At 41, Feeney would become the third Republican to lead the state House since Reconstruction. The first was Daniel Webster, R-Orlando, who is now in the Senate. Both Webster and Feeney enjoy enthusiastic support from the Christian Coalition for their conservative views. In 1991, Feeney filed a bill that would have set up a government information bank profiling every woman in Florida who had an abortion. Webster incensed Jewish lawmakers in 1997 when he allowed public prayers to Jesus in the Capitol.
Legislative policy requires all prayers to be non-sectarian.
Also Tuesday, House Republicans officially welcomed Rep. Rudy Bradley of St. Petersburg into their fold. Bradley, who recently switched to the Republican Party, is the only African-American in the House Republican caucus. Bradley received a standing ovation from his fellow Republicans. All rights reserved.