“The people” take a real beating from “in” crowd in Tallahassee

I don’t sleepwell. Most nights, I toss and turn, alternatively unsettled by a recurring nightmare and a dream, never able to doze for more than a few hours at a time. In the nightmare, we “the people” now accept as a given that money talks in Tallahassee— and the public interest is routinely sold out. Year after year, in the ongoing conflict between power and “the people” in Florida, it’s power 100 percent, “the people” zero.

According to a recent article published in this newspaper, “companies, local governments, trade associations and other advocacy groups have spent $ 120.4 million” so far this year so their lobbyists can tailor- make legislation and regulation— or kill it altogether.

Here are some of theways the article points out entities paid to play in Tallahassee purely out of their self- interest.

South Florida companies and local governments spent the most to arm- twist the Legislature. Casino interests Las Vegas Sands ($ 191,000); Hartman& Tyner ($ 140,000); Isle of Capri Casinos ($ 135,000) and possible future newcomer and resort developer Genting ($ 120,000) were the biggest single industry shelling out to influence gaming policy.

spent $ 505,000 and Florida Crystals poured another $ 370,000 to lobby on Everglades cleanup legislation. No surprise, the Legislature passed a sweeping Everglades cleanup bill and devoted $ 70 million to the effort. Lawmakers also cemented Cabinet- approved 30- year leases on14,000 acres of sugarcane and ag land in the Everglades Agricultural Area to stave off potential legal challenges from environmental groups over Sugar’s land- lease terms.