Florida Senate President Mike Haridopolos' poor leadership skills and selfish personal politics, NOT influence by CAIR (Council on American Islamic Relations), killed SB 1360. THE TRUTH WHY SB 1360 DIED. DISPELLING MYTHS. THE GOOD NEWS.

Florida Family Association is going to tell you the facts regarding why SB 1360 titled Application of Foreign Law in Certain Circumstances (more bill info below) died in the Florida Senate.  Some people on our side may not like hearing the truth but it must be told.  Here is THE TRUTH WHY SB 1360 DIED, DISPELLING MYTHS and THE GOOD NEWS.

THE TRUTH WHY SB 1360 DIED.

SB 1360 titled Application of Foreign Law in Certain Circumstances died because Florida Senate President Mike Haridopolos lacked strong leadership skills that should have employed principle over personal politics.
  
Based upon news reports in the Orlando Sentinel and Ft. Myers News Press, it clearly appears that Senate President Haridopolos was twisting Senator Alan Hays arm to vote for CS/CS/SB 1718: Parent Empowerment in Education which allowed parents to change failing public schools into charter schools.

Senator Hays was a CO-SPONSOR of SB 1718 so why did Senate President Haridopolos need to twist his arm to vote for a bill that he CO-SPONSORED?  Because Senate President Haridopolos was NOT hearing bills important to Senator Hays which Hays SPONSORED including SB 1360 titled Application of Foreign Laws in Certain Circumstances.  This is documented by the senate calendar.

Senate President Haridopolos employed weak leadership skills and subjective thinking when he chose to force a vote on SB 1718 (a personal favorite bill of his) before he allowed votes on Senator Hays’ bill.  Senator Hays was a CO-SPONSOR of SB 1718 for Pete’s sake.  He was going to vote for the bill.  This is documented by the senate calendar.

However, Senate President Haridopolos forced his personal favorites in a selfish manner against principled rational thinking and caused both bills SB 1360 and SB 1718 to fail.  Senator Hays strongly stood by the bills he SPONSORED over the bills he CO-SPONSORED to the end.

DISPELLING MYTHS

Some allies in support of SB 1360 gave unfounded credit to CAIR (Council on American Islamic Relations) by reporting that CAIR had:  a private number to the Senate President’s office; more calls were allegedly logged in opposition to SB 1360 than in favor and strong relations with an alleged pro-Islamist Republican fund raiser who influenced Haridopolos.

Some allies claimed that 850-487-5229 was a special number that was given to CAIR and that the phone number (850) 487-5056 given out by Florida Family Association was incorrect.  However, a Google search of 850-487-5229 reports this number is clearly published for the Senate President in the Florida Senate phone directory.  It was not a private number given to CAIR by the Florida Senate President’s office.  Additionally, (850) 487-5056 is posted on the Florida Senate President Mike Haridopolos web page as his contact. A call to the Senate President Office revealed that calls were tallied for both lines.

The Senate President was clearly moving SB 1360 through the senate committees and the Senate floor without regard to any influence by CAIR.  The only reason SB 1360 died was because of Senate President Haridopolos’ poor leadership skills and personal bill preferences.

The only indication of influence by CAIR may have been the hostile amendment to SB 1360 offered by Senator Miguel Diaz de la Portilla late on the second to the last day of the session. Senator Diaz de la Portilla’s excuse that SB 1360 was “poorly worded and would have unintended consequences” is right out of the opponent’s playbook. Whose interest did Senator Miguel Diaz de la Portilla’s amendment help? Was it CAIR (Council on American Islamic Relations) Florida? It certainly did not represent the interests of citizens who want only American Laws in America Courts?

THE GOOD NEWS

CAIR had little impact on SB 1360 and HB 1209 titled Application of Foreign Laws in Certain Circumstances.  Florida Family Association generated thousands of emails and phone calls to representatives and senators on each vote in committees and the full house unmatched by CAIR.

The Florida House of Representatives voted 92 -24 to approve HB 1209.  SB 1360 passed in both committees with bi-partisan support.  The Senate President pulled SB 1360 out of the Senate Budget Committee to go straight to the Senate Floor.   This legislation was on track for approval.

Although, Senate President Haridopolos’s poor leadership and personal politics defeated SB 1360 this year, he will NOT be the senate president next year.

THANKFULLY, Senator Don Gaetz will be the next Florida Senate President. More good news, Senator Gaetz was a CO-SPONSOR of SB 1360. Senator Gaetz’s well known intellectual and objective team player leadership skills along with CO-SPONSORSHIP of SB 1360 should give this legislation a better chance of passage in the next Florida Legislative Session which begins in January 2013.

A SPECIAL THANKS TO ALL WHO HELPED SUPPORT THIS LEGISLATION.  YOUR EMAILS AND PHONE CALLS MADE A DIFFERENCE.  WITHOUT YOUR VOICE, CAIR'S OPPOSITION WOULD HAVE BEEN HEARD MUCH LOUDER.

MORE INFO ON SB 1360 AND HB 1209.  Florida bills SB 1360 and house companion HB 1209 titled Application of Foreign Law are intended to prohibit courts from considering certain provisions of foreign laws including Islamic Sharia law.  There are numerous provisions of Sharia law which are inconsistent with Florida statutes.  Sharia law authorizes polygamy, pedophilia and perpetuates violence towards women and death for dishonoring the faith.  HB 1209 and companion bill SB 1360 are significant legislative starts in the right direction to protect Americans from the intrusion of some provisions of Sharia law which are inconsistent with American laws.   Click here to read the full bill.