The Florida Senate is slated Thursday to take up a proposal that would expand the governor’s authority in making appointments to some top state jobs.
The bill (SB 1658), sponsored by Sen. Aaron Bean, R-Fernandina Beach, is one of the numerous issues that will be considered during a floor session.
The proposal involves appointments of the secretary of the Department of Environmental Protection, the commissioner of the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, and the executive director of the Department of Veterans’ Affairs.
The issue emerged after a clash last year between DeSantis and Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried about DeSantis’ move to appoint Department of Environmental Protection Secretary Shawn Harrison without approval from the state Cabinet.
The Cabinet has long signed off on the Department of Environmental Protection secretary and the leaders of a handful of other state agencies, including the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and the Department of Veterans’ Affairs.
The bill would change the approval process for those three positions, giving the governor more authority. For example, it would allow the governor to decide whether to seek concurrence from Cabinet members on the Department of Environmental Protection secretary or to appoint the secretary with confirmation from the Senate.
Fried, a Democratic candidate for governor, criticized the proposal as a “power grab.”
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