Gov. Rick Scott issued a new executive order Wednesday in response to the Florida Supreme Court ruling that he overstepped his authority when he issued a previous order suspending new rulemaking by executive branch agencies (earlier story here).
The state's highest court, in a 5-2 decision, ruled in the case of Whiley v. Scott on Aug. 16 that the governor "encroach[ed] upon the Legislature's delegation of its rulemaking power as set forth in the Florida Statutes."
Departing from the dry, stuffy legalese that usually comprises executive orders, Scott (and his legal team) used the document to criticize the court for its decision. "WHEREAS," the order states, the majority opinion "failed to address and apply the plain meaning of the first and sixth sections of Article IV of the [state] Constitution ... failed to address the implications of the Court's precedent in Jones v. Chiles [a different case and] ... failed to address the persuasive case law from the United States Supreme Court and the highest court of other states," among other criticisms.
The order notes that only the two dissenting justices got it right, and adds grudgingly: "Notwithstanding the above, the majority opinion in Whiley v. Scott is to be afforded the deference due a judgment of the Supreme Court of the state of Florida."
-- Steve Bousquet
The arrogance of the man knows no bounds
Posted by: Fed Up | October 19, 2011 at 08:38 PM
How petty can this man get? He and his legal team need to be brought down a few notches. It is one thing to disagree with the S. Ct., it is another to lambast their decision in an executive order for 10 pages.
Posted by: His lawyers... | October 20, 2011 at 08:17 AM
Yeah, Saddam Hussein and Qaddaffi Duck hated it when someone told them no too. The only difference is that Saddam and Moamar (Sp?) could just have dissenters shot. Our little tinhorn would if he could get away with it....LOL. Hey, I hear Somalia is looking for a new Despot, maybe we should send Ricky over there?
Posted by: SaltLifeClint | October 20, 2011 at 09:51 AM
Jeez who voted for this guy? It sure wasn't me.
Posted by: KeyWester | October 20, 2011 at 10:04 AM
what a hog this guy is - and he surrounds himself with little piggies too......
Posted by: lmmd | October 20, 2011 at 10:14 AM
Hubris! This is all we are going to get from Gov Scott for the next 3 years. How childish.
Posted by: Steve | October 21, 2011 at 07:32 AM