This is as outrageous as it gets. Beth Reinhard in the Herald today said:The Florida Legislature, reeling from two separate influence-peddling scandals, has an opening on an ethics and elections committee. That's the panel that's supposed to help keep elected officials and candidates in line. And the guy picked to be the chairman is a lobbyist-turned-legislator-turned- lobbyist-turned-legislator who has gotten in trouble twice for violating -- wait for it -- Florida's ethics and elections laws? Welcome to Tallahassee, where term limits amount to a quick spin through the revolving door between public office and special interests.
John Thrasher is not new to Eye on Miami, see John Thrasher for Shame. Reinhard also said:
It could be worse. Thrasher could have been chosen to head the energy committee at the same time his wife is lobbying for offshore oil drilling. Except that honor went to Republican state Sen. Alex Diaz de la Portilla of Miami, who insists his spouse's position in the high-stakes debate over oil and gas exploration off Florida's coastline won't affect his position. Me: Ick. Claudia Diaz de la Portilla also lobbies the County for Bearing Point and Accenture, LLP.
3 comments:
I never thought much of either of these men.
I am so tired of these bad politicians and their relatives that go on and on, re-inventing themselves every few years. Are we nuts?
Diaz De La Portilla's wife is a lobbyist who gets paid to influence his actions? Diaz De La Portilla accepted a Committee assignment that gives him the ability to allow oil drilling off the tourist laden beaches of Florida's west coast? His wife is paid to get oil drilling approved?
Isn't this the definition of a "conflict of interest"?
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