The Miami Herald reports on charitable organizations’ connections to Florida officeholders.

The solicitation of money from lobbyists by charitable groups connected to lawmakers has been a subject of debate since the gift ban took effect on Jan. 1, 2006.

The law says no legislator or legislative employee ”shall knowingly accept, directly or indirectly, any expenditure” from lobbyists or their clients other than celebratory floral arrangements. The law defines lobbying as ”an attempt to obtain the goodwill” of a lawmaker.