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TALLAHASSEE (FBW)—With Florida's newly-elected Governor Charlie Crist on board, social conservatives will be eyeing the governor and Florida's lawmakers closely in the next two months—keeping watch especially on the Senate which has shifted to a more moderate stance after last year's election.

Bill Bunkley, Florida Baptist Convention's legislative consultant, told Florida Baptist Witness in the early days of the 2007 annual legislative session which began March 6, he and others are taking note of Crist's leadership on issues like stem cell research and any expansion of the homosexual agenda or gambling.

"Every day we are getting a bigger picture of how Gov. Crist will be governing from a centrist position with a heavy dose of his populist themes," Bunkley said. "We are going to be obviously watching what the governor does with executive orders."

Though Bunkley said scrutiny of Crist's leadership is not necessarily a function of monitoring the legislature, it is good to be aware of how various departments and agencies will interpret his direction.

"Jeb Bush was very pro-life and committed to not expanding pro-homosexual issues," Bunkley said.

Characterizing conservatives as being in a "defensive posture instead of an offensive posture," Bunkley said the last eight years of leadership on social and moral issues might have caused some to become "complacent instead of demanding more on family values."

"In all fairness, when Charlie Crist said while he was on the campaign trail, 'I am sort of a live and let live Republican conservative,' that should have signaled to many social conservatives that he would not be as focused on the social issues," Bunkley said. "When the governor said that he would support embryonic stem cell research during the campaign—that should have sent a signal to social conservatives; when the governor talked about homosexual adoptions to a Miami radio station and got wide press coverage—social conservatives should have gotten the message that he was in fact, more of a moderate."

Citing Crist's recent proposal of millions for research that does not include embryonic stem cells, Bunkley said he is "comfortable" with the presumption that the governor won't change his mind any time soon, but emphasized "there's absolutely no guarantees for future sessions."

Noting the make-up of the legislature since last year's elections, Bunkley said Rep. Dennis Baxley (R-Ocala), a member of First Baptist Church in Belleview, is one of the "inner circle" of a significant number of legislatures who have a socially conservative agenda.

In the Senate, by contrast, Bunkley said there are many more "moderate" or "left of center" lawmakers than previously—but also recognized three key Florida Baptists who are serving: Sen. Dan Webster (R-Winter Garden), a member of First Baptist Church of Central Florida; Sen. Stephen Wise (R-Jacksonville), a member of First Baptist Church in Jacksonville; and newly elected Sen. Ronda Storms (R-Brandon), a member of First Baptist Church in Brandon.

Storms, Bunkley said, will bring energy to the legislature and has already sponsored a bill related to parental notification of abortion.

"Ronda is a veteran social conservative having fought many battles during her term of service on the Hillsborough County Commission," Bunkley said. "She is more than determined to fight hard for the issues she believes in which are shared by many Florida Baptists."

Storms' Senate Bill 1602 would tighten loopholes in the current law and among other things will consider whether the minor's decision to terminate her pregnancy was due to intimidation or undue influence. A comparable House Bill 1497, sponsored by Rep. Anthony Trevesia (R-Tampa), also would require the appointment of a guardian ad litem for minors petitioning the court for waiver of notice requirements.

"We definitely are concerned with some of the bypassing the intent of the parental notification," Bunkley said.

Summarizing bills he is following on behalf of Florida Baptists, Bunkley urged Christians to closely monitor legislative developments and to make their concerns known to legislators.

•Stem Cell Research (HB 1065-Anitere Flores/R-Miami and identical SB 2496-Mike Haridopolos/R-Melbourne). The bill creates "Florida Hope Offered through Principled, Ethically Sound Stem Cell Research Act" which includes prohibitions and penalties for some research. Other stem cell bills (HB 0555-Franklin Sands/D-Broward, SB 0750-Steven Geller/D-Broward) provide grants for the purpose of conducting embryonic, amniotic, or human adult stem cell research.

• Cardrooms/Dominoes (SB 0134-Larcenia Bullard/D-Miami & similar HB 0223-Julio Robaina/R-Miami). Expands gambling by allowing cardrooms to conduct dominoes. Other gambling related bills are: SB 160 & identical HB 0209 which are related to tribal-state compacts and gaming; HB 0190 and similar SB 0500 which exempts instant bingo from specified prohibitions; and SB 1038 which proposes to revise laws on slot machine gaming.

• Schools/Abstinence-Only Instruction (SB 0162-Steven Geller/D-Broward & similar HB 0663-Keith Fitzgerald/D-Sarasota). Provides parental rights related to abstinence-only instruction and among other conditions authorizes dismissal from such instruction under certain conditions.

• Homosexual adoption (SB 0206-Mandy Dawson/D-Broward). Eliminates ban on adoption by homosexual persons (SB 1012-Nan Rich/D-Sunrise & identical HB 0789-Faye B. Culp/R-Tampa). Provides that person who is homosexual is eligible to adopt child if child's parents are deceased, person proposing to adopt child is guardian of child, and certain additional specified conditions have been met.

• Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Vaccine (HB 0561-Ed Homan/R-Temple Terrace & identical SB-066-/Mike Fasano/R-New Port Richey). Requires public and private middle schools to provide students and parents information on HPV and relationship to cervical cancer; prohibits some students with admission without evidence of vaccination.