Fla. gov signs transparency law on attorneys' fees

TALLAHASSEE, Fla.

Lawyers wanting to do business with the state of Florida will have their earnings capped at $50 million.

Gov. Charlie Crist signed the measure Wednesday that limits the amount of money the state will pay to outside lawyers representing it in a lawsuit.

The bill's sponsor, Rep. Eric Eisnaugle, R-Orlando, said it prevents the kind of "pay to play" situations that have occurred in other states where attorneys general have hired lawyers who also made big contributions to their political campaigns.

The measure was a priority of Attorney General Bill McCollum, who is now seeking the Republican Party nomination for governor as Crist shoots for the U.S. Senate.