Florida State Representative and congressional candidate Anthony Sabatini (R-District 32 ) has been removed from a the Children, Families and Seniors Subcommittee in the Florida House. He received two unexcused absences from the committee, committee members are only allowed one.
Sabatini requested an excused absence from committee chair Thad Altman the day before his absence on October 21. He did not respond to Altman’s follow-up asking for an explanation.
“It should also be noted that of your 21 committee meetings over the six-week interim, you have been absent for thirteen, nine of which have been excused,” said Rules Committee Chair and State Rep. Paul Renner (R-FL-24). “Of the five meetings of the Children, Families & Seniors Subcommittee, you have only attended one meeting.”
Altman told Florida Politics the importance of attending the committee meetings.
“All the committees are important,” Altman said. “There’s real significant issues that are facing our committees.”
Sabatini has been referred to as “the staunchest and most vocal conservative in Florida Legislature” and is running for Congress to unseat Congresswoman Stephanie Murphy (D-FL-7).
Sabatini has often locked horns with Florida Republican leadership, particularly House Speaker Chris Sprowls (R-FL-65) and referred to him as a “RINO.” The term is an acronym used primarily by staunch conservatives to refer to those in their own party as a “Republican In Name Only.”
Going into committee weeks leading up to the legislative session in 2021, Sabatini claimed Sprowls intentionally left him off committees.
“I was assigned LESS committees than any Republican in my class,” Sabatini said.
Sabatini continued by speculating that his conservatism was the reason for his limited assigned role despite no official reasoning ever being provided for him.
“Targeting conservatives and stripping them of committees is not the way to unite the Republican Party,” Sabatini stated.
During Florida’s special session over vaccine mandates, Sabatini did not participate and was in Washington D.C. for a fundraiser. Sabatini was blasted by critics who said he was one of the legislators who wanted a special session over vaccine mandates before Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) made the official call.
As a result of his absence from the special session, the American Heartland PAC launched an ad targeting Sabatini saying he does not show up for Floridians.
“Keyboard warrior Anthony Sabatini just doesn’t show up for Floridians. Sabatini won’t show up for debates, won’t show up to the Special Session to fight COVID tyranny and won’t show up for conservatives,” according to the ad. “But he will show up for a fancy fundraiser in Washington, D.C. Florida needs doers, not talkers.”
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Grant Holcomb is a reporter at The Florida Capital Star and The Star News Network. Follow Grant on Twitter and direct message tips.
Photo “Anthony Sabatini” by Anthony Sabatini. Background Photo “Florida State Capitol” by Michael Rivera. CC BY-SA 3.0.
