House Lawmakers Stall Vote On Sun Life Stadium Renovation Bill
MIAMI (CBS4) - Voting in the House stalled Tuesday on the proposed bill to renovate Sun Life Stadium.
Democrats protesting the legislatures in-action on Medicare began stall tactics in the House which essentially stopped any bills from moving forward.
The Democrats demanded bills be read in their entirety. In response, the House speaker had an auto-reader, they named Mary, read them the bill 10 to 25 minutes at a time.
Lobbyist Ron Book said, "I haven't had much sleep. Sleep is overrated in the legislative session."
Book, a veteran lobbyist, among other lobbyists successfully moved the bill through the Florida Senate by a vote of 35 to four on Monday.
Dolphins owner Stephen Ross, along with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, were in attendance.
"I think if they had the votes and they were confident it would have come up already," Representative Carlos Trujillo said. "I think there is a lot of trouble with the bill."
The legislators have not been easy on the Dolphins bill. From the initial 26 amendments proposed, about one-third have stuck.
As of now, the $3 million sales tax rebate the Dolphins wanted is out. The bill no longer has funding from the state.
Instead the Dolphins will have to compete with other Florida stadiums and teams and to receive money, the legislators would have to approve next year.
Still on the table is the bill that would allow Miami-Dade to increase tourist taxes in an effort to raise some of the $289 million needed for renovations.
"We believe we have the votes on the House floor to pass this bill. The bill is a different bill. We are spending our time today educating all 120 members as to what the bill looks like today," said Book.
When asked if the bill will get to the vote, Book said, "We are not in the two minute drill, or anywhere near the two minute drill. Ask me that question at noon on Friday."
