Not very representative

In reality, the Legislature is about as representative of the population it serves as a convention of bank presidents. Nearly half its members have at least $1 million in net worth, according to a study by the Florida Phoenix news site.

In politics, as in all of life’s endeavors, you get what you pay for. Current salaries are too low to support a family, and they prevent many working people from running. Florida needs higher salaries and rules like those in Congress, where members cannot hold outside jobs.

In Florida, legislators who sell insurance can and do write the laws for insurance companies. Members are required to abstain only if an issue would directly affect them financially, not their entire industry. HJR 1625 would not change that — a glaring oversight.

The speaker referred Beltran’s amendment to the committee on rules and two others, which was meant to be last heard of them. That would be a disservice to Florida. Legislative reform is overdue for discussion.

“It’s rare to see someone take such a thoughtful assessment of the legislative process,” says Ben Wilcox, co-founder of the nonprofit Integrity Florida.

Beltran’s bill should start a serious debate The Legislature should at least create a joint committee study prior to the 2025 session, with hearings to let the public have their say. After all, whose legislature is it, anyway?

The Sun Sentinel Editorial Board consists of Opinion Editor Steve Bousquet, Deputy Opinion Editor Dan Sweeney, editorial writer Martin Dyckman and Editor-in-Chief Julie Anderson. Editorials are the opinion of the Board and written by one of its members or a designee. To contact us, email at letters@sunsentinel.com.