The Florida Senate could be open to hearing a proposal to give the governor more control over top-ranking appointments.
On Thursday, the Senate Rules Committee voted 11-4 in favor of SB 1658. It was filed by Senator Aaron Bean, R.Fernandina Beach. This bill would allow the governor to increase his power to appoint secretary of Department of Environmental Protection, commissioner of Florida Department of Law Enforcement, and executive director of Department of Veterans Affairs.
The Rules Committee was the last hurdle before the bill could move to the full Senate.
After a dispute last year between Gov. Ron DeSantis and Nikki Fried, Agriculture Commissioner, were at odds over DeSantis’ move to appoint Shawn Harrison as Department of Environmental Protection Secretary without approval from the state Cabinet.
The Cabinet has been approving the Department of Environmental Protection secretary as well as the leaders of a few other state agencies such the Florida Department of Veterans Affairs and Florida Department of Law Enforcement.
The bill would alter the approval process for these three positions and give the governor more power.
It would allow the governor, for example to decide whether to request the concurrence of Cabinet members on the Department of Environmental Protection Secretary or to appoint with confirmation by the Senate.
Fried called the Monday proposal a power grab.
