Harassment Allegations Cost Governor's Candidate

Florida lawmakers are back in Tallahassee this week for routine committee hearings but a sex scandal means things will be anything but routine. 

Florida State Senator Jack Latvala has lost his job as chairman of the Senate Budget Committee while he's being investigated for harassment. 

He denies it, but Politico Florida says half a dozen women who work in the capitol say Latvala touched them without their consent. 

National Organization for Woman Lobbyist Barbara DeVane says  the Florida legislature has a long history of this sort of behavior

"It's all about power and control," she said. "Rape, sexual harassment ... it's all about control and who has the power, and how they're going to use it."

DeVane has been lobbying the legislature on women's issues since the 70's and she says she hopes this latest scandal will finally change the culture in the state capitol.

For his part, Latvala says he's never harassed anyone and welcomes the investigation... but the allegations could cripple his campaign for governor and give the House an advantage in the budget process.


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