A WEEK'S BREAK DURING THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION A BETTER IDEA THAN SOME MAY BELIEVE

The Florida Senate will take the week of April 7-16 off, and that has some members complaining. But in the whole scheme of things, it turns out to be the right thing to do.

The idea is to satisfy the religious practices of all members, as Easter Sunday is April 16 this year. Jewish members had requested that they be allowed to leave to arrive home before sundown Wednesday, April 12, when the Passover holiday begins.

Senate President Tom Lee (R - Brandon) made the decision of a week-long break, saying it was not cost-effective for members to travel great distances for meetings part of the day Monday and Tuesday. It is up to 500 miles for some senators to travel from Tallahassee to Miami.

While the break seems too long for many folks, it is only proper that the presiding officer, Lee, do the right thing in consideration of the beliefs of all of the members. It just might do some good for legislators to reconnect with their constitutents for a few days after mixing with lobbyists and other special interest types.