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A culture of corruption.
That's what the chairwoman of the Florida Democratic Party calls it.
When there were alleged ethics violations concerning Pinellas County probate judge George W. Greer of the Sixth Judicial Circuit Court, attorney general Charlie Crist didn't seem concerned.
And Crist didn't seem concerned when there were alleged campaign finance and elections law violations in Greer's reelection campaign.
In 1999, after Michael Schiavo had petitioned the Pinellas County Probate Court of Greer to remove the feeding tube of his incapacitated wife Terri Schiavo and while he was living with his fiancé Jodi Centonze in an adulterous affair, criminal by Florida statutes, the Florida Legislature----including Jacksonville Sen. Jim King---changed the law. Prior to that time a feeding tube providing nutrition and hydration was not considered medical treatment.
Insurance companies associated with the firm of Jerger and Centonze contributed to King's Senate campaign in 1999, each corporation writing King's campaign a check for $500 for a total of $3,000, all on Jan. 20, 1999, shortly before the bill was introduced in the House to make nutrition and hydration medical treatment. However, King does not represent the district in which Jerger resides and does business.
Charlie Crist wasn't concerned enough about that to ensure that there was any investigation, especially considering that Michael Schiavo was a director of the Jerger and Centonze Insurance Company.
This spring, King, former Senate president, blocked legislation from proceeding in the Senate that would have saved the life of Terri Schiavo after the House had passed a bill which would have reinserted the feeding tube withdrawn from her on March 18 which caused her death.
"I believe that there is a heaven and that's where Terri Schiavo is going to go and that's a trip that's long overdue", King said.
Well, now one of King's trips has got him in hot water and he faces a lengthy Senate investigation and possible fines for campaign violations. And that's long overdue.
Now Charlie Crist says he wants to tighten ethics laws.
Considering the statute of limitations is still open on the alleged violations in George Greer's campaign and alleged violations of judicial ethics----and even in Crist's own campaign for Governor, maybe Crist should start enforcing the ethics laws that are already on the books.
King was one of four Republican legislators who spent two days in Toronto with a gambling conglomerate which is hoping to expand its operations in Florida picking up the tab. The Toronto trip involving King appeared on the books of the Republican Party as a $48,000 in-kind contribution from Magna Entertainment Corp.
There was supposedly no formal fundraising involved in the Toronto trip but King says he returned from the trip with a $10,000 for the Republican party and a promise of $50,000 more.
Senate President Tom Lee (R-Brandon) has filed a complaint and asked for an investigation.
Now all of a sudden, Crist says he wants to strengthen ethics laws dealing with private-public entities. He should ensure that the ones already on the books for public entities and public officers, like himself, are uniformly enforced. He could start with George W. Greer.
Crist is a fine one to be touting ethics laws. Wasn't he under investigation himself during his last campaign?
In 2001, when campaigning for the office of attorney general when he was then serving as education commissioner, Crist was under investigation for allegedly spending campaign money before he had any and failing to print a legally required disclaimer on a fundraising invitation. He was cleared of both charges by the Florida Elections Commission behind closed doors. He said he saw no ethical problem with accepting $500 from three lobbyists who were also commission members. The commission later cleared Crist of the two complaints.
Does Charlie Crist know what ethics are?
Crist has announced a proposal to tighten ethics laws for public-private entities, saying the legislation would bolster public confidence in institutions that establish and carry out public policy. Crist said the legislation would be sponsored by state Senator Mike Fasano and Rep. Dennis Ross.
Under current Florida law, Crist said, public officers and employees are governed by an extensive set of restrictions designed to prevent conflicts of interest from developing. However, those limitations do not always apply to individuals associated with "quasi-public" entities, and recent disclosures at several of these public-private entities have shed light on the need for additional oversight.
Conflicts of interest? Conflicts abounded in the Schiavo case, especially concerning Greer, but Crist turned a blind eye to those.
"The time has come to make sure individuals at these entities are governed by the same ethical rules as everyone else," said Crist. "Public service should focus on benefitting the public as a whole, and this legislation will help keep all focused on their duties for the public."
Practice what you preach, Charlie Crist.
The Attorney General said the need for the ethics reform legislation was highlighted by such recent examples as:
Citizens Property Insurance, where allegations emerged that a former Chief Operating Officer solicited bribes and two other executives were forced to resign over allegations that they may have violated conflict of interest rules by devising a plan to create a company to do business with Citizens; and
PRIDE, the prison industries operation, where two executives were asked to resign over questions involving their roles in PRIDE spin-off companies.
"The people of Florida expect accountability from those who work on their behalf," said Sen. Fasano, a member of the Senate Banking and Insurance Committee. "The focus must be on the mission of each agency, not individuals seeking ways to gain financial benefit."
The people of Florida have a right to expect judicial accountability too as well as accountability in the attorney general's office and that of state attorney Bernie McCabe.
Crist said the proposed legislation is not directed specifically at either of the two organizations, noting that numerous public-private entities appear to fall under the legal definition of "quasi-public."
The ethics legislation would prohibit employees, consultants and board members at quasi-public entities from contracting with those entities for additional compensation. It would eliminate "revolving door" employment practices by establishing a mandatory two-year break before an affected individual may engage in business activity with the quasi-public entity. The proposal would authorize the Florida Commission on Ethics to review and investigate alleged violations.
"Those serving in positions of public trust are held to a high standard and should avoid even the appearance of impropriety," said Rep. Ross, chairman of the House Insurance Committee. "This legislation will be an important step forward in making that clear."
George Greer, Bernie McCabe, Everett Rice, Charlie Crist---those public officers were all involved in the Schiavo case, all serving in positions of public trust. The public has a right to have them held to the highest standard possible.
Appearance of impropriety?
There was absolutely no semblance of propriety in the Schiavo case. Charlie Crist should start with his own office in regard to ethics before he points the finger at anyone else.
A copy of the proposed legislation is available at:
http://myfloridalegal.com/webfiles.nsf/WF/KGRG-6H9JFQ/$file/Ethics_Legislation.pdf
Florida Democrats say that Republicans are "skirting around the rules for their own benefit and that "it appears that Washington's culture of corruption has become the way of doing business for Republicans in Tallahassee".
They do business that way in Jacksonville and Pinellas County too. 10-17-05
© 2005 North
Country Gazette
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