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Elected officials in Florida owe more than 100-thousand dollars in ethics violation fines and they have no intention of paying them. The Florida Commission on Ethics has no way to collect the money, but as Whitney Ray tells us, they’re asking the legislature to give them more authority to police ethics violators.

They’ve been compared to a paper tiger, fierce looking, but no teeth. At best the Florida Commission on Ethics can force elected officials to hire a lawyer and do the walk of shame past TV cameras.

But when it comes to penalties they have no authority to actually make violators pay.

“So we have a law. We just don’t have an enforcement mechanism in the law,” said Commissioner Matthew Carlucci.

Right now Florida politicians owe more than 100-thousand dollars in ethics fines. The commissioners tried to collect the money using private collection agencies, but if a fine isn’t paid within four years, it’s no longer valid.

“I can’t believe that a sitting house member hasn’t paid his fine,” said Commissioner Morgan Bentley.

To make violators pay, commissioners put fine collection authority at the top of their 2013 legislative wish list.

Dan Krassner, the director of Integrity Florida supports the change along with a dozen more to give the commission teeth.

“Integrity Florida would like to see an elevation of the issue of self-initiation of investigation of putting state ethics law enforcement officers on the beat,” said Krassner.

But getting the agenda approved is just the first step. Getting the changes passed the legislature is a whole nother battle. Lawmakers haven’t approve any changes to the ethics commission in more than a decade.

One hold back to giving the commission more power is many lawmakers have faced ethics violations and given the choice between a paper tiger and the real thing, most choose paper.

Included in the list of proposed changes are increasing the maximum fine from 10-thousand to 25-thousand dollars and allowing the commission to launch its own investigations. Right now the commission can only investigate a claim if a complaint is filed.