Investigation finds “loss of faith” probable in Florida House
by Michael C. Bender | June 26th, 2009Special investigator D. Stephen Kahn released his investigation of former House Speaker Ray Sansom today, deciding that the Destin Republican’s budget dealings and his relationship with Northwest Florida State College left probable cause for the public to “lose faith” in the integrity of the Florida House.
Sansom
House Speaker Larry Cretul, R-Ocala, announced that panel will include Rules Chairman Bill Galvano, R-Bradenton; Faye Culp, R-Tampa; Rich Glorioso, R-Plant City; Joe Gibbons, D-Hallandale Beach, and Ari Porth, D-Coral Springs.
The scandal over whether Sansom used $6 million to build an airport hanger for GOP fundraiser Jay Odom has resulted in indictments for both men as well as James “Bob” Richburg, who was president of Northwest Florida State College. The money was earmarked in the budget as an emergency training center for the college.
Kahn’s investigation was sparked by an ethics complaint from Susan Smith of Hillsborough County. Smith’s complaint included four reasons she lost faith in the House. All but one were found to have probable cause. The fourth – that Sansom used the fax machine in the House speaker’s office to send the college a job application – was dismissed.
Read Kahn’s report here.
Tags: ethics, indictments, Northwest Florida State College, Ray Sansom, State House
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June 26th, 2009 at 3:44 pm
Are you kidding? I “lost faith” in the Florida legislature a long time ago. I’ve lost faith in their willingness to address real problems and do something significant about them rather than taking a course of action that will benefit them or their political party. I’ve lost faith that they are willing not to take special interests over the interests of the general population. I’ve lost faith in their supposed “dedication” to education and environmental protection. I’ve lost faith in their willingness to stand up against the insurance companies. I’ve lost faith in their finding other methods to fund the state expenses in ways that are not regressive taxes on the poor and middle class to the benefit of the wealthy (e.g., the intangibles tax). My comments are mainly pointed at Republicans, but many Democrats are not a whole lot better. I wasn’t even surprised at the Sansom situation – it’s simply more of the same. Folks in Tallahassee – remember you are supposed to be the PEOPLE’s representatives, not the representatives of special interests or your own political party!
Bah!! Lost faith? Absolutely!