Sen. Paula Dockery has again filed legislation that would bar lawmakers from voting on legislation that could benefit themselves or a relative. The Lakeland Republican has filed the bill for five years to no avail.
State legislators currently have to disclose any potential conflict within 15 days of voting on a bill, but there’s no law against them taking the vote.
And the House has a rule preventing such votes – but the House could change that rule at anytime with a vote. The Senate has no such rule.
“Given the public’s justifiable lack of trust and confidence in elected officials throughout the country, it is imperative that reforms of this nature be enacted,” said Dockery, who will leave the Senate next year because of term limits.
The measure (SB 552) is filed in the House as HB 359, where it will be sponsored by Rep. Fred Costello, R-Ormond Beach.
“I am pleased to be able to emphatically state that the men and women of the Florida Legislature are of the highest integrity. However, the current state of the law that permits legislators to vote upon and lobby for matters from which they and their family members will make money is inappropriate,” said Costello.
