HR 9183

1	House Resolution
2	A resolution designating "Speaker Daniel Webster Hall"
3	within the Florida House of Representatives.
4
5	WHEREAS, Room 212, Knott Building, in the Capitol Complex
6	of the State of Florida is the largest committee meeting room of
7	the Florida House of Representatives, and
8	WHEREAS, in November 1996, Representative Daniel Webster
9	became the first Republican Speaker of the Florida House of
10	Representatives in 122 years, serving as Speaker until the 1998
11	general election, and
12	WHEREAS, as Speaker of the House, Daniel Webster radically
13	reformed the Florida House of Representatives, permanently
14	changing the culture of the Florida Legislature, and
15	WHEREAS, among many notable and praiseworthy departures
16	from previous legislative practice, Speaker Daniel Webster
17	diligently ended all committee meetings and House sessions by
18	6:00 p.m. each day, as a demonstration of respect for the
19	importance of family life to House Members, employees and staff
20	of the House, and public participants in the legislative
21	process, and
22	WHEREAS, throughout his tenure as Speaker, both Speaker
23	Webster's expressed intentions and his actions ensured that the
24	ideas and proposals of all House Members were considered and
25	advanced based upon principle rather than partisanship, thus
26	honoring the sincere commitment of elected State Representatives
27	to the public good, and
28	WHEREAS, Speaker Webster's implementation of a complete
29	revision of the Rules of the Florida House of Representatives
30	reestablished the parliamentary principle that each biennially
31	elected body of Members of the Florida House of Representatives
32	has the privilege and duty to govern itself as it sees fit,
33	unrestrained by decisions, precedents, or practices that predate
34	the current duly elected body of House Members chosen by the
35	people of the State of Florida, and
36	WHEREAS, Speaker Webster instituted many other beneficial
37	reforms which no single resolution can sufficiently enumerate or
38	properly acclaim, and
39	WHEREAS, Speaker Webster stood firm against the usurpations
40	of the Governor and the Supreme Court in the case of Chiles v.
41	Phelps (1998), asserting the privileges and immunities of the
42	House and defending the separation of powers and the respective
43	independence of the House and Senate to act without interference
44	in the powers and duties of each body, and
45	WHEREAS, Daniel Webster's service as Speaker of the Florida
46	House of Representatives garnered him the widespread admiration
47	and respect of those who served under him for his benevolence,
48	the universal accolades of members and observers for his justice
49	and fairness, and the unfailing gratitude of those who have
50	followed him for his faithfulness to the principles that
51	invigorate and empower parliamentary bodies, and
52	WHEREAS, Speaker Daniel Webster's legacy in the Florida
53	House of Representatives has continued for 10 years through the
54	Council-Committee organizational structure, the abolition of
55	recognized caucuses, the inclusion of the "Principles Analysis"
56	within the staff analysis of legislation produced by House
57	committee staff, and the annual honoring of former House
58	Minority Leaders alongside former Speakers of the Florida House
59	of Representatives, and
60	WHEREAS, Senator Daniel Webster will retire on November 4,
61	2008, after serving for 10 years as a Florida State Senator, at
62	which time he will be permanently restored to his former, higher
63	title of "Speaker," and
64	WHEREAS, Speaker Daniel Webster's immeasurable impact on
65	the House of Representatives, the Florida Legislature, and state
66	government in the State of Florida should always be studiously
67	remembered in the House of Representatives and by every
68	Floridian, including any participant in any important meeting of
69	state government or public life which may utilize Room 212,
70	Knott Building, NOW, THEREFORE,
71
72	Be It Resolved by the House of Representatives of the State of
73	Florida:
74
75	That Room 212, Knott Building, shall, from November 4,
76	2008, and always thereafter, be designated, identified, referred
77	to, and known as "Speaker Daniel Webster Hall" or "Webster
78	Hall."
79	BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this resolution be
80	presented to Senator Daniel Webster as a tangible token of the
81	sentiments expressed herein.

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.