Rep. Jack Brown, D-St. Johns, made a rare floor speech Tuesday to mark the 100th day of the legislative session.
Brown, the longest-serving lawmaker, noted that the Legislature is setting several records – as in a record number of bills not being acted upon. The Senate continues to forbid any hearings until a budget bill is written, passed and on the governor’s desk.
That means that bills debated and voted on by the House are stacking up, waiting for action across the courtyard at the Senate.
“We’re missing out every day,” he said.
Brown also pulled out his calculator and made some quick computations on how much money all this inaction is costing taxpayers. His conclusion: about $10,000 a day, counting salary and the per-diem that lawmakers receive.
“I don’t know if we’re worth that or not,” Brown said.