Governor Scott raising $50,000 a day for re-election campaign
By Roger Caldwell
The people in the State of Florida may not like or support Governor Scott, but his re-election campaign has raised $4.6 million in the first three months of 2013. The Republicans control politics in Florida, even though there are more Democrats registered in the state. Governor Scott’s re-election campaign machine entitled “Let’s Get to Work’ is raking in cash and checks at the rate of $50,000 a day.
At this point our governor is not worried about the 99 percent of Florida residents; instead he is concentrating on the 1 percent in the state who are wealthy and the major corporations. Scott is spending his evenings meeting and being introduced to the rich and famous by Brian Ballard, Charlie Crist’s ex-chief fundraiser. Governor Scott is the incumbent and now he is considered an insider, part of the team, and the 1 percent is writing big checks.
Governor Scott has set a goal to raise $100 million from his political friends, and he will also probably throw in another $50 million of his own money. Since our governor has taken office, he has raised almost $10 million, for his campaign, and the average check has been $10,000. Governor Scott’s largest check at this point has been from Bill Edwards, a Treasure Is-land businessman and entertainment mogul who operates St. Petersburg’s Mahaffey Theater, wrote a check for$500,000.
Many think in a campaign, a supporter can only write a check for $500.00, but that does not apply to an “electioneering communications organization.” With an electioneering communications organization or ECO, Scott can accept checks in unlimited amounts. The only limitation on activities by Let’s Get to Work is that it can’t “expressly advocate” Scott’s re-election by using words such as “vote for” or “elect” in advertising. ECO must have a website and post all contributions and expenses in five days.
During this 2013 legislature session the major corporations are lining up to make donations to Scott’s re-election campaign. Florida Blue has contributed a check for $237,500, Florida Power & Light has donated $250,000, and Progress Energy has given $100,000. Too many political experts, these checks would appear to be a conflict of interest, but they are being written anyway and no one is asking questions about the money.
It is time that the papers and the different political organization began to ask questions about why large Flor-ida companies are contributing large sums of money to the governor when he signs bills that can hurt or help these companies. When Scott receives a check of $250,000 from Fort Lauderdale billionaire H. Wayne Huizenga, and his son has just been appointed to the university system’s Board of Governors, there needs to be questions asked.
Our governor has also received large chunks of checks from the Villages $100,000, Bayfront Development of Miami $100,000, Trump $50,000, and developer Gary Morse $50,000. As the money keeps rolling in, maybe the ethics Department needs to determine if these checks are influencing our governor’s decisions.
When major companies are contributing hundreds of thousands of dollars to our governor’s re-election campaign during a legislation session, something smells and appears to be rotten. Money can influence people, and make them change their minds, because they are only thinking about the money they are going to receive. It is very easy to forget what is right for the people, and only be concerned about the check someone is writing, and what they want.
