NorthWest Florida Republican

Both parties in the Florida legislature seem to have some problems with the way they do business.

For the last week or so, House Speaker Ray Sansom(R) has been taking some heavy criticism for his decision to accept a job at Northwest Florida State College the same day he accepted the role as Speaker.

While it may not have been an illegal thing to do it certainly brings into question his ethics.

It appears that by accepting the position at Northwest Florida State College he has a conflict of interest. Even if he had waited until he was no longer a Florida State Representative, there might be some questions of ethics on the part he has played in gaining funds for the College.

But Ray Sansom isn’t the only leader under the spot light lately.

Minority Leader Franklin Sands(D) is bringing in some unwanted attention to his party with a move similar to that of Governor Blagovich(D) of Illinois.

The Democratic leader and aides have responded during the week that Sands based leadership positions on his colleagues’ abilities to raise money.

Some House Democrats believed that the amount of money they gave to the state party and their willingness to contribute in the future was a consideration on who received coveted committee assignments.

Rep. Yolly Roberson, D-Miami, told the Palm Beach Post that Sands put the price for his recommendation to the House’s top health care committee at $50,000.- NWF Daily News

This just smacks of “Quid Pro Quo”. And it probably isn’t all that unusual in politics. Yet it does bring into question the ethics of current members of, not only Congress, but, our elected members of the Florida State Legislature.