Will Hypocritical Haridopolos Continue Bilking the State?

Lynn Wisely Turned Down Additional State Pay When Exposed - Shouldn't Anti-Government Spending Crusader Haridopolos Follow

For Immediate Release: March 25, 2008

TALLAHASSEE - Though it wasn't until after Florida's part-time Governor stuck his finger in the wind and cried foul, State Sen. Evelyn Lynn (R-Ormond Beach) did the right thing and agreed to forgo the taxpayer-funded, six-figure salary she had secured for work at Florida State University on the side.

In the midst of the state's budget crisis, this was the responsible choice. So should the people expect State Sen. Mike Haridopolos (R-Melbourne) - one of the loudest opponents of wasteful government spending - to follow suit?

Haridopolos, in line to be Senate President, scored a lucrative side job with the University of Florida despite being less qualified than other lecturers. With the State of Florida facing upwards of $3.5 billion in budget cuts, Haridopolos gladly accepted the $75,000-a-year part-time position - compensation in line with that of full-time tenured professors.

"As someone who has made a name for himself by railing against wasteful government spending, Sen. Haridopolos' refusal to return the extra taxpayer money - especially while the state budget is in crisis - is the height of hypocrisy," Florida Democratic Party spokesman Mark Bubriski said.

Haridopolos, who the Tampa Tribune called out as having the "barest of qualifications," has touted incomplete coursework at the University of Arkansas as sufficient expertise for the cushy post, first exposed by outraged faculty at the University of Florida.

It's the second sweetheart deal for Haridopolos, who fleeced Brevard Community College for $40,000 a year from 2005-07 to author a book that still has not been published.