Integrity Florida | Florida #1 In Public Corruption

Florida faces a corruption crisis that threatens the state’s reputation, its economy and its ability to attract new jobs and capital.  (read more)

Will legislature repeal Florida’s Corruption Tax as called for by the 19th Statewide Grand Jury? (read more)

Will Florida ethics laws get stronger or weaker?

Florida lawmakers are on pace to make history by passing comprehensive ethics reform.  While Integrity Florida applauds our state leaders for taking on this challenging issue, key questions remain:

1. Will the lasting legacy of these reforms strengthen or weaken Florida ethics laws?

2. Does the ethics reform proposal protect the public from corruption or protect politicians?

Former Florida Commission on Ethics Executive Director Phil Claypool identified areas of concern about Senate Bill 2, the ethics reform bill just passed 40-0 by the Florida Senate.  Phil shared his concerns in the following memo to Integrity Florida and granted us permission to circulate it to you:

Click here to read Phil Claypool Memo to Integrity Florida – Ethics Reform Bill Analysis

Senate President Don Gaetz, House Speaker Will Weatherford, Senate Ethics and Election Committee Chairman Jack Latvala and House Ethics and Elections Subcommittee Chairman Jim Boyd are all to be commended for their constructive, bipartisan pursuit of ethics reform. Floridians have not seen our state leaders prioritize and pass comprehensive ethics reform since the implementation of the 1976 Sunshine Amendment.

By addressing the issues outlined in the Claypool memo, these leaders will leave a lasting legacy of strengthening Florida ethics laws.

In Case You Missed It:

Center for Public Integrity: “Florida Senate passes sweeping ethics reform package” (Read more)

Tampa Bay Times/Miami Herald report notes watchdog concerns about Florida ethics reform bill weakening ethics laws (Read more)

“We’re #1 in Public Corruption” by Roger Williams, Florida Weekly (Read more)