Senate's general counsel stepping down

Florida Senate's general counsel Steve Kahn sent an email out this afternoon announcing his plans to "step aside" at the end of this month. He advised staffers to direct legal questions to Jason Vail who was hired on to the Senate's legal team last year.

The Senate President's office spokeswoman Kathy Mears declined to comment on personnel issues and would not say what prompted the change. She said that Kahn has been on contract for many years and is not considered a state employee. Vail is state employee.

Comments

Goodbye Jerk!!

[Blackstone]

5:02, you're an idiot. Kahn may have been hardnosed but he's always had the best interest of the Senate, its members and employees at heart. Some people just don't like to be told no and that's what did Kahn in - not being intimidated into telling members what they want to hear. Vail's a good man too. He'll serve the Senate well but the loss of Kahn's institutional knowledge will be keenly felt.

This is a darn shame. This is what happens when term limits result in "members" who are more concerned about soundbites, shadows, and shams than being the more "deliberative" chamber.

An institution is thus stepping down.

When did he first start with the Florida Senate?

At least three decades ago.

Kahn has always been fair, honest and respected. He's a good man who deserves a thank you for his excellent service to the state.

Maybe they will now repeal the ridiculous lobbyist compensation reports and audits.

One less person to tell uninformed senators that they don't have a bloody clue.

Steve Kahn has provided the Florida Senate many, many years of better service than it deserved. He will be sorely missed by legislative staff. People outside the Legislature cannot know how often he has done what any good attorney must do, put the best face on something stupid done by his client.

Kahn may have served well for years, but he let his disdain for lobbyists (envy?) take over in his later years and served the master of jealousy more than his client.

8:54: You obviously are not familiar with what Senate staff really think of Steve Kahn.

Kahn was good at representing a uniquely difficult client. It would be hard to imagine that he was jealous or envious of lobbyists. Certainly their prestige is not overwhelming and Kahn is not driven by the dollar. It is possible that he had a healthy disdain for lobbyists who would take liberties with the truth before Senate committees.

It is unfortunate, although it's been foreshadowed for some time. First, Tom Tedcastle had to go and get a brain tumor on the House side--now Steve is forced out on the Senate side. No one values 'institutional knowledge' anymore.

10:25 - So very true - the lobbyists are truly in charge now - and the members, like little drones, will vote as the Party directs.

[Rocky]

I always enjoyed working with Steve. He has encyclopedic knowledge of all this state and Senate and always is a gentleman. The Senate and the state are losing a good man. I hope he gets to stop and smell the roses. Good luck, Steve!

9:17

member staff or professional staff?

[cynical idealist]

Adios, Steve....You may have been in "institution" in the Senate, but many of us thought you ought to be in another kind of institution for kowtowing to Tom Lee's overarching desire to screw lobbyists. This because many of us didn't support him during his first race, despite the fact he had the support of a well-respected incumbent, Malcolm Beard's. The take home lesson here is "bureaucrats" like Kahn come and go, the members are termed-limited, and we lobbyists will continue to represent the interests of our clients: Florida's citizens and businesses....

4:00 AM: Which lobbyists are in charge? Every idea that comes up has lobbyists for and against, representing their segment of "the people." Since all sides of the issues are represented (a shocking thing in a republic), which lobbyists are "truly in charge?"

The ones with the largest stable of clients and the most money to give to political campaigns are the ones in charge.

Lobbyist... let break it down, shall we!

Lob = to throw money

By = the criminals that throw the money

Ist = the sound made by the politicians pen as he/she signs the payback check, from the taxpayer’s bank account.

What a darn shame. You idiots will get yourselves in so much trouble without him. What will DLP ever do now? The crooks will run free.