Source
State Archives of Florida, Series S125
Description
A letter from W. J. Winter to Governor Askew expressing his support for repealing Daylight Saving Time and thanking Askew for his efforts, dated February 2, 1974.
General Note
In 1973, the United States was facing energy shortages and developed a variety of approaches to conserve energy as a result, including the Emergency Daylight Saving Time Energy Conservation Act of 1973. This legislation established a trial period of year-round Daylight Saving Time (DST) from January 6, 1974 to April 27, 1975. The hope was that an extra hour of daylight in the evening would reduce energy consumption, especially the use of electricity.
In Florida, the change to year-round DST came with serious consequences. In the first few weeks after the time change was enacted, several school-aged children were injured in traffic accidents in the dark mornings on their way to school.
In response to these accidents, there was an outpouring of citizen correspondence to Governor Askew expressing their opinions on year-round DST and whether or not Florida should move to counteract the Federal mandate within the state.
On January 29th, 1974, the Florida Legislature met for a special session to discuss DST. At the end of this session, no legislation was passed, and Florida continued to comply with the year-round Daylight Saving Time that President Nixon established.
In 2018, the Florida Legislature passed the “Sunshine Protection Act” (HB1013/SB858), stating that Florida will enact a year-round DST, provided that the federal Uniform Time Act of 1966 is amended to permit states to do so.
W. J. WINTER
SAINT AUGSTINE
FLORIDA 32084
P.O. Box 753
2 February 1974
Received Governor’s Office Feb 4 11 44 AM ’74 [stamped]
Governor Reuben Askew
Tallahassee, Florida
Dear Governor Askew:
This is to thank you for your effort to get us out from under Daylight Saving Time by calling a special session of the legislature for that purpose.
We watched with pained disbelief the incredibly asinine conduct of that session. The Legislature blew its chance to undo the stupidity of the U.S. Congress in putting us under winter daylight saving time. Florida does not need even summer daylight saving, much less winter. All the legislature had to do was to put Florida into the Central Time Zone, for which ample geographical justification exists. We are so much further west than many people realize--straight south of Ohio, in fact, which is indisputably a central state, not an eastern one.
The tripe about the old folks enjoying the extra hour of daylight may apply in the summer, but in the winter they are spending that hour in the house, and don't give a hoot whether it is daylight or dark outside.
We are bothered a bit by the question of whether the legislature's failure was due to stupidity or corruption. In the past the airlines were credited with exerting considerable influence in keeping Florida's time in line with that of the states to the north, so the suspicion exists that they are continuing to do so.
Anyhow, we appreciate your doing your part in calling the special session. Is there any other way in which we could get Florida put into the Central Time Zone?
Best regards,
W. J Winter [signed]
W. J. Winter
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