Thread by @FloridaEA

10am this morning, the House Government Operations Committee will take up two bills aimed at limiting the freedom of Florida's educators who have gone above and beyond the call of duty this past year. 1/x

There is still time before the meeting to email the committee and ask them to stop the attack on workers' rights! feaweb.org/news/take-acti… 2/x

We'll be watching the meeting and providing live updates in this thread. As always, you can follow along with the meeting as well by watching it on @floridachannel thefloridachannel.org 3/x

For people new to the legislative process (and even for veterans of the process), it can be hard sometimes to follow along, especially when there are multiple amendments. You can find full text of the HB 835 and proposed amendments here: myfloridahouse.gov/Sections/Bills…

The first amendment is a "strike-all" which means, if approved, it will replace the original bill. This amendment was filed late Friday night in advance of this morning's meeting. This amendment doubled the length of the bill and added many additional anti-worker provisions.

Before we look at HB 835 and its amendments, thought, the committee has taken up HB 947, sponsored by @scottplakon.

Full text and amendments of HB 947 can be found here: myfloridahouse.gov/Sections/Bills…

Rep. @roth4florida has the first question. He asks about lines 73-75. "Why three years," he asks.

@scottplakon answers, "That's how I decided to write the bill."

"Would you be amenable to striking that part," asks @roth4florida

"I'd be amenable to discussing it," answers @scottplakon

Rep. @CarlosGSmith is next in questioning, he asks "The employer has to re-confirm something that has already been authorized, can you explain that?"

@scottplakon answers, "This allows a private conversation where the employer asks the employee do you REALLY want to join?"

@skidmorekelly has the next question, "Does an employee have the right to withdraw their membership at any time?"
@scottplakon "Yes."
Rep. Skidmore, "So, what does this bill do that isn't already in law?"
Rep. Plakon, "I'm not sure what you're getting at."

Rep. @YvonneHinsonFL also asks, "Why do we need this bill what does it do?"

Rep. @scottplakon responds, Let me read the bill to you.

Is this bill needed? Let's see what a teacher from Flagler County has to say.

"Is there an issue we're trying to solve with this bill?" asks @EmilySlosberg

Rep. Plakon: There's not enough government interference right now. I really want more government involvement in the life of public employees. (paraphrased)

Rep. @CarlosGSmith has introduced an amendment to strike the following from the bill.

"If we're requiring authorization upon authorization upon authorization, isn't the intent to bleed out some union members? @orange_cta has 15,000 members. They all need to reconfirm? This doesn't make sense. We have to stop big gov't" says @CarlosGSmith closing on his amendment.

The amendment fails on a voice vote. Now it's time for public comment.

"Who are we talking about? This most directly impacts frontline workers, the people that are performing the public services that have kept us, our families and our communities safe this past year, and we're going to make their lives harder," says @rtemplin opposing the bill.

Backing up @rtemplin's point that this bill is really a misguided attempt that would impact frontline workers, the Police Benevolent Association waived in opposition to HB 947.

Next to speak on the bill is a school employee from Nassau County, Marian Phillips.

Philips tells the committee, "HB 947 will make life harder for frontline workers. I urge you to vote no."

Next to speak is @StefKunkel on behalf of the more than 150,000 proud members of FEA. "What is the compelling reason for inserting the employer between the employee and their union?" she asks.

"If this bill were to become law, you'd be placing huge burdens on school districts. There is no compelling reason to ask an employee to have to re-join their union every year and to have their employer verify their decision to do so," continues @StefKunkel

"There are more than 30,000 union members in Miami-Dade schools. Think of how much time it will take verify with each of those employees, each year. Why do we need to add that burden Why do we need more government?" continues @StefKunkel.

Chris Serrano from @AFSCMEFL is up next.
"This bill is an attack on public workers. Our DCF workers who continue to keep children safe. Our dispatchers and emergency responders. This bill only creates chaos and additional hurdles for these workers," he says.

Wayne Bernoska from Florida Professional Firefighters is up next. "I represent 20,000 professional firefighters. Our union membership includes supplemental insurance. I'm worried about firefighters losing that b/c of this bill," he says.

The first person to speak in favor of the bill is the policy director for Americans for Prosperity. His organization has no connection to public employees which are the subject of the bill. The only people who support HB 947 are those who aren't impacted by it.

@ida_v_e representing @FLRising speaks next. She referenced recent comments from Gov. DeSantis who said we should "protect the working class not the Zoom class," Eskamani points out this bill does the opposite of that and targets the working class.

Matthew Lata president of @uff_fsu also echoes DeSantis referring to his call for "freedom" in last week's state of the state address. "This bill limits freedom, it doesn't expand it," Lata tells the committee urging them to vote no.

Public input has concluded.

We now have moved to the debate on HB 947.

"Here is another solution looking for a problem," says Rep. @YvonneHinsonFL "State government appears to be making a power grab to control workers. We don't need any more government control over our freedom," she concludes.

"It is a layer of unnecessary bureaucratic red-tape," says @skidmorekelly opposing HB 947.

Rep. McCurdy opposes the bill stating, "I came to the meeting this morning hoping I'd hear what the problem was that this bill is trying to prevent, I didn't hear that. If we wish to protect frontline workers, HB 947 isn't the best way to do it."

Rep. Stevenson is up next in debate, but it wasn't entirely clear what point she was making. She said a lot of words, but none of them addressed the bill.

Rep. @roth4florida says he will vote for the bill at this committee stop but "does want to make it more pro-employee."

Rep. @CarlosGSmith is next in debate, "I have not heard from one person in support of this bill. But I did get over 600 emails this weekend asking me to oppose it."

Rep. @fhawkinsjr and @DavidBorreroFL both state in debate, "I think there should be a carve out for police and firefighters."

They want to arm teachers, treat them as police when convenient--but pretend educators aren't frontline workers when it isn't convenient.

In closing in his bill, Rep. @scottplakon says he "wants to protect public workers."

To believe that, we have to believe he knows better what public employees need than the actual employees who spoke today. Again, not a single employee has asked for this bill.

It was a party-line vote. All Republicans below voted in favor of the bill and all Democrats voted against it.

(We appreciate members speaking into the mic while voting for those of us not in the room)

It's deja vu all over, again.

With HB 947 being voted upon, HB 835 is now being discussed.

The bills are similar in many ways but HB 835 does exclude police and firefighters like several representatives wanted HB 947 to do.

@CarlosGSmith asks Rep. Byrd about the exclusion of police and firefighters, "Why only have this for teachers?"

Rep. Byrd: Word salad.

@CarlosGSmith: My question was WHY ONLY TEACHERS?

Rep. Byrd: Teachers are my focus.

Rep. @EmilySlosberg asks, "Are there any other unions that would be prohibited from having payroll deduction? Or just teachers?"

Rep. Byrd: Just teachers. This is a very good bill and is wonderful for public employees, & that's why I didn't include police and firefighters

Rep. @EmilySlosberg has an amendment which would delete the lines below and allow for teachers to have dues deducted from their paycheck like other public employees.

@StefKunkel on behalf of FEA's 150,000 members testifies in support of the Slosberg amendment. "Since every other union in the state can have dues deducted from their paycheck, we urge you to support this amendment."

Rep. @JasonFischerFL announces they may have to cut debate short as the committee's time is running short.

Today is the fifth day of session. This bill only has two committees of reference. There is no good reason to shut down or limit input or debate today.

"This is a purely political bill meant to punish the teachers' union. Please vote for this amendment, and vote against this bill," says @CarlosGSmith on Slosberg's first amendment.

There was a roll call vote on the amendment. It was a party line vote
If an R is next to a Representative's name they voted to strip teachers of their freedom to have union dues deducted from their paycheck.
A D next to the name means they voted to continue supporting educators

Rep. @CarlosGSmith introduces an amendment to strike the following lines from HB 835. "I see these lines as an opportunity for abuse by a hostile employer, and that's why I'm getting rid of these lines."

Amendment fails on a voice vote.

We are now on debate on the strike-all amendment.

@CarlosGSmith, "I'm going to vote no on this b/c the underlying bill was somewhat better than the amendment. I don't want to have any part of this."

Also on the strike-all, Rep. @skidmorekelly says, "HB 835 targets teachers. It takes away something teachers want. Nobody is asking for this bill. This is targeting teachers, and it applies to no other union," I urge your no vote.

"Why is that teachers are under personal attack by this committee? By this government?" asks @YvonneHinsonFL, urging her fellow committee members to vote no on Rep. Byrd's strike-all amendment.

The amendment passed on a voice vote. We are now on public input. There are 30 minutes left in the meeting.

"I'm thinking of the old adage, just b/c I'm paranoid doesn't mean people aren't out to get me," says @rtemplin asking the committee to vote no on HB 835.

"We just spent an hour, an hour, debating tightening up a dues deduction process in HB 947. Now, in HB 835, we're eliminating dues deduction, but only for teachers...this makes no sense," concludes @rtemplin

@JasonFischerFL "I will limit further public input to about one minute each."

We'll remind you today is the 5th day of session and this bill only has two committee stops. There is no reason to rush this bill.

@StefKunkel, "I heard the bill sponsor say, "Get government out of the way. This bill puts government in the way. It puts the government in-between the employee and their employer," as she urges to committee to vote against the bill.

Phillip Suderman from Americans for Prosperity is back to speak in favor of the bill. He says that this bill is necessary because teachers are not smart enough to decide for themselves if they should belong to a union. They need the help of the government to make this decision.

"Educators are not the enemies of the people," says Matthew Lata from @uff_fsu before being cut off due to @JasonFischerFL's desire to rush the bill through committee.

"What is the point of this other than to be union busting? This is serious. On Saturday, the 40th Florida teacher died from Covid-19. How is this a way to repay them? You don't need to support this bill," @CarlosGSmith pleads with the committee members.

"We don't trust your ability to know how to fill out a form. You don't know what you're doing, and the government must protect you. That's what this bill says to educators, and I find that disgusting," says @skidmorekelly

@YvonneHinsonFL also opposes the bill she says, "We were elected and many of our voters are teachers. They are probably teaching your kids today."

"We are stewards of our teachers dollars and we have a duty to take care..."

Rep. Stevenson seemingly making the argument that the proper role of the government is to help educators decide how they should spend salaries.

In closing in his bill Cory Byrd references his love and support for teachers.

It is because of his great reverence for educators he is supporting this bill that literally hundreds of teachers have asked him to oppose and not a single educator has asked him to support.

We all knew the outcome already, but now it is official.

All the Republicans voted for HB 835.

All the Democrats voted against HB 835.

@threadreaderapp unroll, please.

Thanks!