Gardiner cool to idea of special session after shooting

BY THE NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA

A group of Central Florida Democratic lawmakers, including Sens. Darren Soto and Geraldine Thompson, will call Wednesday for a special legislative session in response to Sunday's mass shooting in Orlando. But Senate President Andy Gardiner, R-Orlando, isn't expected to support the idea. "The president does not support expending taxpayer dollars on a special session unless there is definitive support within the Senate for a concrete legislative proposal that requires time-sensitive action," Gardiner spokeswoman Katie Betta said in an email Tuesday. "Absent those elements, the president has a hard time viewing press conferences calling for a special session three days after the worst act of terrorism in this country since September 11 as anything more than political posturing by two senators who have declared their intention to run for Congress." Betta added that neither Soto nor Thompson had discussed their proposal with Gardiner. Details of the Democrats' special-session proposal were not immediately available. A release from the Florida Senate Democratic Office said group members will "announce their tactical proposal to prevent future tragedies." Soto, who did not immediately return a call for comment, is running in Congressional District 9, while Thompson is running in Congressional District 10. Joining Soto and Thompson outside the Orange County Courthouse will be state Rep. John Cortes, D-Kissimmee and Orange County Sheriff Jerry Demings.