Tallahassee – Sen. Daryl Luson, a longtime St. Petersburg politician, ends up getting a centre named after him.
Earlier this year, Florida senators proposed to name the University of South Florida Center for Mental Health and Substance Abuse in honor of Luson.
Luson has been long open about his struggle with substance abuse disorder and his long-standing recovery.
When the Florida home got the bill, the representative stripped the proposed Luson Center. Florida Senators gave burning, sometimes tearful speeches denounced the House decision.
However, at a press conference Wednesday, Gov. Ron DeSantis said that in collaboration with USF, the school renamed the program to the school.
“I know they’re trying to put this into the law, but there was a bit of a hiccup about it, but you know,” Desantis said Wednesday. “It was a time of a lot of hiccups.”
When the house made changes to strip the Luson Center, DeSantis said on social media that “the Pettines home in Florida is in its glory.”
The session governor repeatedly rebutted House Speaker Daniel Perez, criticising his proposed sales tax cut plan, his Chamber of Commerce’s hopes, and other other laws passed by the House.
Perez says he is pleased to honor Luson, but said the House stripped the proposed center from the bill because it is a “backdoor budget project.”
Instead, Perez said the senators are “emotionally threatening” their homes to do what they want.
Florida Senate spokesman Katie Betta said USF will move to rename the Florida Center for the Florida Center after Rouson.
Founded last year, the center now focuses on research, training and more, enhancing the state’s mental health workforce.
