Our Jennifer Sorentrue reports that Palm Beach County commissioners this morning approved a one-year moratorium on approving new pain-management clinics amid concerns that drugs are being dispensed with insufficient controls.

A recent Palm Beach Post investigation found that more than 30 such clinics have opened in the county since 2007. Among the people running pain businesses are convicted drug dealers, serial criminals and former addicts, according to a review of county, state and federal records.

Libertarian commission candidate Karl Dickey blasted this morning’s 6-0 vote, saying commissioners are “punishing the many for the actions of a few. Whereas we understand some pain-management clinics have abused the system, it is outrageous for the county government to ban the ability of legitimate clinics from opening.”

Dickey is the only announced challenger to Republican Commissioner Steven Abrams.

Read Dickey’s entire statement after the jump…..

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Four Palm Beach County commissioners are taking some flak for attending a Florida Association of Counties conference at the Marco Island Marriott Resort and Spa this week, our Kathleen Chapman notes.

Libertarian commission candidate Karl Dickey, who’s challenging incumbent Steven Abrams, suggests the event might not be all business.

Says Dickey: “It may be good for our media to follow this story to discover which seminars were attended by which commissioners, which commissioners were out playing golf, and which commissioners come back pale or with a tan. Wouldn’t Palm Beach County be better off if those dollars were being spent within the county rather than into the coffers of another county?”