More Schadenfreude of 2009 - Florida special

Ahh, it's been such a busy week I almost nearly missed this. Remember back to when I posted comments on a few tidbits of political scandal? Of course not, you probably don't read half my posts anyway. But still, I led off with a local scandal involving a major political player within Florida who lost his position of House Speaker - I don't think he even had it longer than a month, did he? - because he got caught helping out a business buddy and a college that had been doing him some favas (such as line him up for a cozy six-figure salary).

Well, yesterday got to be more fun for State Rep. Ray Sansom because a Grand Jury came back with an indictment on him and his college associate Bob Richburg (Northwest Florida State College):

The charge against Sansom and Richburg is official misconduct. It is a third-degree felony punishable by a maximum five-year prison sentence and a $5,000 fine.

The indictment said the men did "unlawfully falsify or cause another person to falsify, an official record — the 2007-08 state budget — with corrupt intent to obtain a benefit" for another person.

Richburg also was indicted on a perjury charge for testifying that there was never discussion to have developer Jay Odom use the building to store aircraft after the college got the $6 million.

Not indicted was the business partner Jay Odom, who stood to profit from that airport. Odom refused to testify to the grand jury and wasn't subponead for it, and because there's no law against a private citizen to seek out public funding he's the one getting off scott-free. I wonder if politicians will remember that the next time these business guys and lobbyists come begging for this and that... nah probably not. Politicians keep thinking they'll never get caught...

Also indicted by the grand jury - but not up for a day in court - was how the State Lege did its business: in shadow and secrecy, even with all the Sunshine Law provisions trying to keep things transparent. From the St. Pete Times article: The 18-member grand jury, however, described the budget process as a secretive one, where the most powerful lawmakers reward themselves. "We ... heard that this $6 million was likened to a gnat hitting a windshield. It is small wonder, with this attitude, that Florida is broke financially."

So the questions become: will the state reform itself further? Will Florida officials do a better job of making themselves accountable to the public in these dark times of recession and growing need for state services? Will I ever get a date with a sexy brunette? Obviously, the answer to all three questions is No. Sigh. :(

Anyways, I wonder if Sansom is gonna team with Blago on that overseas reality TV show thingee...