After a rash of corruption charges against state and local officials and other political figures, a handful of lawmakers have filed a slate of bills aimed at cracking down on official misconduct.
Senate Ethics and Elections Committee Chairman John Thrasher, R-St. Augustine, is arguing for a move-carefully approach and not to overreact to sensational headlines.
In announcing the second of three petitions he filed with the court - the final one successful - Governor Crist has suspended 33 officials in the past three years because of corruption charges.
Sen. Dan Gelber, D-Miami Beach has filed a handful of measures he said will help crack down on corruption, including a law adding penalties for officials who commit crimes in their official capacity and a constitutional amendment that would increase transparency in the budget process, including requiring public notice when two or more lawmakers get together to discuss the budget.
Rep. Keith Fitzgerald, D-Sarasota, believes that flaws in the process not only allow lawmakers to do favors for special interests, but they encourage it. Fitzgerald has filed the House version of the budget transparency proposal.
The push for toughening ethics laws isn't confined to Democrats. Drawing from grand jury recommendations after a corruption probe in Palm Beach County, Rep. Carl Domino, R-Jupiter, has filed a measure including Gelber's "color of law" penalties for public officials and other proposals meant to strengthen standards for elected officials.
http://jacksonville.com/news/metro/2009-12-21/story/legislature_set_to_hit_the_session_running_on_corruption_reform
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