A special legislative session on commuter rail is scheduled to begin tomorrow morning despite objections from black state lawmakers. Republican legislative leaders scheduled the session to begin on the same day the National Black Caucus of State Legislators comes to Fort Lauderdale.

Only one of the black state legislators is a Republican, leaving the possibility of 24 empty Democratic seats the first half of the eight day session. The state Democratic Party says the GOP leadership is being insensitive.

This is making Florida Democrats like Eric Jotkoff upset. “We have a republican leadership in a republican legislature that just wants to play political games, play partisan politics and it’s disappointing” said Jotkoff.

In a bit of a concession, legislative leaders excused black lawmakers from the first few days of the special session, but that means those members will have less time to make decisions on some complex issues.

While black members struggle with the schedule, Jewish members are being given assurances the special session will end before next Friday the beginning of Hanukkah festivities.