It’s called “IDS 4920: Florida Politics.” It’s a twice weekly, 1-hour undergraduate seminar for Tallahassee-based, University of Florida student-interns already carving out calculated careers in state politics. So much for youthful ideals.
And so much for generic course descriptions. How about “Duplicity 101”? Or maybe “Pandering Politics and Career Goals”? The instructor is Florida Senate President Mike Haridopolos. That Mike Haridopolos.
The one who was just admonished by his own Rules Committee for failing to disclose his finances, including consulting fees, on state ethics forms. The one who was for Florida accepting federal dollars for high-speed rail and 21st century potential-realization before he was against it. Before he realized that opposing Gov. Rick Scott and accepting “Obamarail” money could derail his chances in the upcoming U.S. Senate Republican primary. Before he realized that alienating Tea Partiers was a bad career move, regardless of the implications for the state that he would deign to represent. That Mike Haridopolos.
That’s a lot of lessons to impart.
He also teaches courses in the fall. He’s paid $75,000.