Those Against Truth Say "Aye"

Three state senators, including a felon, this week voted against a measure that would make a lawmaker's lying to the Legislature punishable by law:

First, it was no gifts. Now comes no lying.

Is it going to be any fun to be a state lawmaker any more?

Lying to the Legislature would be a felony, thanks to a proposal approved Thursday by the state Senate that would require lobbyists, legislative staff members and lawmakers themselves to speak under oath.

''We're not above the law,'' said Alex Villalobos, a Miami Republican and the bill's sponsor.

Only members of the public would be exempt.

A similar bill by Miami Republican Rep. Marcelo Llorente also is moving through the House.

But plans to apply the bill to lawmakers didn't go over well with some senators, who spent more than a half hour debating the need for the so-called ''Truth in Government Act.'' Three Democrats, Mandy Dawson of Fort Lauderdale, Al Lawson of Tallahassee and Gary Siplin of Orlando, voted against the bill, which passed 36-3.

Mandy and Gary have been in legal hot water so often they have permanent prune fingers. Senator Lawson should now bear scrutiny not only for his vote but also for his decision to lie down in between the two most flea-ridden mutts in Tallahassee.

(Herald login/pswd=crockett@tubbs.com/miamivice.)