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Today we're highlighting Florida Bulldog's exposure of a shameful vote by the Broward County Board of County Commissioners -- which likely would have flown under the public's radar if not for the nonprofit publication's reporting.

On Dec. 9, the commission voted 8-0 to repeal the county's own restrictions on gifts to elected officials. Florida Bulldog founder and editor Dan Christensen reports:

"Reluctantly adopted 15 years ago amid public outrage following several high-profile corruption scandals – then rejiggered several times – Broward’s Code of Ethics forbid county commissioners and mayors and members of the governing bodies of municipalities from accepting any gift of food and nonalcoholic beverages worth $25 or more, or any other gift valued at more than $5, from registered lobbyists, their employers or principals, or vendors or contractors doing business with the government they represent. The code also applied to their relatives, registered domestic partners and government staff.

[...]

That all changed on Dec. 9 when the commission enacted an ordinance, sponsored by Mayor Mark Bogen and Commissioner Alexandra Davis. It eliminated all of the gift restrictions in the county code beyond those in state law, the Florida Code of Ethics for Public Officers and Employees, Chapter 112 Part III of the Florida Statutes.

The Florida code imposes a $100 limit on any gifts to elected officials from regulated donors, like lobbyists and vendors. There are no limits on gifts to elected officials in their official capacity from other sources."

To keep reading "Gone in 41 seconds: Tough gift restrictions on Broward’s elected officials," visit Florida Bulldog.

To let the Broward County commissioners know you found their vote shameful, contact them. Their names are:

• Mayor Mark D. Bogen (District 2) - co-sponsored and voted for the ordinance
• Alexandra P. Davis (District 7) - co-sponsored and voted for it
• Nan H. Rich (District 1) - voted for it
• Michael Udine (District 3) - voted for it
• Lamar P. Fisher (District 4) - voted for it
• ​Steve Geller (District 5) - voted for it
• Vice Mayor Robert McKinzie (District 8) - voted for it
• Hazelle P. Rogers​ (District 9) - voted for it
• Beam Furr (District 6) - absent for the vote but gave the mayor his proxy vote in support of the ordinance