To Tallahassee and Back: Ethics Reform? Absolutely! This is a Top Representative Mike Fasano Priority
Representative Mike Fasano’s decision to shut down his committee of continuous existence and distribute its funds to various charitable organizations is but the latest example of him, literally, “putting his money where his mouth is.” A long-time advocate for governmental ethics reform, Representative Fasano’s actions are the natural next step in his years’ long effort to change the culture of the Capitol. Earlier this year he once gain filed legislation that will make needed changes to what many see as a revolving door of public service and personal gain.
Shortly after his first election victory in 1994 we traveled to Tallahassee to prepare for what would be his first legislative session. I had been to the Capitol before as both a tourist and as an advocate for the social service agency at which I was employed at the time. However, I had never been to the seat of Florida government as a state employee. Being on the so-called “inside” gave me a new perspective as I began to experience the legislative process. It was a heady and idealistic time. Most of my colleagues were equally excited at the prospect of working “in the Sunshine” to do good things for the people of Florida. There were occasional times of disillusionment, however, when a few in the process were exposed as being in it for themselves and not the public good.
Much has been done over the intervening years to “clean-up” a system that many on the outside saw as less than above board. One-time Senate President Tom Lee’s so-called “lobbyist gift ban” gained great attention at the time of its passage. However, it was but one step down a long road of needed reform that continues to be championed by concerned members such as Representative Fasano.
Representative Fasano’s legislation will put into law not only his own proposals but also recommendations made by a Grand Jury that investigated various instances of corruption. The legislation will prevent the governor and members of the Florida Cabinet from benefiting from official actions by creating Qualified Blind Trusts. By placing their assets into a blind trust, these officials will not be able to knowingly benefit financially from any actions they take in their official capacity.
“Voting conflicts by public officials, whether elected or appointed, will be prevented under this bill,” Representative Fasano remarks. “The bill prohibits voting on any measure that has the potential to financially benefit either the official or the officials’ relatives and/ or business associates. Further, the official is required to file a statement indicating the potential benefit of such a vote.”
The bill adds additional public positions to the statues which require those officials to file an annual disclosure of financial interests. It also prohibits any public employee who procures goods and services from soliciting gifts from vendors who do business with that employee’s agency. Additionally, the legislation increases from $10,000 to $100,000 the potential civil penalties levied against those who fail to meet various financial disclosure and procurement requirements.
“It is imperative that public officials at all levels be held accountable for their actions,” Representative Fasano states. “The Grand Jury presented these recommendations to the Ethics Commission. In some cases I felt that even those recommendations could be stronger. This legislation will send a clear message that public service is just that; public service. People should not run for office, or seek appointment to any public position, with the intent to enrich themselves, their families or business partners.”
Leadership in Tallahassee has expressed a willingness to address many of the issue that Representative Fasano has long been working on. Just this past week proposed legislation was debated in The Capitol that will, hopefully, join Representative Fasano’s proposal as they wend their respective ways to the House and Senate floors. Hopefully the governor’s desk will be the ultimate destination for these bills.
If you have any questions about governmental ethics, or have any suggestions of your own, please do not hesitate to leave me a comment. I will gladly respond either in a reply or an upcoming blog post. As always, thank you for your loyal readership!
Marilynn deChant
10:29 am on Friday, February 15, 2013
Thanks for sharing another insightful blog about what it's like to personally experience Tallahassee ... the good, the bad and the ugly. Reading your blogs is an education.
Greg Giordano
11:18 am on Friday, February 15, 2013
Marilyn, I always appreciate your comments and insights. Thank you for your faithful readership and willingness to comment and share your opinions.
One of the first things I learned in this process is that every public servant, whether elected or appointed, stand alone when it comes to their ethics. Most are good, honorable people who want only what is best for all Floridians. Those who are in it for themselves (i.e. seeking personal gain of some sort) will eventually be exposed.
Representative Fasano's legislation, by changing the very culture of public service, will go a long way towards preventing those behaviors before they ever begin. Preventive medicine, perhaps?
Rob Marlowe
7:23 am on Saturday, February 16, 2013
Greg, Thanks for another great article. Please encourage Rep. Fasano to include some "safe harbor" definitions so that trivial potential business transactions will no longer be considered conflicts. (eg. If you buy a $2 mousepad at my store, you disqualify me from voting on anything you have before council.) On advise of the Florida Commission on Ethics, I've been recusing myself from voting on some issues even where any potential gain would be extremely tenuous and speculative at best and this has had an adverse on my ability to represent the best interests of the city's residents. This stupidity at the state level effectively makes it impossible for any merchant to serve as an elected official.
Greg Giordano
2:28 pm on Tuesday, February 19, 2013
Rob, thank you for keeping on top of this issue. I know how important it is to you as a city leader that this be addressed. I shall share your proposal with Rep Fasano once again. I also appreciate your continued loyal readership of the blog. Your own blog is excellent as well. I appreciate the time you take to share your expertise when it comes to electronic communications and computers. You definitly fill a great need in our community.
bernadettenata
12:46 pm on Tuesday, February 19, 2013
I agree with Mr. Senator Fasano 100% There is to many gifts, in any form including "favors" Special favors to do something or influence a group against private citizens. The Time has come to pass legislation and also I believe the stopping of forming PAC groups with "strings." The motives behind the formation of PAC's. There is just so many of them that have drown out the voices of private citizens. I feel the time has come, to investigate their funding, their influence on private citizens lives. There is too much corruption in State, Local and Federal government. I am against corporations having the same rights of a citizen or person. The government is looking more and more like a monopoly of 'good ole boys." All the way from the Federal government to local BNI's. The intent is to create a monopoly amongst themselves and drown out the competition if they dont join.
Greg Giordano
2:31 pm on Tuesday, February 19, 2013
Bernadettenata, thank you for taking the time to post your very thought out opinions. I know that Representative Fasano wants to shut the "revolving door" of public service being rewarded with private gain. Over the years he has championed efforts to do just that. This legislation will continue his years' long attempts and, with the hopeful support of leadership, may have a chance at moving through the process this session.
bernadettenata
1:21 pm on Tuesday, February 19, 2013
Ethics of politicians, lobbyists, corporations and any entity that is funding a PAC giving to a candidate, or contributing to any organization including the doing a "favor." should be investigated to its fullest. . I support a statute that i hoped to become a bill. However, there is a lack of interest on it. That any Union, political party, religious affiliation, corporations, lobbyist organization, individual or individuals (group) influencing blacklisting on a private citizen will be fined 40 million dollars of which 50% of it awarded to the citizen, plaintiff. The other 50% will be placed in an account for CONSTITUTIONAL DEPRIVATION CASES to provide the citizen with equal protection of law once they suspect blacklist for over a year if their race, religion, a private matter, group decided to get involved in to obstruct true justice) The money in the CDC account, will hire investigators and prosecute the group or individual. Realistically, the average citizen cannot defend themselves in the court of law against funding of this nature. Doing "favors" passing malicious legisllation with intent to hurt. The EOC only handles work related cases and only 2% of cases are won against corporate, unions, free masons etc etc Not only that, the defendant the victim, has to provide the burden of proof? Shunning and marking businesses that hire the individual some use more drastic criminal tactics, blackmail etc.Losing 40 mil will DETER them from removing our constitutional rights.
Greg Giordano
2:33 pm on Tuesday, February 19, 2013
Any information you have regarding the activities you mention should be shared with Florida's Commission on Ethics. If you are interested in following up with the commmission I will gladly help you secure the contact information you may need. Please advise.
bernadettenata
1:51 pm on Tuesday, February 19, 2013
The lobbying for Hispanics or Latinos on Job applications since when is a language "Spanish or Spanish culture" have to do with allocating funds to the part of their community that is greatly needed. Who lobbied for Language and culture to be placed on RACE applications. It is suppose to be about race not language and culture? Are they going to place the Polish language on race applications or culture? It is about race so money can be disbursed to,the needs of their community. Latinos Indian Black White Asian Black/white or Indian mixed descent. The question is for recent time. What race are you? Plain and simple. Now many choose, that is, if they have for example a white mother or black father to choose either black or white or other. Some are Indian mixed with many races. Recent. However many lobbyists have MARKED people for race, religion and have entered people's lives when a private issue occurred. They used race and religion, to obstruct justice and the only subject matter was race, religion. There was a motive to remove the Indian mixed people or Indian out of the Brazilian culture on race. It was done with malice. Again, the Question should be addressed as What race are YOU?. IN RECENT TIMES.The funding that went into this, where did it come from?.Brazil is independent & speaks Portuguese not Spanish or African. Its Diverse in color and ethnicity Its Demographics are not like Cape Verde's It is the largest county in South America. CIA fact? The influence & Funding.
bernadettenata
1:58 pm on Tuesday, February 19, 2013
Again favors, ethics, influencing, legislating. It can remove our Constitutional rights of liberty, education and to achieve our potential in a FREE AMERICAN society without silent blacklisting or oppressive methods. She or he does not see our view she or he cant run for office. Let's mark the business that hires he or she. If they hire resort to blackmail or more oppressive methods on the employer. This was a practice of corporations in the 1960's here in the South in the ole days. IF someone hired a black person they were marked. Is it right to oppress others today? Did everyone learn a lesson from the past from the Holocaust, the Indian massacres the killing or lynching of Black slaves. How quick they forget. No group should stand there and watch ANY person be treated with lack of dignity. All again, because of lobby, funding, influencing."Favors." it is illegal to lobby Brazil as non Indian or NON INDIAN MiXED today. Again the question on race applications should be WHAT is your RACE?