The inability of our Florida lawmakers to learn and be concerned with their past decisions is a disturbing problem.

The legislators created and monitor the seven members of Florida Real Estate Commission, which is entrusted to issue licenses. It is alarming to discover that they have and continue to issue licenses to felons with convictions for bank theft, larceny and other criminal activities.

Since the purchase of real estate is often the largest financial transaction in people’s lives, consumer protection should be paramount to our lawmakers. The real estate industry image should be protected, too.

Considering the major role that fraudulent, unscrupulous and unethical real estate, mortgage and appraisal transactions played in damaging our national economy, it’s unbelievable this situations exist.

It was reported by the Tampa Bay Times that on the last day of November there were 46 applicants with criminal records, of which 29, or 63 percent, were granted licenses. They now join about 300,000 agents, brokers and appraisers in Florida. Florida regulators will not (embarrassment?) or are not able to (lack of planning?) reveal how many have criminal records.

How’s this for lack of screening efficiency? Since 2008 the state has processed 34,780 total “applications” and denied 215; that’s less than 1 percent. But that’s Tallahassee, where it seems knowledge and common sense go to die.

Dick Wasylowski

Bradenton