Dobson Complaint Tentatively Settled

Lobbyist Michael Dobson of Tallahassee has entered an agreement to pay back a client for work that he allegedly didn't do to settle two claims against him filed with the House.

   Rep. Jimmy Patronis, R-Panama City, filed a complaint in May with the House alleging that the Panama City Marine Institute hired Dobson's lobbying firm for $40,000 to collect and verify signatures to qualify a new specialty license plate. But state officials said Dobson never conducted a required random sample survey to show there was enough support for the tag.

    That violated a House rule that says lobbyists shall not “willfully falsify, conceal, or cover up, by any trick, scheme, or device, a material fact; make any false, fictitious, or fraudulent statement or representation; or make or use any writing or document knowing the same to contain any false, fictitious, or fraudulent statements or entry.” That is, basically, lobbyists aren't permitted to lie as part of their job, under House rules.

   Patronis also alleged that Dobson violated the Legislature's Joint Rule 1, which deals with how lobbyists must register and report their compensation, although he didn't specify in the complaint how that rule was violated.  

   A consent decree between Dobson and the House released by the House on Wednesday said that Dobson had worked out a deal with the marine institute to refund $20,000 of the money his firm was paid and as long as he does, the House complaint will be dropped. In the agreement, Dobson said he neither admitted nor denied the allegations but agreed to its terms. The consent decree needs approval from the full House and a special committee that looked into the matter has recommended that it consider the decree during the Nov. 18 organizational session.