What’s the world coming to when Rep. Kelly Skidmore (D-Boca) has to call out Florida House Republicans for not being conservative? The House has passed a constitutional amendment, HJR 1325, to abolish the office of Lieutenant Governor and replace it with a new Cabinet-level “commissioner of government efficiency” (COGE). House Republicans claim this will streamline government and cut waste. But let’s be clear: this bill is a boondoggle, costly to taxpayers, and—most importantly—rooted in a personal political vendetta, not good governance. Representative Mike Caruso (R-West Palm Beach) debated and voted against the bill. Still, the surprise voice in the room in opposition came from Democratic Rep. Kelly Skidmore, who, in under one minute, managed to school the chamber by saying,
“Republicans have been in control in Florida since 1996. You’re in charge. You have all the power. Fix your House! You’re changing things for political reasons!”
~Rep. Kelly Skidmore (D-Boca)
Full Disclosure: Florida Jolt’s Editor at Large, Tracy Caruso, is married to State Representative Mike Caruso.
Subscribe to The Florida Jolt Newsletter!
Proponents argue that the Lieutenant Governor does little and that the new commissioner will root out fraud and save money. However, swapping one salaried position for another, with a new bureaucracy and staff, is not a savings plan. The new Cabinet post will require its own office, budget, and support, costing Floridians more, not less. This is a costly, personal power play whose real cost is to the taxpayers.
The last time the Democrats were in charge of either the House, the Senate, or the Cabinet was in 1996. So, since 1996, we have had full Republican control of the House, the Senate, and the Cabinet. Why are we not efficient? What happened to government efficiency? What happened to those conservative values? Why do we have to now sort this out to someone else? You’re in charge! Fix your House! You’re changing things for political reasons, not for efficiency- to make a point. Come on, you should be better than this. You have all the power, in all the chambers, in all the places. So if we are not efficient, if we are spending money willy-nilly, it’s on you!
~Rep. Kelly Skidmore (D-Boca)
Video: Dem. Rep. Skidmore (D-Boca Raton), Takes Florida House to Task for Not Being Conservative Enough
The story here isn’t about efficiency. As Representative Kelly Skidmore pointed out, this bill is personal, plain, and straightforward. Skidmore, a Democrat, is acting more like a conservative than the so-called Republicans backing this bill. She’s the mom in the room, calling out the childish House for using taxpayer dollars and constitutional amendments to settle scores with Governor Ron DeSantis. The timing is no coincidence: the Lieutenant Governor’s seat is vacant after Jeanette Nuñez was appointed president of FIU, and the Governor will appoint a new Lieutenant Governor.
This isn’t good. As many are seeing during the 2025 session, this is one of many bills that is just anti-DeSantis and has nothing to do with conservative values. The conservative stance recognizes the importance of checks and balances and the need for a clear line of succession. It’s about standing up for the rule of law and fiscal responsibility—values the Republican majority claims to champion, but seems to have forgotten in their rush to target the Governor.
This bill isn’t about saving money or improving government. It’s about legislative leaders trying to box out DeSantis and settle political grudges, all at the expense of Florida taxpayers and stability. If the House wanted to help Floridians, it’d focus on fundamental reforms, not costly, retaliatory power plays. Republicans have a supermajority in Florida, so Democrats have nothing to lose by calling something out for what it is. Who knew that Democrat Representative Kelly Skidmore would defend conservative principles, while the Republicans play political games? Floridians deserve better than this.
Other stories you may want to read:
DeSantis’ Warns Florida House Budget Would Defund the Police
Leaders Warn: New House Bills Could Drag Florida Back to ‘Judicial Hellhole’
- DOGE-ing Florida-Delray Beach Questions Tax Funding for Pride Festival - May 13, 2025
- GOP Supermajority in Florida: The Rise of the Uniparty - May 5, 2025
- Speaker Danny Perez Admits Defeat, Finally Yields on Property Taxes - April 29, 2025