TALLAHASSEE— The icing relationship between Governor Ron DeSantis and Speaker Daniel Perez has now frozen over.
Upon entering the House chamber to deliver his final State of the State address to a joint session of the Florida Legislature, Gov. DeSantis greeted Senate President Ben Albritton but ignored and refused to shake Speaker Perez’s hand.
What is is that ol’ catch phrase about Hell freezing over?
Gov. DeSantis did not hold a customary press conference after his address, but Speaker Perez did, where he was asked about being shunned by the governor.
“Personally we aren't on the same page but politically we have a job to do, we were elected by the people to do a job,” said Speaker Perez.
Perez said that someone with extensive experience in the House chamber told him that DeSantis’ refusal to acknowledge him was all-but remarkable and that it marked “a sad day for the state.”
“I am able to compartmentalize that and do my job part of that is being cordial .there was a a person who stopped me after I got off the rostrum wood has been in this chamber for many decades and said they had never seen that and it was a sad day for the state,” said Perez.
Perez continues, saying that he has always been open to, and still open to, discussing any issue or problem with DeSantis before referring to him as "petulant."
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“I've always said I'll answer his call whenever he wants. I'll meet with him whenever he wants. I'll talk about any issue he wants ,” he added.
“It's OK to disagree there's nothing wrong with that ,but you know I I have a I have a certain amount of respect that I think everyone else should also have in being in this position and part of that is treating other people with respect and that's why i kind of turned over waiting for handshake but obviously it wasn't reciprocated,” Perez concluded.
It appears as if it is going to be a very long legislative session.
During his annual address to lawmakers, DeSantis challenged the entire legislature to work together, work with him on passing legislation, demanding they send him bills to sign into law
