The Senate refused Thursday to resurrect leadership funds that were banned 20 years ago. The action came on an unrecorded voice vote with Sen. Ken Pruitt, R-Port St. Lucie, in the chair. The amendment by Sen. Steve Wise, R-Jacksonville, would have allowed the incoming Senate president and incoming minority leader to control special interest-funded slush funds in election campaigns but the Democratic opponents, led by Sens. Ted Deutch, Nan Rich and Arthenia Joyner, argued that it would have increased the amount of special interest money in the process.

Defeat of the amendment was a victory for Sen. Charlie Justice, D-St. Petersburg. Wise was trying to amend Justice's bill (SB 216), which bars cities and counties from spending tax money to influence the outcome of local referendums. Justice is trying to get a "clean" bill, without controversial amendments, to Gov. Charlie Crist's desk.