Good News from Florida Legislative Leaders
After ripping apart one Florida ethics "reform" bill, it's nice to
be able to say that Florida's legislative leaders are planning to
do some good things this year. According to <a href="http://myemail.constantcontact.com/Integrity-Florida-applauds-Gaetz--We…; target="”_blank”">an
Integrity Florida press release today</a>, the senate and house
leaders have committed themselves to do the following:<br>
<br>
<ul>
<li><span>Strengthen
the garnishment provisions for public officials who don't pay
their fines.</span></li><br>
<li><span>Require
that local officials undergo ethics training just like the
legislature has to, annually, and apply many of the same
ethics requirements presently in place for state lawmakers to local
officials.</span></li><br>
<li><span>Hold
statutorily created corporations, like Citizens Property
Insurance Corporation and Enterprise Florida, and direct
support organizations, like Visit Florida, to state ethical
standards.</span></li><br>
<li><span>Remove
officials from office for failing to file financial disclosure
reports.</span></li><br>
<li><span>Increase
lobbying disclosure and registration throughout Florida's
special districts.</span></li><br>
<li><span>Strengthen
open records and open government laws.</span></li><br>
<li><span>Define
clear and enforceable rules for residency requirements of
public officials.</span></li>
</ul>
Robert Wechsler<br>
Director of Research-Retired, City Ethics<br>
<br>
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