The Political Whore

A 360 of flip-flops … get it? (photo: Katy Warner/flickr.com)

By Kelly Cornelius
PoHo contributor & R-LAND activist

Well, my earlier post on who voted in support of SB 360 (a gutting of growth management laws) caused quite a stir, and as Wayne already reported and corrected on that post, State Sen. Victor Crist actually changed his last vote on the growth management bill from yes to no. I do apologize that I did not find that change online before submitting that post. I spoke with Crist himself Tuesday afternoon regarding the issue. He wanted to make sure I understood the process so I will share his explanation with you as well. Crist explained that as this bill went through committees he supported it but with some concerns, one of them being transportation concurrency. He supported it to move it along “in the spirit of debate” but assured me that he made it clear that he would vote NO on the floor if his concerns were not resolved. He explained that it is only the final vote on the floor that actually counts. He explained that when that final vote came he was not on the floor and that an overzealous member voted his button. Yep, evidently they can push each other’s buttons. He explained (stressed really) that this is a common practice on the floor as legislators are often up and running around getting information on issues and that their neighbors can and often do vote their buttons for them. (I am thinking to myself at this point wouldn’t it be great if Commissioners Al “the New Blair” Higginbotham and Jim Norman just stayed home and asked Commissioner Kevin Beckner to vote their buttons for them?) Ok, enough dreaming and back to the issue at hand, Senator Crist explained that when he returned to the floor and saw that this overzealous member voted his button incorrectly on this bill that he changed his vote within an hour. This updated page indeed shows the change from a yes to no vote.

According to the bill’s history on the floor he did vote yes on 4/30/09. He also voted Yes on 4/02/09, according to the Senate’s website.

I did ask him how long lawmakers have to change their vote on something. He explained that if it was in committee they have until the end of the day but if it is on the floor then they have until the end of session. So, again I do apologize for not having the most updated information on that bill. To clarify Sen. Victor Crist’s final vote on SB 360 was changed from Yes to NO because somebody voted his button YES incorrectly. While I don’t like the fact that he ever supported it (thus moving it along) and only said NO after the fact, I do give him credit for taking the time to contact me to clarify and explain his NO position on it now. And he was right, I didn’t understand … supporting something you are really against in hopes that it will change later still escapes me. Crist also told me that he had been contacted by Commissioner Mark Sharpe who relayed his concerns to him on the bill as well.

The bill is now headed to Gov. Crist. Our only hope to stop it is a veto.

Word on the street from several activists is that Sharpe is going to try and walk on the 360 issue on today’s County Commission agenda so we will see if it makes it. To give you an example of what concerned citizens fear will be the result of this bill is that future DRI’s (like Fishhawk) will not only be exempt from the review process but that arrangements made previously regarding transportation concurrency may no longer be in enforceable when they ask for exemptions under this bill. For example, all those road widenings that Lake Hutto will have to foot the bill for may be rescinded giving developers a free ride on transportation issues and tying the hands of local officials. Perfect – if you are a developer.

Also interesting is this email from House Member Rachael Burgin telling a constituent she intended to vote NO on 360 (dated April 27th) yet days later………..she voted YES.  See for yourself:

From: Burgin, Rachel [mailto:Rachel.Burgin@myfloridahouse.gov]
Sent: Monday, April 27, 2009 11:06 AM
To: Dee Layne
Subject: RE: SB 360 on 3rd Reading in House

Dear Denise,

Thank you very much for your email regarding HB 7127 and SB 360 – Growth Management. As your State Representative, I appreciate learning of your thoughts and concerns on legislation that comes before me. Like you, protecting Hillsborough County, and state of Florida, is very important to me.

I do plan to vote No when this bill come before me on the House Floor.

Again, thank you for writing to me, please let me know if there is ever anything I can do for you.

Sincerely,

Rachel V. Burgin

State Representative, House District 56

I wonder if somebody voted her button incorrectly, too?

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