Department of Temptation (Florida)

[r_u_stuck2]

Cozy relationships have been uncovered involving Department of Children & Families Secretary Jerry Regier and two of his top lieutenants with lobbyists and contractors with whom they do business.

A signal that high standards apparently do not emanate from the top down was sent by Mr. Regier in his first response to the report. While he apologized for his own willingness to accept favors from potential vendors, he asked for and accepted the immediate resignations of Deputy Secretary for Operations Ben Harris and Information Technology Director Glenn Palmiere.

The wonder is that it has taken the governor six years in office to catch on that such temptations as his inspector general identified are part and parcel of attaching a huge profit motive to providing state services.

http://www.tallahassee.com/mld/democrat/news/opinion/9192296.htm

[The Backlash Cometh]

1. Notice how this doesn't even address the problems in the

department. This overlooks the fact that the department's dysfuction was part of Jeb Bush's winning campaign platforms. One of the first things he did was appoint Regier to that department and now it looks like Jeb made a bad thing worse by infecting the department with a Republican who once again abuses the position for personal gain.