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Next week, ex-Florida House Speaker and former congressman Tom Feeney starts his new job as head of a pushy business lobbying group in Tallahassee known as Associated Industries of Florida.
Feeney, picked before the Christmas holidays as AIF's new chief, is an odd choice even in Florida's ethics-challenged capital city. AIF chose poorly — unless the group figures someone versed in wallowing in the abundant muck of Tallahassee is a natural to make things happen for its statewide business members.
Some may recall that Feeney was a crony of corrupt and later convicted lobbyist Jack Abramoff, who among other things paid for the congressman to play golf in Scotland. In September 2006, Feeney himself was named one of the "20 Most Corrupt Members of Congress" by Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington. He was mentioned not once but four years in a row in the watchdog group's corruption reports.
In January 2007, the House Ethics Committee found Rep. Feeney had inappropriately accepted the golf trip to Scotland. And in 2008, he lost his bid for re-election. During that failed campaign, Feeney ran an election ad apologizing for his bad judgment for his Abramoff ties.
AIF was led for nearly seven years by the powerful and outspoken Barney Bishop until he stepped down last summer. He now runs his own lobbying shop.
Anyone familiar with AIF — never to be confused with the more get-along Florida Chamber of Commerce — knows the 92-year-old conservative-leaning group has its own prickly way to influence Tallahassee politics. In 2012, AIF says it will fight for typical reforms in insurance and litigation. But it is AIF's support of "destination resorts" — a buzzword for giant Vegas-style casinos seeking a foothold in South Florida and promising 100,000 jobs — that will most attract attention next year.
At least until AIF renews its lobbying for near-shore drilling off Florida's coasts.
But Feeney?
Since his public career ended, Feeney has been running an Orlando business consulting and lobbying company called Liberty Team. His own website says he is a longtime "advocate of the growth and establishment of the I-4 Hi-Tech Corridor, Medical City and Modeling, Simulation and Space related growth in Central Florida."
Perhaps Orlando area economic leaders find Feeney's counsel helpful. But Florida businesses deserve better representation in Tallahassee.
Even if Feeney proves effective, AIF will never be free of the past taint. Not that many of Tallahassee's top political leaders these days would win any Dudley Do-Right awards.
AIF leadership sure seems giddy to have brought Feeney aboard. AIF's search committee was led by former state Rep. Trey Traviesa, with headhunting firm Korn/Ferry International assisting.
In glowing terms, here's how AIF's Erika Alba, chair of AIF's board of directors and public affairs director with Foley & Lardner LLP, described Feeney:
"Representative Feeney is highly respected," she stated in a news release, "both as an elected official and as a Florida businessman. He is a proven leader and will be a tremendous asset to the association.
"Having dedicated much of the last 20 years to public service, Tom knows what it takes to be effective in the halls of the Florida capitol and on Capitol Hill."
Now that's one sublime description. I'd never guess it was about Tom Feeney.
Contact Robert Trigaux at trigaux@tampabay.com.
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