A Carnival Cruise ship docked in Key West. By Worachat Sodsri @ Shutterstock.com
Mary Ellen Klas reports in the Bradenton Herald that a bill aimed at overturning Key West voters’ choice to limit cruise ships in their port has been killed in the Florida State House. She writes (abridged):
TALLAHASSEE
After having second thoughts about the constitutionality of his bill to undermine three ordinances approved by Key West voters, the House sponsor of the measure said Tuesday he has concluded “the bill’s dead” for the session.
“I don’t see a path forward,’’ said Rep. Spencer Roach, the North Fort Myers Republican who, along with Sen. Jim Boyd, R-Bradenton, attempted to pass a bill that would have used a state law to preempt three new ordinances adopted by more than 60% of voters in Key West in November. But, he added, “anything can happen between now and when the hankie drops.”
Florida legislators are scheduled to complete the 60-day session — with the traditional dropping of a handkerchief — on Friday.
The bill to undermine the will of Key West voters was one of the most ambitious preemption attempts of the session.
On Monday, the Herald/Times reported that Mark Walsh, the business developer who operates the Key West pier which gets most of the city’s cruise ship traffic, donated nearly $1 million to the political committee of Gov. Ron DeSantis through 11 of his companies days before the legislative session began.( “donation” a losing strategy to date).
BY MARY ELLEN KLAS HERALD/TIMES TALLAHASSEE BUREAU
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