Friday, June 11, 2021

Senator Lauren Book violates Senate rules by not voting on important bill, was too busy chatting with colleague to vote

Way to show those leadership capability, Senator Book. I guess the airhead just did what airhead blondes typically do, i.e., spacing out. 

https://www.sun-sentinel.com/opinion/editorials/fl-op-edit-five-bad-decisions-veto-desantis-20210515-eiga7as4ivcvbobgwobw36pgfu-story.html

Five of the worst bills deserve a four-letter word: V-E-T-O | Editorial

By SUN SENTINEL EDITORIAL BOARD

SOUTH FLORIDA SUN SENTINEL |

MAY 15, 2021 AT 7:00 AM

Home-based businesses (HB 403)

This bill poses the most immediate threat to Floridians’ quality of life by blocking cities and counties from sensibly enforcing local zoning laws to control home-based businesses. Under the guise of promoting free enterprise, it’s another Republican attack on home rule. Possibly coming to a street near you: boat repairs, scooter rentals and car stereo installations. (Hey, turn it up!)

If that won’t justify a veto, try this: It passed the Senate 19-18, with three senators present but not voting, a violation of Senate rules. One of the three was Senate Democratic Leader Lauren Book, D-Plantation, who told us she was distracted talking to a colleague and the electronic voting system closed too fast. Sen. Gary Farmer, D-Lighthouse Point, called for a re-vote, but Senate President Wilton Simpson, R-Trilby, said Farmer’s point of order came too late.

If any one of the nonvoting three had voted no, this awful bill would not have passed. Only DeSantis’ pen can stop this abomination.