Florida ethics officials need more authority to investigate and more power to punish public officials and others for what amounts to a “Florida corruption tax” that is eroding public trust and stealing taxpayers’ money, a statewide grand jury said Wednesday.

On Thursday, incoming Attorney General Pam Bondi and outgoing Attorney General Bill McCollum released a letter on which they collaborated, encouraging current and incoming attorneys general and governors across the nation to join the suit McCollum launched against new federal health-care laws.

The final days of campaigning for former Hillsborough prosecutor Pam Bondi and state Sen. Dan Gelber to be the next attorney general likely won’t be very polite.

Attack ads are being run across the Sunshine State as the race to be Florida’s next attorney general has gone to the dogs -- literally.

With little more than a week to go until the election next Tuesday, the attacks are flying in the battle to be Florida’s next attorney general. On Monday, Democratic candidate Sen. Dan Gelber jabbed Republican nominee Pam Bondi as they continue to fight for attention from voters more familiar with the dramatic gubernatorial and U.S. Senate contests.