Members of the Florida Legislature's black caucus met with Gov. Rick Scott Tuesday to propose legislation and support, but the lawmakers made little headway.
Sen. Arthenia Joyner (D-Tampa) wants more evidence that the governor is listening to the group's concerns. She said the communication over the past year was lacking.
“I called for a meeting three times, and nobody ever got back with me," she told Scott. "But I’m going to say what we said last year: You and I will have to deal with that. Because I respect you."
“And I respect you,” Scott said.
“OK. So we need to be able to talk," Joyner said.
Caucus members addressed three specific concerns but made no progress.
They want the governor to appoint more black judges, encouraged him to implement the president's health care program as soon as possible, and asked him to end the five-year period ex-felons must wait in order to vote.
The governor refused all three requests.