When it doesn't pass the smell test

State Rep. Ron Reagan, a Bradenton Republican, was offered a part-time job as a community relations consultant with a garbage disposal company. Among his duties would be polishing the company's image "through creative uses of the news media."

Reagan, a 52-year-old insurance agent, wanted to be sure the job would not run afoul of Florida's conflict of interest laws, so he asked the Commission on Ethics for a legal opinion. No problem, the commission 's staff said in August, because the work would clearly be "separate and distinct" from Reagan's work as a legislator.

Well, the nine-member ethics commission didn't see it that way, and ordered its own staff to get tougher with Reagan and issue an opinion expressing the opposite view. The revised opinion, to be voted on at the panel's Oct. 20 meeting, says that it would be impossible to distinguish Reagan's dual roles as public official and paid consultant to a garbage company. In addition, the new draft opinion states, "the local governments you would interact with on behalf of the company could feel unduly pressured to yield to your influence."

Reagan was recently re-elected without opposition to a third term. He is chairman of the House Ethics and Elections Committee.   

Comments

Hyper-partisanship at its worst.

What about Ron Klien lobbying local governments for his clients?

Wouldn't the local governments feel undue pressure?

What about Carlos Lopez-Cantera lobbying local governments on behalf of his famiy's developement in Miami-Dade County? (Same thing?)

This opinion may cause a lot of heartburn among legislators who are attorneys and represent clients at the local level. This is pretty common. As citizen-legislators, they have to be able to make a living.

For the $29,900 a year the legislature gets paid, these stupid rules will make sure only the rich or those not bright enough to get a job will be allowed to serve!! The ethics commission is really going off the deep end. Huge egos that seem to think they have the corner on ethics. It is a legislature of the people folks!! Work with us not against us!!

But it is ok to have Legislators who have insurance companies sitting on or chairing committees that make the rules on homeowners insurance??? No conflict there just a pay raise every session.

This opinion could be very important in setting precedent for other legislators. It gets right at what the arrogant Senate President Tom Lee could not understand was the most crucial point to lobbyist reform, we want to know how much the legislators make and who pays them - this is by far more important than how much Sprint pays Joe Blow lobbyist. Lobbyists can influence public policy, but they do not vote, legislators do.

5:20 ... you are wack-o!

wow. who is the company?

[Chris Ziegler]

"Reagan,....... asked the Commission on Ethics for a legal opinion. No problem, the commission’s staff said in August, because the work would clearly be "separate and distinct" from Reagan's work as a legislator."

1) So Reagan 1st asked and was given approval? He was going through the correct process and not hiding anything right? Seems like this blog should focus on the committees problem of miscommunication.
2) I worked within Reagan's committee and you have to be crazy to think he would do ANYTHING to violate ANY ethics laws. He has always and encouraged all to follow the rules and will continue to do so. He is a great Leader, Republican, and most of all Honest.
3) I say either pay the Reps more or let them work everywhere and anywhere they desire. How do you get the voice of "the people" when the only people who end up being a legislator are either filthy rich or must depend on only $29,000 a year. Why should flipping burgers earn you more than someone who votes on the 70+ Billion Dollar Budget?…Trust me these "part time legislators" are working representatives 365 days 24/7 and at least 40hrs a week and are getting paid as if they only work 3 months and the occasional "committee week"... Pay system is crazy in FL Politics. There either needs to be pay increases and be a full-time legislative body OR meet 2 years and keep the same pay. Personally I think Full-Time because if they are working full-time you should get paid full-time…. Remember this is America.

Now that this blog has been properly answered (by me vouching for Rep. Reagan’s honesty) this blog topic has been shown to be ridiculous and the topic is over.

Please stop trying to relate every Republican (even as small and ridiculous as this issue) to some sort of dirty corrupt theme and lets talk about how the Republicans will complete a State-sweep and will end all this Media Blue-to-Red hype.

Chris,
Excellent points! Reagan is an example of a politician trying to do the right thing in the right way. He deserves an "at-a-boy" for that. And as for the salary thing, I would have a hard time getting by on $29k a year. Definitely need full-time pay for this full-time job!

[Jean Smith]

I think Reagan is ok. But hard to forget that he pushed bill to spend more of my tax dollars - $10million for each Charlie & Jim - on campaigns.

Does not sound like a "Ronald Reagan Republican" to me.

Reagan already has a full-time job--as an insurance agent. No one is saying he can't keep that job and be a legislator, just that he can't do all of that AND work 1/2 day a week as a shill for garbage co.

Reagan needs to make more money. The lobbying ban has made it that he must now pay for his own drinks in Tallahassee ... we all know that must be a very large expense. Sober up Ronnie boy!

does this sound anything like the nancy riley issue to anyone