Faced with a credibility problem in the eyes of some of the state’s top lawmakers, one of Florida's oldest and most influential business advocacy organizations reached for a big gun -- a top-tier veteran who ran the House when many of those same lawmakers were still learning to navigate the maze of the Capitol hallways.

So far, with the current session reaching its midpoint, there has been little noticeable change in the day-to-day lobbying by Associated Industries of Florida in the Senate and House corridors, with former state House Speaker Tom Feeney instead of Barney Bishop at the helm of the 92-year-old “Voice of Florida Business.”

But it's not likely to stay that way in sessions to come.

With AIF’s priorities in place for the current session before he was hired, Feeney said he wasn’t given any mandates from the board. But change, in terms of direction and style, is expected over the summer in preparation for the 2013 session from Capitol insiders -- and even for Feeney himself, who also served in the U.S. House and was Jeb Bush’s running mate during his unsuccessful gubernatorial bid in 1994.

“Our organization isn’t about one person or one president or CEO, it’s about advocating to make Florida a better place to do business, a more prosperous place, and therefore a better place to live and raise a family,” Feeney said.

“It’s a great opportunity, I’m sure that we’ll have an imprint long-term if I get an opportunity to stay long enough in some of the big-visioning issues for the future of Florida.

“But it’s not necessarily appropriate to make those changes in the first two, three months on the job.”

'RESERVOIR OF TRUST'

Senate President-designate Don Gaetz, R-Niceville, said AIF, during and after the 2011 session, “had reached a low ebb of credibility in the Senate” with the prior leadership’s approach “clumsy and brash.”

Gaetz said Feeney, who was House speaker in 2000, was the change of leadership needed “for the organization to become politically relevant again.”

“I believe there is a reservoir of trust and familiarity that Speaker Feeney can draw on from his years as a state legislator and as a speaker of the House,” Gaetz said.

“I believe Speaker Feeney brings a finesse and an understanding of the legislative process that has made AIF’s lobbying more effectual, and I expect, next year, AIF under Tom Feeney will again be a major force in state policy just as it was years ago.”

Capitol insiders add that change was needed at AIF, which competes for business interests with the Florida Chamber of Commerce.

The Chamber and AIF are often in agreement on policy issues, from legal and education reform to trade questions. However, this year, the two organizations clashed in a high-profile dispute over the highly controversial destination gaming effort that sought to allow three huge casinos in South Florida.

Also, for nearly a decade, the business groups have conflicted over political candidates -- the Chamber doesn’t back trial lawyers or candidates with differing views on tort reform and union issues. 

The Chamber also is viewed as approaching issues through a consensus of its wide range of members.

Meanwhile, AIF has been focused on issues driven by a lobbyist-packed board. Also, Bishop, a former executive director of the Florida Democratic Party, was facing internal criticism, such as when he suggested last year that board members of state-backed Citizens Property Insurance should be replaced if they were not dedicated to getting actuarially sound rates for the company.

Mark Wilson, Chamber president and CEO, said he doesn’t view AIF as a competitor. He believes his policy background and Feeney’s political background could make a “good team.”