it doesn't change the outcome.

Here's how it went Wednesday.

The first bill is to bestow a $3,000 private school voucher on any child assigned to an overcrowded public school. The voucher would be renewable through high school no matter how uncrowded the child's zoned schools might become. Nothing requires the private school to be uncrowded, or prohibits students already enrolled in private school from signing up at a public school just long enough to take the $3,000 handout.

The Democrats are allowed only three amendments. They use one to try to buy four years' time for a school scheduled for expansion. It is defeated, 74-to-43. Only one Republican votes for it, though more are counting on the Senate to kill the whole bill.

The Democrats try another, to terminate the voucher once the school is no longer overcrowded. They lose, 72-to-43.

Their third amendment, echoing another voucher bill the House had already passed, requires qualifying private schools to accept students on an "entirely random and religiously neutral basis," and to measure up to certain minimum standards. The Republicans are loath to vote on that one, so they kill it with a substitute amendment that passes, 73-to-44. Two Republicans vote with the Democrats.

Debate is interrupted to introduce Dr. Ruth Westheimer, the famous "Dr. Ruth," who is in the visitor gallery. Feeney cautions members, "This is not the appropriate time if you've got questions of Dr. Westheimer."

Amendments disposed of, the bill is put aside to await final passage today.

The second bill is a joint project of the religious right and big business to pack the courts by packing Florida's judicial nominating commissions. The governor, who now makes three appointments to each commission, would make all nine. The Florida Bar, which now names three, would name none.

This bill is supposedly closed to amendments, but those who make the rules can always try to change them. Rep. Joe Negron, R-Stuart, wants the Legislature to share in the spoils. Under his amendment, the governor, House speaker and Senate president would each name three members. Negron needs a two-thirds vote just to get the amendment heard. Some Democrats play along, relishing the rare opportunity to split the majority and maybe even invite a veto.

Negron's amendment does split the majority. "This politicizes the process much more than necessary," complains the Judiciary chairman, Dudley Goodlette, R-Naples. (He doesn't say how much is necessary.)

None of this is in the script. "We're in a traditional debate format," remarks Feeney.

But the amendment fails, as everyone knew it would. No one wants a roll call. The House Express is back on track. The bill will pass today.

The third major bill is the governor's career service overhaul, the hottest of the session. Again, the Democrats are allowed only three amendments, and only 60 minutes to debate them. They sound whipped. They drop one, lose another on a voice vote and lose the third by a vote of (yet again) 75-to-43.

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