Issue link: https://newsleader.uberflip.com/i/329100
State Sen. Nancy Detert and State Reps. Darryl Rouson, Ray Pilon and Greg Steube shared a few laughs at the Sarasota Tiger Bay Club luncheon last Thursday, June 5. One of those lighter moments erupted w h e n D e t e r t , R - Ve n i c e , r e f e r r e d t o Rouson, Pilon and Steube as her backup band, "The House Boys." But there was plenty o f s e r i o u s d i s c u s - sion about a range of legislative priorities, accomplishments and issues, including Gov. Rick Scott's veto of funding for Sarasota's Circus Arts Conservatory and prospec- tive money for a new diverging diamond interchange at Interstate 75 and University Parkway. The legislators also discussed the increasingly controversial use of state and local funding for Benderson Park's rowing venue, with Detert saying the project was beginning to look like a matter of "corporate welfare." Pilon said he hopes that during the next legislative session, the (From left) Former state Sen. Mike Bennett introduces state Sen. Nancy Detert and state Reps. Darryl Rouson, Ray Pilon and Greg Steube. Photo by Roger Drouin ADDING UP LEGISLATORS UPDATE COMMUNITY LEADERS ON PROSPECTIVE FUNDING FOR AN INTERSTATE 75 DIVERGING DIAMOND INTERCHANGE AND FUNDING FOR BENDERSON PARK This is just starting to look like too much corporate welfare to me. State Sen. Nancy Detert Commenting On the Benderson Park rowing venue By Roger Drouin County Editor