There are ways to get rich feeding off the finincial woes of those who have little. It's interesting to note who shares in the feast.

Who's making money off the poor?

Steve McKenzie for one. He owns a company called National Cash Advance, based in Cleveland, Tenn. It mushroomed in three years from nothing to 165 outlets, including some in Florida, that exploit people desperate for fast money.

His company advances money to people who need a little cash to get by until payday. In Florida, companies such as Mr. McKenzie's can charge fees amounting to 260 percent a year plus processing charges. No wonder business is booming.

But payday advances aren't the only way to get rich taking money from people who have far too little to lose already. There also are title loans that can wrest from their pockets whatever money is left.

Title lenders typically lend a small portion of a car's worth and charge 22 percent a month in interest and fees. When a borrower falls behind in payments -- as often happens -- the lenders are quick to repossess and sell the car, usually keeping any excess profit.

The giant of the industry is Title Loans of America Inc., based in Atlanta. Yet the principal owner is Alvin Malnik, a multimillionaire lawyer from Boca Raton. Mr. Malnik was reputed for many years to work for the late Meyer Lansky, financier to the mob -- an allegation Mr. Malnik denies. Whatever his background, he's prospering.

By contrast, the people who patronize these businesses often live modestly, some even in homeless shelters. And when the high-rate lenders share their ill-gotten wealth, it is not with the unfortunate but with lobbyists and lawmakers who protect these companies' interests.

They hire men such as Robert Levy. He represents the Florida Check Cashers Association, many of whose members offer payday advances.

The title lenders also certainly can afford high-profile people to look out for their interests. One is lobbyist Donald Tucker, a former speaker of the Florida House of Representatives. He was the force behind a mysterious 11th-hour ploy in the 1995 session to legalize charging 264 percent in interest and fees.

In addition to Mr. Tucker, the title-loan team includes former House Speaker Ralph Haben; former legislator and former Dade County Commission Chairman Mike Abrams; and Jim Magill, organizer of Gov. Jeb Bush's inauguration. The list of expensive talent goes on.

And their clout has been evident: Whenever an upstart legislator offers a bill to end this outrage, they serve up a bill of their own, with a considerably sweeter deal for the industry. And they invariably get their way.

That may have something to do with the money they spread around. Title-loan companies poured at least $168,000 into Florida campaigns in 1997-98, giving to both political parties and to individual candidates.

Who got the money?

Lots of folks, but a few merit attention:

Sen. Betty Holzendorf is the vice chair of the Banking and Insurance Committee. Hers is one of three committees to review a bill favorable to the title-loan industry. She strongly championed the lenders' cause, and her committee approved. Her take in 1997-98 campaign contributions: at least $6,500.

Sen. John McKay, who sits on the Agriculture and Consumer Services Committee. His campaign received at least $1,000 from the industry in 1997-98. Openly hostile to reform efforts, he supported the industry's bill.

Rep. Mark Ogles chairs the committee that practically derailed title-loan reform recently. It approved an outrageous rate of 96 percent a year. If that weren't bad enough, he then voted to prohibit local governments from acting on their own to lower those rates. Mr. Ogles' campaign received at least $1,000.

Rep. Victor Crist received at least $1,500. He proposed the amendment that would tie the hands of local governments bent on cracking down on title-loan companies.

Meanwhile, the payday-advance folks, relative newcomers to Florida, are just cranking up their money machine. Along with the Florida Check Cashers Association, they gave more than $50,000 in political contributions. But it's early in their influence game.

Their strategy is somewhat different. They're aiming right for the top, pouring about $3,000 into Gov. Jeb Bush's campaign and thousands more dollars into the campaign funds of the political parties.

The sad irony is that the money the industry spends to keep people in financial chains comes right out of its victims' pockets.

Florida has a long and checkered history as a haven for unscrupulous practices. Now the check cashers and high-interest lenders seem to have figured out the system.

Senate President Toni Jennings, House Speaker John Thrasher and even Gov. Jeb Bush need to dust off their code of ethics and make it clear that their job is to protect people who can't protect themselves.

These leaders are saying money talks louder than the powerless poor -- a real disgrace.

This relentless feeding off Florida's poor must stop.