Buried amid the records compiled in the recently concluded criminal probe of Republican Congressman David Rivera is a $50,000 mystery.
Why did an obscure Republican organization pay $25,000 in 2006 to a defunct company founded by Rivera’s mother? Why did a political consultant with close ties to Rivera receive another $25,000 on the very same day? And where did the money come from in the first place?
Further adding to the mystery: The Republican Party of Florida reportedly made a $50,000 payment to a Central Florida nonprofit group — money the group never received — on the same day the payments went to Rivera’s mother and consultant. Are the payments connected?
These questions are among many left unanswered after an 18-month investigation of Rivera’s finances by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and the Miami-Dade State Attorney’s Office, a probe prosecutors concluded last month without filing charges against the Miami lawmaker....
Oh, the fun doesn't stop there. Remember how Rick Scott loved the insurance industry. Well, it seems odd to many Floridians that their insurance should be going up. Hm?
May 25, 2011 - Florida Voters Turn Thumbs Down On Gov. Scott 2-1, Quinnipiac University Poll Finds; Voters Say Property Insurance Is Getting Worse (click here)
...Despite the new property insurance law signed by the governor, voters say securing insurance is getting harder and more expensive....
I don't know about anyone else, but, I do believe AG Holder is only scratching the surface of the real trouble of the people of Florida. Everyone knows Florida is a state where severe storms frequent, but, why then after all this time is there so many problems where there were none before?
And it continues...
The Sarasota congressman orchestrated an elaborate scheme that forced his employees to contribute to his campaign, ensuring they would be illegally reimbursed with corporate money.
Doubling down on the criminal behavior, he attempted to bribe a former business partner with almost $3 million in hush money in a clumsy attempt to cover up the conspiracy.
Rep. (Vern) Buchanan is a three-term member of Congress, representing Florida’s 13th district. He was included in CREW’s 2008 and 2009 Most Corrupt Reports for related matters.
Republicans are such adept liars, I have to wonder if ALEC gives lessons on it? The Miami Herald certainly made Mr. McCalister think again about his MISSTATEMENTS.
Two days after being personally asked about his misstatements over whether he "testified" before Congress, Republican Senate candidate Mike McCalister pens a written response (our initial backgrounder on the candidate is here). He said he didn't "lie" when he denied saying he testified before Congress. He said he just didn't remember saying it.
Here's his letter, which we cribbed from St. Petersblog:
Dear Patriot,
I’m writing to clarify an issue with you. Yesterday, a Miami Herald reporter called me a liar. At issue is whether or not I testified to Congress. I’m not a career politician who has spent years perfecting my rhetoric and changing my positions based on which way the political winds blow. I speak from the heart, because I’m a regular guy who was inspired to stand up for our country, similar to how other Tea Party supporters were inspired to run as they watched Barack Obama mortgage our children’s future....
Read more here: http://miamiherald.typepad.com/nakedpolitics/2011/08/mike-mccalister-i-didnt-lie-i-have-a-bad-memory.html#ixzz1b42FkucN#storylink=cpy
Read more here: http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/05/29/2822948/david-rivera-investigation-left.html#storylink=cpy
The boys are very bad boys. Sorry, men. They put the Tea Party Business ahead of their sworn oaths.
Posted: 2:05 p.m. Thursday, June 7, 2012
By John Kennedy
Palm Beach Post Capital Bureau
TALLAHASSEE —
Florida leads the nation in federal public corruption convictions over the past decade, according to a watchdog group that Wednesday urged lawmakers to give more investigative power to the state’s Commission on Ethics.
Palm Beach County has contributed its share to the statistics, with four county commissioners pleading guilty to corruption charges over four years ending in 2010. Two West Palm Beach city commissioners served time in jail on corruption charges.
Integrity Florida, a research organization, said the first step should be for lawmakers to pay attention to the wish list of proposals the ethics panel is expected to approve June 15.
Among the recommendations — some a repeat from earlier years — is that the panel be authorized to begin its own investigations of possible wrongdoing, without waiting for a resident’s complaint. Similar calls have been ignored by lawmakers, but Integrity Florida leaders said next year could prove different....
Yes, indeed. The Republcans have problems with sex scandals, fraud and all types of crony issues. I mean, there was Abramoff. I think it is good he served his time and is seeking to make an impression about these type of activities, but, when does it stop? Or doesn't it? Attorney General Holder is among the most decent and credible AGs we have ever had. Like, ahhhh....can we clean this disaster up so Floridians can actually know their state is honorable for certain? Just a thought.
Posted: 06/08/2012
By: MICHAEL PELTIER, Scripps Howard News Service
Florida may be the nation's fourth most populous state but it leads the nation in the number of federal corruption convictions, a dubious honor that could be easily remedied, a government watchdog group said.
Based on U.S. Department of Justice data, Florida led the nation in the number of convictions between 2000 and 2010, according to data compiled by Integrity Florida, a non-profit research group founded earlier this year by former Florida Chamber spokesman Dan Krasner and former Common Cause Florida executive director Ben Wilcox.
"We're number one for our beaches," Krasner said. "We're number one for our sunshine, but it's time we dust off our government-in-the-sunshine laws and once again become No. 1 in the world for government-in-the-sunshine and open government."...
I do believe Rick Scott was one of those convictions, actually.
The problem is this level of corruption and manipulation exists and explains why Darrel Issa and others ENJOY dumming down the truth and facts. There is a lot to hide and a lot the Republicans have counted on for decades that needs to be cleaned up. It would be best of this circus was brought to an end. It might return function to the governments at all levels.
Read more here: http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/05/29/2822948/david-rivera-investigation-left.html#storylink=cp
