Governor Ron DeSantis and AG Ashley Moody of Florida, 03/29/2022
On March 29, 2022, Florida Governor DeSantis held a press conference. At about 6:30 minutes, he announced he vetoed the Congressional district map put forward by the Florida legislature. He took questions after his announcements. There was a question about other issues. Governor Desantis responded. From thefloridachannel.org, here is a transcript:
I would love to have property insurance. I would love to have data privacy. I would love to have Constitutional Carry. There's a lot of great things. But you know we just went through a legislative session where they failed to deliver on some of those priorities, and so what I will do, I will ask the legislative leaders if there is something you can get across the finish line, and I will encourage them to do that. Because I think there is a lot of key things they could do.
That is a possibility. The initial call will just be for the Congressional map, but is absolutely possible, that when we actually convene, when they actually convene for the Special Session, that you could see additional issues raised there.
Florida Representative Anthony Sabatini tweeted that Governor DeSantis is calling a Special Legislative Session to pass Constitutional Carry:
BREAKING:
is calling a Special Legislative Session to pass Constitutional Carry
The tweet by Representative Sabatini is rather optimistic, it appears. The answer to the question was at the press conference. Governor DeSantis merely stated Constitutional Carry would be a bonus; the main purpose was to have a new Congressional map. Governor DeSantis mentioned the actual proclamation had not been completed.
Here is the language from the proclamation, which was finished and signed hours after the press conference. The proclamation of the Special Session is very specific. The second paragraph seems to exclude other legislation from being passed. It is possible this is required. The language makes it less likely any "bonus" issues will be addressed. From flgov.com:
Section 1. The Legislature of the State of Florida is convened in Special Session commencing at 12:00 p.m., Tusesday, April 19, 2022, and extending no later than 11:59 p.m., Friday, April 22, 2022.
Section 2. The Legislature of the State of Florida is convened in Special Session for the sole and exclusive purpose of considering legislation relating to the establishment of congressional districts for the State of Florida and any legal challenges thereto, including the appropriation of additional funding for pending and prospective redistricting litigation.
From the Florida legislative web site, flsenate.gov:
Special session
Special sessions may be called by Proclamation of the Governor, by Joint Proclamation of the Senate President and the House Speaker, or by members of the legislature for the purpose of considering specific legislation and shall not exceed 20 consecutive days unless extended by a three-fifths vote of each house.
The "purpose of considering specific legislation" language may or may not limit what can be done in the Special Session.
Analysis:
Could Constitutional Carry, property insurance and data privacy be considered in the Special Session? It seems unlikely to this correspondent. The Special Session is very short. Constitutional Carry and the other issues are important issues with strong opinions.
The strong support for Constitutional Carry shown by Governor DeSantis is a significant plus. He did not have to bring the issue up at the press conference. He chose to highlight it as an important issue. However, a desire to pass it is unlikely to be enough to guarantee passage in a focused, short, Special Session.
©2022 by Dean Weingarten: Permission to share is granted when this notice and link are included.
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