Reforming Our Government

The corrupt can either go quietly or they can go loudly, but either way, they will go.

• This Miami Herald story speaks volumes as to why we need change: Click Here

McGillis Ethics Reform: Waging a War on Corruption

Immediately upon taking office, McGillis will declare a war on the long history of corruption in the state by calling a special session of the legislature to end the image that “who you know is more important than what you know” when doing business in Florida. Darrin McGillis will push a comprehensive ethics reform package through the session requiring a more detailed financial disclosure for elected and appointed officials, prohibiting all conflicts of interests, closing the loophole on free tickets, ending lobbyist-funded lavish meals, and giving the Office of the Attorney General the ability to independently root out corruption in government at all levels. Providing the Florida Supreme Court the authority to appoint a independent special prosecutor to root out corruption at the highest levels of the Florida Government.

Darrin McGillis Commitment:

• I will eliminate the Legislature’s conflicts of interest by strengthening ethics laws to require State Legislators to either recuse themselves from legislative actions that affect their private sector interests, or publicly disclose these conflicts when they occur.

• I will increase honesty and openness in government by requiring fully searchable and transparent websites for all state and local governments and school districts, providing links to property records and taxes, government payrolls, expenditures, school performance report cards, and other information.

• I will increase the transparency required of candidates seeking office by making the State’s currently inadequate Personal Financial Disclosure Statements match the same heightened level of transparency as their federal counterpart, which will provide voters with a more detailed, comprehensive look at those on the ballot.

• I will restore fairness and common-sense to our state’s legal liability policies by making it more difficult for out-of-state plaintiffs to sue in Florida courts.

• I will end the abuse and manipulation of Florida’s civil justice system by preventing the admission of flimsy and dubious testimony offered by expert witnesses.

• I will make our state more affordable for consumers and businesses by making it more difficult to file class action lawsuits for frivolous reasons.

• Demand transparency in state spending and strengthen and enforce our competitive bid laws.

• Special interest lobbyists should not be allowed to give money or gifts of any value to legislators.

• I will seek a mandatory Statewide annual salary cap of ($95,000) on all publicly elected office positions. No more will seeking public office equals a ($185,000) job, and the career public servant takes home under ($45,000) annually. Seeking to serve the public by running for public office is a privilege and honor, not a way to get an instant salary boost.

Reforming the Courts Click here

CUT EXCESSIVE RED TAPE

PROVIDE RELIEF FROM OVERBEARING REGULATION

Create a permanent “Red Tape Committee”

The McGillis Administration will overhaul Florida’s regulations – restoring balance and fairness – by creating a permanent “Red Tape Committee.” The “Red Tape Committee” will bring both elected branches of government together in a bi-partisan fashion to perform a top to- bottom overhaul and review.

The Red Tape Committee will ensure rules meet a series of requirements.

• Sound science or other technical basis

• Consistent with other state policy goals

• Consistent with legislative intent

• Protect and promote the public interest, including the urgent need for economic development and private-sector job creation.

The Review Committee will recommend rescinding rules that do not meet these requirements.

Implement an immediate freeze on proposed new rules and regulations

The McGillis Administration will put an immediate freeze on proposed new rules and regulations, except those deemed necessary for public emergency, until the Red Tape Committee completes its review.

Promote transparency in the process of creating new rules and policy

Proposed rules will not be adopted until all implementing policy procedures and documents (such as technical manuals and forms) are in place and are available for inspection and public comment and input. McGillis will strictly limit agency policy and rule development that often occurs outside the public input.

Eliminate agency funding from fees and fine's

McGillis will remove the incentive for regulatory agencies to charge excessive or unnecessary fees and fines by restoring their funding “on-budget” from the general fund. Agencies will no longer rely on fees and fines for their own funding, removing their built-in incentives to over-regulate and over-charge.