An
Opinion By Jan Bergemann Published April 23, 2009
Some people have no shame -- and only
barely border-line ethics!
It's bad enough that the law firm of
Becker & Poliakoff fights owner-friendly community association laws
under the pretense of representing associations. It's even worse that
they are using association funds to pay for it, given to CALL (Community
Association Leadership Lobby) by overeager board members, often
accounted for as office supplies etc.
But that's not enough: Now they want to
"buy" a State Senate seat for their lobbyist Miguel A. Diaz de
la Portilla. While he is still a registered lobbyist for the law firm of
Becker&Poliakoff he filed his election papers for Senate District 36
on April 17, 2009.
His brother, Senator Alex Diaz de la
Portilla is not only using his position as Senate Majority (Republican)
Leader to kill owner-friendly community association bills, he strongly
supports as well the infamous "VOTER'S BILL" (S956) --
opposed by nearly every grassroots group in Florida, including the League
of Women Voters and AARP. One of the main issues of the bill: It
makes it easier for special interest to "buy" elected office
for a candidate of their choice by funneling uncontrolled money into
the candidate's hands.
And
it sure isn't a coincidence that Miguel A. Diaz de la Portilla
filed for the same seat as State Representative Julio Robaina, the
champion of Florida's homeowners and condo owners, who is since years
trying to enact bills that would bring common sense and accountability
and enforcement back to our communities.
Talking
disallowing lobbying and campaign funding with association fees? Easy
to understand why opposed by Becker&Poliakoff. Is it a
coincidence that Senator Alex Diaz de la Portilla used his position
in the Senate to kill the bill that contained this provision before
it even got to the first committee hearing?
But Miguel
A. Diaz de la Portilla is as well the registered lobbyist for American
Traffic Solutions. Is it a coincidence that Senator Alex Diaz de la
Portilla cast the decisive vote in committee that allowed the "SUNRAIL"
bill to survive?
In
SALES you cut out the middleman to improve profit. It seems SPECIAL
INTEREST has decided to cut out legislators and replace them directly
with their lobbyists In Jacksonville notorious lobbyist John
Thrasher announced his intention to run for the seat of term-limited
Senator Jim King.
Having
your lobbyist directly in the Senate seat sure avoids having to deal
with these "pesky" legislators, who are still under the
impression that they are supposed to represent the interest of their
constituents.
To
speak with the words of the grand jury that indicted former Speaker Ray
Sansom: "The
present system has the potential to breed corruption and create an
unfair advantage for those who have money to leverage influence on the
Legislature."
In
my opinion "buying a seat in the legislature" is taking this abuse
of power even a step further.
Hopefully
the voters will make it clear that they want to be represented by a
Senator fighting for their interest and not by an undercover
lobbyist posing as Senator?
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