New house speaker, senate president chosen in Florida

Associated Press

Updated: Nov 20, 2012 10:30 AM

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — New leaders are taking over the Florida Legislature.

Sen. Don Gaetz, a Niceville Republican, was officially selected as Senate President on Tuesday. Rep. Will Weatherford, a Wesley Chapel Republican, was chosen as House speaker.

The two men will serve two year terms.

In his prepared remarks, Gaetz said he and Weatherford have agreed to make sure that Floridians will never again have to wait in line six hours in order to vote. They're also promising to tackle ethics reform during their tenure.

There are two more Democrats in the Senate and five more in the House as the result of the Nov. 6 election, but Republicans remain firmly in charge. They have a 26-14 advantage in the Senate and 76-44 edge in the House.

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