Florida Senate criticizes House for axing Rouson Mental Health Center
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WLFA) — End of session means tensions are high, especially on the Senate floor this week when lawmakers rallied behind State Senator Darryl Rouson (D- St. Petersburg) after the House removed a mental health research center that was supposed to be named after him.
In less than a year, a commission for mental health and substance abuse took a deep dive into mental health systems in Florida. From that research, Senate Bill 1620 was created. The bill passed every committee in the Senate, with all lawmakers on board.
DeSantis announces joint immigration effort, more arrests to come
'The commission forwarded 30 recommendations to the speaker, the president and the governor. In discussions with stakeholders, I took 10 of those recommendations and put them in the form of a bill, which is the substance of 1620,' Rouson said.
An amendment was recently added to the senate bill that would add in a research center at University of South Florida and name it after Senator Rouson. But the House stripped the center, which created tensions within the Senate chamber.
'I was truly touched that every single member present in the chamber, 37 to 0 signed on to co-sponsor the amendment. The establishment of this center means a great deal. To those who believe in advancing mental health care with evidence-based compassion,' Rouson said.
According to lawmakers, if the Senate rejected the House's changes and returned the original bill as amended, the entire bill would be in jeopardy. Rouson urged his fellow collogues to agree, emphasizing that their efforts shouldn't go to waste.
'Unfortunately, the House didn't see it our way and for me, it is more important that the work continue, that the work of the commission be honored,' Rouson said.
Rouson has been an advocate for addiction recovery based on his personal experience.
Republicans and Democrats in the Senate spoke out one by one in support of the research center and its name.
'This was such a good amendment, naming it after such a great man. It is a travesty that the other chamber didn't allow this to go through,' said State Senator Blaise Ingoglia (R- Spring Hill).
'We should turn this around and we should tell them to get their heads straight,' said State Senator Jay Collins (R-Hillsborough).
'You're one of my best friends here in this body and what you've done is absolutely amazing and I'm just really glad that in in a year and a half, we're going to have another speaker who will hopefully support the naming of the program after you,' said State Senator Kathleen Passidomo (R-Naples).
In response to the senators' remarks, House Speaker Daniel Perez (R-Miami), shared the following statement with 8 On Your Side.
'I have enormous respect for Senator Rouson. I admire his public service, and I would be happy to collaborate with the Senate to honor him. But the action of the Senate today to name a center after Senator Rouson as a means of emotionally blackmailing the House into doing what they want- is unconscionable. The comments of 'or else' were a threat to the Florida House and beneath the dignity of the Florida Senate. The Senate created a backdoor appropriations project. They did so unilaterally, fully aware that the House did not wish to include additional items in the bill beyond the Commission's recommendations. The House version of SB 1620 by Representative Christine Hunchofsky, was filed to enact the recommendations of the Commission on Mental Health and Substance Abuse Disorders. The center in question was not in the Commission report nor was it in the House bill. The Senators were rightfully outraged, but they should direct their outrage at their own chamber who made this move in an attempt to push a backdoor project and used the good Senator's legacy to do so.'
House members said there seems to have been a technical challenge with the senate bill and believe both chambers will work this out and honor Senator Rouson and his legacy.
'I'm confident that they'll be able to work something out as Senator Rousan is an institution. He has served in the legislature for nearly 20 years, and when you look at his personal journey, how he overcame substance abuse to go on to become a state senator, it really is quite amazing,' said House Minority Leader Fentrice Driskell (R-Tampa).
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
42 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Planning to vote in New Jersey's June 10 primary? This is what you need to know
The New Jersey primary election is under way. Voters should know their options before heading to the polls. This year's gubernatorial primary will be held June 10, and it is a packed field for the top spot on both sides of the aisle. There are 11 candidates in all — six Democrats and five Republicans. They are vying to represent their respective party in the race for governor this November. There are also contested local primary elections and some contested races for seats in the New Jersey Assembly, the lower house of the Legislature. It's also the first primary to be held without the county line ballot design, so voters will be able to familiarize themselves with the new design with the sample ballots they're set to receive by mail in the coming days. The block ballot design, which is used in all 49 other states, will replace the county line which traditionally gave candidates endorsed by the county party preferred ballot placement, and an edge in their efforts. It was dismantled by a federal judge last year. New Jersey has what's considered a semi-closed primary because all voters have to declare a party affiliation to participate, but unaffiliated voters can do so at the polls. Unaffiliated voters can register while voting in personon Election Day for either the Democratic Party or the Republican Party. After an unaffiliated voter casts an in-person vote in the Democratic or Republican Party primary election, the voter will be affiliated with that political party going forward. The voter can change affiliation by completing, signing and returning a change of party affiliation form to the municipal clerk or county commissioner of registration. The deadline to apply for a mail-in ballot has passed and early in-person voting has concluded. Election Day for this year's primary will be June 10. Polls are open June 10 from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. That is the deadline to postmark a mail-in ballot for it to be eligible. Mail-in ballots can also be delivered to County Boards of Election and authorized ballot drop boxes by 8 p.m. on June 10. Katie Sobko covers the New Jersey Statehouse. Email: sobko@ This article originally appeared on NJ primary election 2025: How to vote on June 10 date
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
A Wichita City Council candidate taped campaign material in City Hall. Can she do that?
In our Reality Check stories, Wichita Eagle journalists dig deeper into questions over facts, consequences and accountability. Story idea? tips@ LaWanda DeShazer, a candidate for the open District 1 seat on the Wichita City Council, posted — then deleted — a campaign video she taped in City Hall. The taping violated a city policy that prohibits any type of campaigning inside city-owned buildings. The video was taped on June 4 and posted on Facebook later in the week to promote DeShazer's campaign launch event that weekend. While it was being taped, a Wichita Eagle reporter saw a member of City Hall staff ask DeShazer to not tape inside the building. The video had been deleted by Monday morning, after the event and after an Eagle reporter questioned DeShazer about it. 'There's a lot of new people running for office. … We don't know these nuances,' DeShazer said. Democrats crowd into race for open Wichita City Council seat. Who's running? The city said the policy that prohibits campaigning on public property has no enforcement mechanism. 'The City focuses on education and we would share the policy with candidates,' city spokesperson Megan Lovely said. A separate state statute prohibits campaigning in city-owned buildings through means of distributing literature and campaign materials unless other candidates have the opportunity to do so. But it doesn't explicitly prohibit filming campaign material on city property. People found in violation of the state statute are subject to a $500 fine or a month in jail. DeShazer said she thought her video being filmed in City Hall was OK after current District 1 council member Brandon Johnson posted a video shot outside McAfee Pool endorsing another candidate, Joseph Shepard. Johnson was wearing a city of Wichita shirt in the video. 'The endorsement video featuring Councilmember Brandon Johnson was filmed outside McAfee Pool, a city-operated entity. In doing so, we remained in compliance with both the Wichita City Code and City Policy #20,' Shepard said in a statement. 'Our filming respected these guidelines. We ensured there was no disruption to pedestrian or vehicle access and remained outside the facility's fence line.' Johnson backed Shepard's statement, saying Shepard reviewed city code before filming the endorsement video. 'It is unfortunate that Ms. DeShazer is suggesting that because she did not follow municipal code and Council policy, that one of her opponents did the same,' Johnson said in a statement. 'The fact that he and his team went the additional steps of reviewing guidelines is yet another reason he should be the Council Member for District 1.' Chris Pumpelly, who's also running for the seat, said he didn't find the video to be inappropriate since DeShazer is a private citizen. But he added already-elected officials must be held to a higher standard. 'The voters of District 1 are smart enough to know the City isn't endorsing a candidate in this race, but it's important as an elected official to make that line VERY clear in all your actions,' Pumpelly said in a statement to The Eagle. Other candidates in the crowded race to replace the term-limited Johnson are Aujanae Bennett and Darryl Carrington. A primary election is set for Aug. 5, with the top two candidates moving forward to the general election on Nov. 4. DeShazer said more education should be provided to candidates about campaigning when they file. 'I'm not trying to violate rules because I want to make things better for people, not worse,' she said.
New York Post
an hour ago
- New York Post
113 House Democrats vote against GOP resolution denouncing the antisemitic terrorist attack in Colorado
More than 100 House Democrats voted against a Republican-led resolution condemning the antisemitic terrorist attack in Boulder and Colorado's sanctuary state laws on Monday. The resolution, introduced by Rep. Gabe Evans (R-Colo.), cleared the lower chamber in a 280-113 vote, with 75 Democrats joining Republicans to pass the measure. Democrats fumed over language in the resolution expressing 'gratitude to law enforcement, including US Immigration and Customs Enforcement personnel, for protecting the homeland.' 3 House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., speaks with reporters about the spending and tax bill embraced by President Donald Trump and Republicans, at the Capitol in Washington, Friday, June 6, 2025. AP The National Republican Congressional Committee, the House GOP's campaign arm, charged that Democrats voting against the bill 'sided with terrorists over police officers and flat-out refused to condemn antisemitism.' 'Democrats have become the pro-terrorist, anti-cop, antisemitic caucus. And they're proud of it,' the NRCC wrote on X. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) slammed Evans as a 'joke' ahead of the vote. 'Who is this guy? He's not seriously concerned with combating antisemitism in America. This is not a serious effort,' Jeffries told reporters. 'Antisemitism is a scourge on America. It shouldn't be weaponized politically.' Evans shot back that the 'wildly offensive sentiment' expressed by Jeffries is 'why antisemitism persists.' 3 This image provided by the Boulder Police Dept. shows Mohamed Sabry Soliman. AP 'The Left is unserious about finding real solutions,' the congressman argued on X. 'Condemning terrorism is not a joking matter.' Rep. Dan Goldman (D-NY), who is Jewish and voted no on the resolution, argued on the House floor that the measure was being put forward to simply 'score political points.' 'You weren't here, Mr. Evans, last term, but there were about 10 antisemitism resolutions that effectively said the same thing solely to score political points,' Goldman said. 'We Jews are sick and tired of being used as pawns.' 3 Gabe Evans, R-Fort Lupton, speaks to reporters during a news conference on the steps of the Colorado Capitol in Denver on Thursday, May 29, 2025. In his floor speech, Evans stated: 'As a former police officer and Army veteran of the Global War on Terror, I know how Colorado's radical leftists leaders and laws prioritize illegal immigrants over public safety — allowing antisemitic terrorists like Mohammed Sabry Soliman to strike.' Soliman, an Egyptian national who overstayed his visa, allegedly used Molotov cocktails and a makeshift flamethrower during the June 1 attack targeting peaceful marchers who were calling for the release of Hamas-held hostages in Gaza. Fifteen people were injured in the firebombing, during which Soliman allegedly shouted, 'Free Palestine.' 'The passing of my resolution ensures we condemn all acts of antisemitism and affirms that the free and open collaboration between state and local law enforcement with their federal counterparts is key in preventing future attacks like this,' the congressman continued. A separate resolution introduced by Reps. Jeff Van Drew (R-NJ) and Joe Neguse (D-Colo.), who more generally denounced the uptick in antisemitic attacks in the US, passed in a 400-0 vote.
