Rick Scott: One Year Lobbying Ban for Members of Governor-elect's Transition Team

Governor-Elect Rick Scott of Florida publishing the Code of Ethical Conduct which will serve as a guideline for members of his transition team and staff is a great start for turning Florida Government around and make it responsive to the people instead of lobbyist.

This should be standard operating procedure for Governor and Presidential Transition Teams and employees in every state and at the Federal level. In fact we would extend it to the members of the House and Senate and their staffs. We have thought it ludicrous that someone could leave office and immediately become a lobbyist.

In the Congress and in some state legislatures, lobbyists help write or write the bills which is something else that should be forbidden. If an elected official needs help writing a bill, hire a consultant not a lobbyist who has a vested interest in the bill.

We think it is time to also bring back the regulation that high ranking members of the military cannot lobby for a defense contractor or go to work for the military when they retire. It worked well for years and then under Clinton the rules all changed.

We applaud Rick Scott for taking this iniative.

One Year Lobbying Ban for Members of Governor-elect's Transition Team

November 10, 2010

FORT LAUDERDALE, FL – Today, Governor-elect Rick Scott released a Code of Ethical Conduct for transition staff and volunteers. The Transition Code of Ethical Conduct lists specific ethical standards that each member of the team will be held to and requires that transition team members “will not lobby any state agency, on behalf of any other person or entity”.

Members must agree to abide by this condition during the transition period and for one year after they have left the transition team.

The code further states: “As a condition of my service as a member of the transition of Governor-elect Rick Scott, I pledge to act solely in the best interest of the people of the State of Florida, and to abide by all relevant laws. I further agree to perform only those activities that I have been directed to perform by an appropriate transition official and will use any information obtained in the course of those activities only for authorized purposes.”

Pat Gleason will serve as Open Government Coordinator to the Transition. Ms. Gleason, currently the Director of Cabinet Affairs and Special Counsel for Open Government in the Executive Office of the Governor, is recognized as the leading expert on Florida’s Sunshine and Public Record laws.

Christopher M. Kise will serve as Counselor to the Transition, providing legal and strategic advice. Mr. Kise, a partner in the Foley & Lardner law firm, served previously as Counselor to Governor Charlie Crist and as Solicitor General of the State of Florida.

For specific conditions and the full agreement, please visit the transition website at: Rick Scott Code of Ethics