© 2024 WFSU Public Media
WFSU News · Tallahassee · Panama City · Thomasville
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

FL Lawmaker Wants To Block Cabinet From Raising Money During Session

Rep. Evan Jenne (D-Dania Beach)
Mark Foley via FL House website

A Florida Democrat wants to impose the same fundraising restrictions legislators face each session on the state’s cabinet officials.

Rep. Evan Jenne (D-Dania Beach) believes if he and his colleagues can’t raise money, the governor, attorney general, CFO and agriculture commissioner should be cut off as well.  Jenne argues cabinet officials have legislative agendas just like lawmakers, and accepting donations while bills are being crafted presents a conflict of interest.  

During the 2017 session, Florida Governor Rick Scott raised about $1 million.  Ag Commissioner and gubernatorial hopeful Adam Putnam more than doubled that. 

And Jenne’s measure may be coming at an opportune moment.  Republican House Speaker Richard Corcoran seems to be positioning himself for a gubernatorial bid of his own—approving Jenne’s bill could hamstring Putnam who already holds a big lead in fundraising.

Nick Evans came to Tallahassee to pursue a masters in communications at Florida State University. He graduated in 2014, but not before picking up an internship at WFSU. While he worked on his degree Nick moved from intern, to part-timer, to full-time reporter. Before moving to Tallahassee, Nick lived in and around the San Francisco Bay Area for 15 years. He listens to far too many podcasts and is a die-hard 49ers football fan. When Nick’s not at work he likes to cook, play music and read.