July 21, 2010 - From the St. Petersburg Times: The Florida House abruptly adjourned a special legislative session after 49 minutes Tuesday, rejecting Gov. Charlie Crist's proposal to let voters place a permanent ban on offshore drilling in the Florida Constitution. The party-line vote to adjourn the session was 67 to 44, with Republicans supporting adjournment and Democrats in favor of continuing the debate. The Senate adjourned at 2:20 p.m. with an 18-16 vote. A fired-up Gov. Charlie Crist later unloaded on the GOP-led Legislature. "I can't believe the Legislature has shirked their duty so badly," he said. Of the voters, who would decide whether to add the proposed amendment to the constitution: "They wouldn't even trust them." He kept going: "How arrogant can a Legislature be? … It's embarrassing to watch. … It is clearly the exercise of arrogance of power. … I call them the do-nothing Legislature."

Governor (US Senate Candidate) Charlie Crist has made an amazing choice by running as a NPA (no party affiliation) candidate and it appears to be serving him well. Could Crist be the person who does more to build a third party and end the duopoly than anyone since the 1830s? If he plays his options carefully and the economic conditions continue, a run in 2012 may be in the cards.

The failure to spend a few hours discussing the matter shows how badly the Sunshine Laws in the State of Florida are regularly dismissed. The Gulf and oil drilling is one issue, but the "in-your-face" good-old-boy political system is another.

Think About It

The Florida Whig Party

Principles over Party, Personality, and Profits.