Sen. Mike Fasano is being removed as chairman of the Senate committee that writes the criminal justice budget by Senate President Mike Haridopolos because, Haridopolos said, he has lost confidence in Fasano’s dedication to cutting the budget, reports the News Service of Florida. Fasano will be replaced as chairman of the Senate Criminal Justice Appropriations Subcommittee by Sen. Ellyn Bogdanoff, R-Fort Lauderdale. Fasano, R-New Port Richey, has led the effort to derail a Senate priority, a plan to privatize prisons in most of the southern part of the state.
Update – 4:38 p.m. – Paula Dockery tweets: @FasanoMike welcome to the I’m-a-true-Republican club. You know, the kind who vote based on the right thing-not based on who is dumping cash into a CCE. Leadership may have taken your chairmanship today, but you are a champion for the people of Florida and no one can take that away.
Update – 4:44 p.m. – Sen. Fasano speaks:
“In my 18 years of elective office I have always and will continue to vote my conscience I have stood up for the little guy and gal, those who otherwise would not have a voice in the legislative process. I will always speak out when I see injustice, no matter what the consequences may be.“No matter how big the bully in the schoolyard may be, if the loss of a chairmanship is the result of taking a stand for what is right, I wear that loss as a badge of honor.“As the final days of the president’s tenure comes to a close I encourage him to stand up for taxpayers and consumers to ensure that each and every tax dollar is spent wisely. The special interests should not prevail. I hope that he will do what is right and remember why we were all sent to Tallahassee.”