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House Speaker taps committee leaders

December 2, 2014
/ The News Service of Florida
/ government

By Brandon Larrabee The News Service of Florida With committee meetings for the 2015 legislation session set to start next month, House Speaker Steve Crisafulli on Monday announced the lawmakers who will chair panels for the House. "The brand that marks this House is that every word, action, thought, and deed is all about Florida," said Crisafulli, R-Merritt Island. "I believe the individuals I have appointed to these leadership positions will truly put Floridians first." Crisafulli had already announced that Rep. Richard Corcoran, a Land O' Lakes Republican slated to become speaker after the 2016 elections, would chair the budget-writing House Appropriations Committee. LOCAL REPRESENTATIVES Rep. Clay Ingram, R-Pensacola, will take over the subcommittee that handles spending on transportation and economic development projects. Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fort Walton Beach, will lead the Finance and Tax Committee REPUBLICAN ROLL CALL Education Appropriations Subcommittee: Rep. Erik Fresen, R-Miami Government Operations Appropriations Subcommittee: Rep. Jeanette Nuñez, R-Miami Subcommittee overseeing health-care spending: Rep. Matt Hudson, R-Naples Justice Appropriations Subcommittee: Rep. Larry Metz, R-Yalaha House Economic Affairs Committee: Rep. Jose Oliva, R-Miami Lakes House Rules, Calendar & Ethics Committee (which sets the chamber's agenda): Rep. Ritch Workman Health and Human Services Committee chairman: Rep. Jason Brodeur, R-Sanford Judiciary Committee: Rep. Charles McBurney, R-Jacksonville House Education Committee chairwoman: Rep. Marlene O'Toole, R-Lady Lake Local and Federal Affairs Committee chairman: Rep. Dennis Baxley, R-Ocala Regulatory Affairs Committee: Rep. Jose Diaz, R-Miami State Affairs Committee chairman: Rep. Matt Caldwell, R-North Fort Myers HOUSE DEMOCRATS Also on Monday, House Democrats announced that Rep. David Richardson, D-Miami Beach, will be the minority party's floor leader. Richardson was one of the first two openly gay members of the Legislature — the other, former Rep. Joe Saunders, was defeated in November — and House Democrats say the new appointment is also a historic first. Richardson will be the top-ranking Democrat on Workman's rules committee and the "chief liaison" between House Minority Leader Mark Pafford, D-West Palm Beach, and Crisafulli. "I did not run for office to make history but, instead, to make a difference," Richardson said in a statement announcing his appointment. "My election success was not in any way affected because I am part of the (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) community. Now in my second term, my appointment to our caucus leadership team demonstrates that a person's sexual orientation is not a factor, and should never be a factor, in determining one’s qualifications for any job or elected office."

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