Integrity Florida Research Is Getting Results
Posted June 20, 2012 11:35 am
Integrity Florida research is getting results. On June 15, the Florida Commission on Ethics set its 2013 legislative priorities and cited Integrity Florida research during the discussion. The Ethics Commission's top two priorities were both included as recommendations in the Integrity Florida research report Corruption Risk Report: Florida Ethics Laws: 1) improving fine enforcement for ethics law violations and 2) increasing maximum penalties for ethics law violations from $10,000 to $25,000.
The Ethics Commission adopted several other Integrity
Florida recommendations for its 2013 legislative agenda,
including the critically important ethics reform measure
of giving the Ethics Commission the authority to self
initiate investigations.
The 2013 legislative session is shaping up to be one
where Florida has the potential to go from an 'F' grade
to an 'A' on the State
Integrity Investigation Florida Corruption Risk Report
Card for Ethics Enforcement. Florida will be
on track for an 'A' grade if our state legislators give
state ethics law enforcement officers the authority to
initiate investigations, incorporate a report corruption
hotline, increase penalties and give the Ethics
Commission more tools for enforcement of fines.
Ethics Commissioner Matthew Carlucci, recently appointed to the Ethics Commission by Gov. Rick Scott, has already found a sponsor for the ethics fine enforcement bill, state Rep. Charles McBurney of Jacksonville.
Integrity Florida has been contacted by others in the legislative process who are working on additional ethics reform legislation. We have also had several senior level meetings with the Scott Administration and we are hopeful that the Governor will prioritize ethics reform measures for the 2013 legislative session.
What others are saying:
"My staff has met with members of Integrity Florida.
We appreciate that they shared advanced summaries of
their upcoming reports and look forward to seeing the
completed product. I believe the integrity of the
state is important and that strong ethics laws are
critical and will consider pursuing changes I believe
will improve the state." - Florida Governor Rick
Scott
Gov. Rick Scott "...should come out in support of
Integrity Florida's initiatives" - Bradenton
Herald Editorial (Read
More)
"The Corruption State" - Gainesville Sun Editorial (Read
More)
"Florida needs an ethics law overhaul" - Ocala
Star-Banner Editorial (Read
More)
"Now there appears to be at least a flicker of hope for
the 2013 session." - Lakeland LedgerEditorial (Read
More)
"Time for ethics reforms" - South Florida Sun
Sentinel Editorial (Read
More)
Florida Ethics Commission needs strong anti-corruption
agenda - Orlando Sentinel Editorial (Read
More)
In Case You Missed It: Florida Alliance for Retired
Americans adopts resolution on ethics in Florida
government (Read
More).
In Case You Missed It: "...Integrity Florida is on the
side of angels, doing work on the anti-corruption stage
and urging Florida lawmakers to do something about our
top-ranked status." -Pensacola News Journal Editorial (Read
more )
