In an e-mail to Democrats, House Democratic Leader Dan Gelber writes:

Members -- When you are in the minority, your only vehicle for change is
your voice and the principles for which you speak out. When the
majority party decides that they do not want your voice to be heard,
and when they resort to procedural machinations to stop you from
speaking, they are not simply disrespecting you, they are disrespecting
your constituents and your principles. I understand this may be a
hardship, but I would not ask you to stand together if I didn't believe in
my heart that this was the only avenue available to us. I am proud to
be your leader.

Dan

Gelber also put out this statement:

"Our ability to offer an amendment to HB 7045 was shut down this
morning by House Republicans. To call the previous question and stifle
debate is insincere and disingenuous. House Democrats wanted the
opportunity to offer amendments and debate their merit, but were met
with House Republican resistance.

"Democrats believe that raising standards (Rep. Flores’ bill) must
be combined with measuring those standards through long awaited FCAT
reform (Sen. Gaetz’s bill). This has been a longstanding principle of
our caucus and the object of our prior bills. In the final weeks of
session where bills make it or not, we need to combine good measures
that will improve our state’s public school system.

"Floridians are watching and expecting this Republican legislature to pass legislation that improves our quality of life."