Florida senators unanimously approved a bill Wednesday that would add ethics requirements at government agencies throughout the state—and take aim at local officials who do lobbying work in Tallahassee.
The bill (SB 846) would bar local elected officials from working as legislative lobbyists in the future, though they would be able to represent their agencies at the Capitol. The proposed restriction comes after newspaper reports about former Senate President Ken Pruitt, who is the St. Lucie County property appraiser but also is registered to lobby the Legislature for 16 clients, ranging from the sugar company Florida Crystals Corp. to the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office.
