Florida Senate President Ben Albritton speaking with reporters on Nov. 19, 2024 (Photo by Mitch Perry/ Florida Phoenix)
Senate President Ben Albritton on Wednesday continued to fill out key positions in the Florida Senate, including putting an antagonist of Gov. Ron DeSantis in a role that could lead to greater oversight of the administration.
The Wauchula Republican had previously announced his leadership team as well as the heads of budget spending panels. Albritton named the chairs of 16 additional committees as well as vice chairs for all standing committees.
Some committee spots remain unchanged from the past two years. Sen. Colleen Burton remains in charge of the Senate Health Policy Committee, while Sen. Jennifer Bradley retained her post at the helm of the Senate Regulated Industries Committee. That panel is expected to play a decisive role in deciding whether to tweak Florida’s condominium laws that have created a squeeze for condo owners.
Albritton also tapped Sen. Randy Fine, who is considering a run for Congress, to run the Senate Committee on Governmental Oversight and Accountability. Fine has been a contentious presence in the Legislature, but he also had a public falling out with DeSantis after he switched his endorsement in the presidential race from the governor to former President Donald Trump.
Fine emphatically stated in a social media post on Wednesday that he plans to use his new position to “leave no stone unturned” when it comes to examining state spending.
Buckle up
“We will look top-to-bottom — from the Governor’s Office to our University System, from the judiciary to the quasi-judicial, from procurement to every single product that gets procured,” Fine posted on X. “We spend almost $120 billion and every penny is going under my microscope, scalpel and hammer, when necessary — at the ready. Buckle up.”
Returning Sen. Don Gaetz was named chair of the Senate Ethics & Elections Committee, a move that came after Gaetz had spent time on the Florida Commission on Ethics. Gaetz was instrumental in getting an amendment on the 2018 ballot that put additional lobbying restrictions on former public officials.
Gaetz’ appointment was announced the same day that the House Ethics Committee in Congress debated whether to release a report into actions by Gaetz’ son, former U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz. The report focuses on allegations against Matt Gaetz, who Trump wants to make attorney general, including whether he had sex with a minor. Gaetz has denied any wrongdoing.
More committee chairs
The overall structure put in place in the Senate by Albritton resulted in all 28 Republican senators holding either a top leadership post or a committee chair.
The other committee chairs named by Albritton are:
- Sen. Blaise Ingoglia, Banking and Insurance
- Sen. Tom Leek, Commerce and Tourism
- Sen. Alexis Calatayud, Education Postsecondary
- Sen. Keith Truenow, Agriculture
- Sen. Stan McClain, Community Affairs
- Sen. Corey Simon, Education PreK-12
- Sen. Ana Maria Rodriguez, Environment and Natural Resources
- Sen. Erin Grall, Children, Families and Elder Affairs
- Sen. Clay Yarborough, Judiciary
- Sen. Jay Collins, Transportation
- Sen. Jonathan Martin, Criminal Justice
- Sen. Tom Wright, Military and Veterans Affairs, Space and Domestic Security
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