Live Updates

Aug 31, 2007

Florida Today - Our view: A foul odor

It keeps smelling worse for Rep. Tom Feeney.

If you'll remember, the FBI is investigating the Oviedo Republican as part of an ongoing probe of lobbyist Jack Abramoff's crimes.

Feeney went on a Scotland golf junket in 2003 with Abramoff -- now convicted on corruption charges -- but insists he has broken no laws.

That didn't stop him from setting up a legal defense fund in June, which indicates he doesn't expect his Abramoff problem to go away anytime soon.

And that a criminal probe may be underway.

Now comes this:

One $5,000 contributor to the fund is Oviedo businessman Tyng-Lin Yang.

Feeney lobbied for Yang's engineering company when he was Florida's Speaker of the House, and was accused of using his influence to help him in a state contract dispute, but cleared by the Florida Ethics Commission.

Yang's company wants a contract from NASA. Meanwhile, Feeney sits on the House Science space subcommittee, raising the specter of potential conflict.

It's all legal, but the Yang donation just further muddies the dank ethical waters around Feeney.

He should clear them by coming forward and answering detailed questions about the Abramoff case in public.

And while he's at it, return the $5,000 to Yang.