The three are trying to gather support from colleagues to succeed McKay. If Webster succeeds, he would be the second lawmaker in modern history to serve as both Senate president and House speaker. The measure, one of Senate President John McKay's priorities, includes many recommendations from a task force on homelessness created at McKay's request. According to homeless advocates, there are more than 57,000 homeless people in Florida, but only about 7,000 beds in the 177 homeless shelters throughout the state. The Senate moved to undo a change in drug laws that many legitimate painkiller users and their doctors said would have kept them from getting their medications.
Police say hydrocodone has become one of their biggest problems in the fight against drug abuse.
It's the key ingredient in Vicodin, a common painkiller. Last year, the Legislature reclassified certain hydrocodone mixtures to make easier the prosecution of people trafficking the drug. But before the law took effect, the medical community warned state officials that it would burden legitimate painkiller users. Doctors said some patients would have to make extra office visits instead of getting refills over the phone, even though many were old or sick and homebound. Attorney General Bob Butterworth adopted an emergency rule keeping the change from taking effect.