House Republicans Meet at WaterColor Resort

Florida House Republicans Wednesday morning began a three day retreat at the posh WaterColor resort in SeaGrove to discuss their priorities for the upcoming legislative session.

The retreat is paid for entirely by the Republican Party, with no state tax dollars involved, but House Speaker Ray Sansom has nonetheless faced questions about the appearance of holding a multi-day meeting at the swank resort near Destin with the state in such dire financial condition.

Sansom, R-Destin, is scheduled to speak Wednesday on the state's budget, and to join House staff budget director Mike Hansen for a briefing on the national economic situation as a whole. Rep. Larry Cretul, R-Ocala, the speaker pro tem, is scheduled to give lawmakers a talk on decorum.