Incoming Florida Speaker Richard Corcoran Blasted for Hypocrisy on Special Interests

TALLAHASSEE – Richard Corcoran made a lot of noise last year, even though he hadn't yet taken the Speaker's gavel in the Florida House. In addition to leading the obstinate resistance on health care that eventually saw his chamber make history by walking out on the session before it was over, Corcoran made fiery speeches about lobbyists and "declared war" on special interests.

Corcoran (R-Pasco) first drew fire Sept. 14, when a report by Marc Caputo in Politico detailed $238,000 in RPOF spending directed by the Speaker in only five months. The report detailed lavish spending for lawmakers on things like private jet flights, expensive wine and cigars, high-end dinners, five-star hotels and even designer cufflinks. Corcoran pointed out that the spending was covered by the party; however, the party’s coffers are routinely filled by the same "special interests“ Corcoran so often rails against.

Though it was no surprise that Corcoran’s spending drew a lot of criticism from the left, even FOX News piled on, deriding Corcoran as an example of what’s wrong with today’s politicians and suggested that office holders like him were the reason presidential candidates like Donald Trump and Ben Carson were doing so well in the polls (see video below).

Any thoughts that Corcoran would dial back such behavior were shot out of the water when the tone-deaf legislator hosted a party on the eve of his biggest "War on Special Interests“ speech and the guest list included many lobbyists and other representatives of special interests. The party, also reported by Politico, took place at the ultra-swanky Level 8 Lounge inside the Hotel Duval, one of Tallahassee’s most upscale hot spots, and included open bar for his guests.

Corcoran’s defense was that the party, which was to celebrate his official voting in as Speaker, was attended by family, colleagues and close friends. That’s understandable and probably explains why Corcoran apparently has such a hard time understanding why outsiders are taking offense. The line between lobbyists, legislators and special interests is understandably blurred for those looking at it from the inside.

As I noted Sunday, lawyers who serve in the legislator are even allowed to work as lobbyists while they’re in office. Corcoran’s own brother, who was at the party, is a registered lobbyist. The Speaker’s behavior is par for the course in Florida politics, but his hypocrisy might have set a brand new bar.