Tallahassee was not always Florida’s capital. Two centuries ago lawmakers from Pensacola on the territory’s western coast and St Augustine on the eastern one grew tired of traversing the 400 miles separating them to meet. In 1824 Tallahassee was named the capital as a compromise, because it was in the middle. Today middle ground and compromise have vanished in Tallahassee, where the governor’s office and both chambers of the legislature are controlled by Republicans. On May 5th Florida’s lawmakers will conclude their annual session, which will be remembered as a red tide washing over the state.

       “Four sessions’ worth of legislation" was “done in one session", boasts Paul Renner, the Republican speaker of the House: “In scope, it is unlike any other." Ideas that for decades were politically unfeasible have been signed into law. These include a six-week abortion ban, the permitless carry of guns (requiring no training or background check) and a “universal" school-voucher scheme (parents can use public-school funds to send their children to private or home schooling, regardless of their income).

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