FOLLOW US

Gallen called the Bar committee's decision not to recommend reinstating the ethics opinion "terribly disappointing." He speculated that the Bar's leadership might not want to upset lawmakers. The organization has a strong interest in many legal issues that come before the Legislature, such as Corcoran's push to place term limits on judges.

The ethics issue seemed dead until Scott put a spotlight on it last month.

Scott steps in

In a letter to Corcoran's office, the governor's chief of staff, Kim McDougal, suggested "shutting the revolving door, to prohibit the employment of legislators by entities including law firms that employ lobbyists."

McDougal said the change would stop a practice that "allows members to benefit from their state position by working for law firms and other entities that profit from lobbying the Legislature and Executive branches of Florida's government."

Scott and Corcoran have been deeply at odds in recent months. They've engaged in a war of words over taxpayer-funded economic development incentives, which Scott supports and Corcoran wants to eliminate.

The governor's ethics letter was viewed by some as an effort to ding Corcoran on his central issue.

Whether Scott was just trying to score political points, his letter raised more awareness about the potential conflicts from lawmakers working at lobbying firms.

Corcoran did not respond to a request by the Herald-Tribune to discuss his employment and the overarching issue of lawmakers working for lobbying firms. He reacted to the governor's letter by telling reporters he will take Scott's suggestions into consideration as he moves forward with ethics reforms.

But Gallen doubts that lawmakers will address the issue.

"I hope the governor is successful but I don't trust the Legislature to do that," Gallen said. "After spending 12 years up there, I know how powerful the lobbyists are."