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Syndicated from The Ledger

Once viewed as an "inescapable" conflict of interest, some state lawmakers are on the payroll of firms that actively lobby the Legislature.

The law firm of Becker & Poliakoff has an extensive legislative lobbying practice that netted $1 million to $2 million in 2015.

The firm employs 10 registered lobbyists who represent dozens of clients, from hospitals to electric utilities, liquor stores and city governments.

The firm also employs state Sen. Greg Steube, R-Sarasota.

As an attorney, Steube is supposed to look out for the best interests of his firm's clients. As a lawmaker, Steube is supposed to do what's in the best interest of his constituents and the people of Florida.

The Florida Bar once viewed this dual role as an "inescapable" conflict of interest, an ethical conflict so "clear" that the Bar issued a formal ethics opinion effectively prohibiting lawmakers from working at firms that lobby the Legislature.

That ethics opinion was rescinded in 1999 and now at least six Florida lawmakers — including the speaker of the House — work for law firms that lobby the Legislature, according to a Herald-Tribune analysis.

But there is renewed scrutiny of such employment.

"I think it corrupts the Legislature and it corrupts the lawyers," said Thomas Gallen, a Bradenton judge and former state lawmaker who quietly has been urging the Bar to reinstate the ethics rule.

Gallen's efforts have been rejected so far, but he gained a high-profile ally recently when Gov. Rick Scott raised the issue and recommended that lawmakers incorporate it into ethics reforms initiated by the House.

Hot topic

Ethics issues have been a hot topic in the run-up to the two month legislative session that begins March 7.

House Speaker Richard Corcoran has made ethics reform his top priority, implementing several rule changes for the chamber aimed at reining in lobbyists. He wants to go further and change the Florida Constitution to ban lawmakers and other state officials from becoming lobbyists for six years, which would be the toughest law in the nation to curb the revolving door of lawmakers becoming lobbyists.

But some have called Corcoran a hypocrite because he works for a law firm that lobbies.

"Did I miss the new House rule prohibiting legislators from working for a law firm that lobbies? I am not on the email list anymore LOL," tweeted Ray Pilon, a former GOP state representative from Sarasota, when Corcoran unveiled his ethics reform package last November.

"The issue of him being involved for a firm that lobbies speaks for itself," Pilon said recently of Corcoran. "It's just hypocritical."