Rick Scott's Dirty Deeds

Too bad I missed this.

Gov. Rick Scott held a fundraiser today in downtown Tampa. The progressive group Florida for All handed out "Shady Rick Scott Hand Sanitizers."

Florida For All has a list of Scott's "Ten Dirtiest Deeds." Scott's records on ethics is atrocious. Scott's was the CEO of Columbia/HCA. The company paid the largest Medicare/Medicaid fraud fine in U.S. history.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - HCA Inc. (formerly known as Columbia/HCA and HCA - The Healthcare Company) has agreed to pay the United States $631 million in civil penalties and damages arising from false claims the government alleged it submitted to Medicare and other federal health programs, the Justice Department announced today.

This settlement marks the conclusion of the most comprehensive health care fraud investigation ever undertaken by the Justice Department, working with the Departments of Health and Human Services and Defense, the Office of Personnel Management and the states. The settlement announced today resolves HCA's civil liability for false claims resulting from a variety of allegedly unlawful practices, including cost report fraud and the payment of kickbacks to physicians.

Previously, on December 14, 2000, HCA subsidiaries pled guilty to substantial criminal conduct and paid more than $840 million in criminal fines, civil restitution and penalties. Combined with today's separate administrative settlement with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), under which HCA will pay an additional $250 million to resolve overpayment claims arising from certain of its cost reporting practices, the government will have recovered $1.7 billion from HCA, by far the largest recovery ever reached by the government in a health care fraud investigation.

"Health care providers and professionals hold a public trust, and when that trust is violated by fraud and abuse of program funds, and by the payment of kickbacks to the physicians on whom patients and the programs rely for uncompromised medical judgment, health care for all Americans suffers," Robert D. McCallum, Jr., Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Division said. "This settlement brings to a close the largest multi-agency investigation of a health care provider that the United States government has ever undertaken and demonstrates the Department of Justice's ongoing resolve and commitment to pursue all types of fraud on American taxpayers, and health care program beneficiaries."

"Let this case be a continuing reminder to all that in the fight against health care fraud this office will not be deterred," said Acting Principal Deputy Inspector General Dara Corrigan. “Medicare dollars paid to provide ever more expensive health care services to the country's taxpayers should never be fraudulently diverted. This is our job and our trust and we take these duties very seriously," Corrigan concluded.

Scott has no business running a lemonade stand. Let alone a state the size of Florida.

Schoolhouse Rock: 2014 Edition

Legislation has certainly change from what the founders intended.

According to Open Secrets the financial industry has donated $247,774,431 during the 2013 to 2014 election cycle. It is safe to say that financial reform legislation will not be introduced anytime soon.

The classic I'm Just A Bill song.

David Rivera in More Trouble

Judge W. David Watkins ruled that former Florida House Rep. David Rivera improperly billed the state of Florida for travel expenses.

"Respondent (Rivera) personally authorized the travel expenses which were charged to his credit cards,'' Watkins wrote. "He also personally signed and submitted the travel reimbursement requests to the state of Florida. Finally, Respondent also personally signed the campaign account checks used to pay off his credit card balances. Respondent individually, and without the participation of anyone else, personally orchestrated this sequence of events. Thus, Respondent knowingly and intentionally received travel reimbursements from the state of Florida to which he was not entitled."

Translation: Rivera used state money to pay off his personal credit card bills. Rivera paid off travel expenses with his campaign account. Rivera then billed the state of Florida for the same travel and used that money for his personal use.

The FBI is currently investigating Rivera for unreported campaign contributions to Justin Lamar Sternad. Rivera used Ana Alliegro to hand deliver money to Sternad. This is known because Sternad has testified to a grand jury. Sternad was quoted in an FEC filing.

“The contribution was given to me, in cash, by a third party from Ana Alliegro. I later discovered that Ana Alliegro was working with David Rivera,” Sternad wrote in an amended report that the FEC posted Jan. 30.

Ana Alliegro fled to for Nicaragua. Alliegro is currently in a United States jail and has lost her passport. She has pleaded not guilty to making a false statement, conspiring and making illegal campaign contributions. Bond has been refused.

Judge Watkins has sent his ruling to the Florida's ethics commission for review. The ethics commission will likely not favor Rivera.

Sternad Names Rivera In FEC Report

Disgraced Congressman David Rivera (R) used GOP consultant Ana Alliegro to work as Democratic candidate Justin Lamar Sternad's campaign. Sternad had no political experience or financing to run a congressional campaign. Rivera used Alliegro as a money courier to Sternad's campaign. The Miami Herald reports that Sternad has admitted to Rivera fundraising the campaign mailers in a Federal Elections Commission report.

“The contribution was given to me, in cash, by a third party from Ana Alliegro. I later discovered that Ana Alliegro was working with David Rivera,” Sternad wrote in an amended report that the FEC posted Jan. 30.

Sternad has been found guilty of 15 guilty plea on counts of accepting illegal campaign contributions. His sentencing has been postponed. The Miami Herald reports that Sternad is cooperating with federal investigators. Sternad's attorney Enrique “Rick” Yabor made this statement.

“To those who think this case has gone away: You’re wrong,” said Enrique “Rick” Yabor, an attorney for Sternad, who last month amended three of his FEC reports to note the involvement of Alliegro and Rivera in his 2012 Democratic primary race for Congressional District 26, which stretches from from Key West to Calle Ocho in Miami-Dade County.

Rivera allegedly funded Sternad's Democratic campaign in the hope that Sternad could beat Joe Garcia in the primary. Rivera was at the time receiving a great deal of negative publicity involving other corruption scandals. Rivera has been the subject of investigation by the FBI, IRS, Miami-Dade Police Public Corruption Unit, and Florida Department of Law Enforcement.

It appears the FBI is planning to use Sternad as a witness against Rivera.

Shocking News: Florida Republican Donors Heart Chris Christie

Gov. Chris Christie came to Florida to raise money for Gov. Rick Scott. Are Republican donors bothered by the allegations of the BridgeGate scandal? Hell no. Talking Points Memo reports Christie got a standing ovation during the fundraiser dinner.

But the source, who asked not to be named, said the scandal didn't deter donors. The source said Christie got a standing ovation at the first fundraiser of the day and that hundreds of donors attended the events.

This reminds me of when former Florida House Speaker Ray Samson was forced to resign. Republicans were singing the praises for Samson. For those that don't remember, Samson was indicted and found not guilty. of grand theft. Samson earmarked money for Florida State College to get an airplane hanger. Samson was later hired by the university. Why Republicans would view Samson and Christie as heroes is an interesting question.

Jim Greer Update

Via GottaLaff: Former of Republican Party of Florida chairman Jim Greer is now selling La-Z-Boy furniture. Greer is serving out the remainder of his 18 month prison sentence on a work release program.

He was transferred there — a privately-run facility called Bridges of Orlando — Oct. 29. Before that, he was assigned to a Florida Department of Corrections work camp in the Florida Panhandle.

He told the Tampa Bay Times, in an interview published Sept. 6, that while at that camp - Gulf Forestry Camp - he worked six-hour days pulling weeds and picking up trash.

Now, his routine is different.

The Department of Corrections would give few specifics about his life now, except that he lives and sleeps at the center and has worked at a La-Z-Boy Furniture Galleries store since Nov. 18.

There are four in the Orlando area.

He is paid $8 an hour plus a commission, the department reported.

Greer was convicted of stealing $125,000 from the Republican Party of Florida.

Question of the Day: How Can Peter Schorsch Afford his Lifestyle: Updated With Corrections

Peter Schorsch still owes nearly $68,000.00 in fines from a grand theft conviction. How is Schorsch able to afford to reserve the Green Bench Brewing Co. and a Jimmy's Meatballs food truck for his birthday.

This fine has been hanging over Schorsch's head for half a decade. Schorsch has barely made a dent in the money he owes to pay off the fine. Most people in Schorsch's position would be living in a cardboard box right now. Yet, Schorsch is able to afford to throw lavish parties for himself. Something is not right.

I got a new libel suit threat letter from Peter Schorsch. It appears Schorsch has a new attorney who send much more polite emails. That is greatly appreciated. I will never let Peter Schorsch have editorial control over this blog. I will make proper changes. This is from a 2007 St. Petersburg Times article.

Then, in 2006, Schorsch was arrested on charges he stole nearly $10,000 from the Democratic club, and from Ed Helm and Eve Joy, who ran for mayor and a seat on the St. Petersburg City Council, respectively, in 2005.

Schorsch took their money and did no work.

After pleading no contest, he was sentenced to two years of house arrest and three years of probation, during which he was prohibited from working in campaigns.

In the same article Eve Joy called Schorsch a "felon." Joy pressed the charges against Schorsch.

"In my opinion, he's a felon," said Joy. "He should have been adjudicated as such, but I think everybody has to move on."

Aside from its background in politics, Bartlett said the case was handled as other similar theft cases might have been.

To Joy's disappointment the charge against Schorsch was adjudicated. It should noted Schorsch was sentenced to house arrest and had to pay a fine. However, Schorsch was never declared innocent by the court.

Schorsch made complaints to me that he was not fired by Jack Hebert. Sources have told me otherwise. Part of the reason for Schorsch termination was Schorsch dating Herbert's then high school daughter.

In 2003, Schorsch had a falling out with the firm's founder and principal, Jack Hebert. The disagreement stemmed at least partly from Schorsch's decision to date Hebert's high school daughter, Schorsch said.

Somehow I doubt Mr. Herbert was going to offer Schorsch a raise. If Mr. Hebert tells me that Schorsch quit I will be happy to make corrections.

SaintPetersGate

The Tampa Bay Times has released a damning story on blogger Peter Schorsch. TBT collected emails, tweets and a contract of Schorsch asking for money in return for favorable coverage for politicians and political organizations. Pinellas County Commissioner Janet Long and former state Rep. Frank Farkas went on-the-record telling TBT that Schorsch asked for money in return for favorable coverage.

Farkas said Schorsch approached him.

Around October 2012, then-state House candidate Farkas said Schorsch called him. The blogger told him he would carefully screen what content related to Farkas appeared on his site if the politician signed an ad contract. "We didn't sign and I got what I expected: one-sided, slanted," Farkas said. "He stabs so many people in the back, and he continues to get away with it."

Farkas claims that if you don't pay Schorsch you get punished with negative posts on SaintPetersblog.

Long told a similar story of feeling intimidated by Schorsch.

Long described a similar experience during her 2012 County Commission run. Like Farkas, she didn't pay Schorsch, but denying him made her nervous, she said, saying: "You don't need to be out there incurring the wrath of someone like him because he's a loose cannon."

This is two elected officials stating publicly that they were shaked down by a blogger and political consultant. The implication is Schorsch would write nice things about if they would pay him. This is journalisticly unethical on so many different levels. This means that Schorsch doesn't believe the positions and candidates he writes about on his blog. Schorsch only writes positives things about a candidate or policy if it helps his bank account. Imagine if a reporter for the Washington Post or New York Times was publicly accused of taking money for positive news coverage. There would be a major uproar.

Many people wouldn't talk to TBT. Their reasons were all the same. They were scared of Schorsch.

More than a half-dozen people contacted by the Times declined to comment on Schorsch, several saying they feared retribution.

Michael Pinson has been a longtime online target of Schorsch. Pinson showed TBT a contract Schorsch offered him. If Pinson would pay then Schorsch would lay off.

The contract called for a $1,000 bonus if anything Schorsch wrote about Pinson didn't appear in the first 30 online search results.

The contract is notarized and signed by Schorsch. The Times met with the notary, who confirmed its legitimacy.

Schorsch said his attorney drew up the contract but said it was at Pinson's request. Schorsch said the activist had repeatedly harassed him and his family.

Schorsch claims he had the contract drawn up "just so this insane lunatic of a person would go away." This tweet Schorsch sent to someone who may have been connected to Pinson draws doubt to that.

"Tell Michael I said hi. Just think for 5K he could've made all of this go away. Wait till u see 'The Douchebag Returns' story."

Schorsch's ego has a habit of pointing to his misdeeds. Attorney and political consultant Johnny Bardine was the first to publicly state that Schorsch was paying someone to wear a chicken suit and appear at debates. The publicity stunt was aimed at getting attention to the fact that Kathleen Ford was avoiding debates.

Schorsch publicly told TBT that Bardine was a liar.

"Johnny is absolutely lying and he's doing so because I'm beating up on his client," he said, referring to District 8 council candidate Steve Galvin.

A slick political operative would have left no link between himself and the chicken stunt. Schorsch's ego is so big he had to take credit and post this picture on social media.

Schorsch lied to TBT and publicly called Bardine a liar. An interesting choice of words from someone who was lying at the time.

Conservative blogger Sarah Rumpf wrote that Schorsch published an off-the-record conversation she had with him.

@SaintPetersblog You put in your post part of DM convo that you agreed was off the record. Last DM from you is "Will call you later..."

— Sarah Rumpf (@rumpfshaker) November 29, 2011

Rumpf explains in her post.

First of all, Schorsch committed a serious breach of ethics by disclosing several of my comments that we agreed were "off the record." We had a phone conversation a few days ago and then some back-and-forth direct messages on Twitter yesterday. I've saved the screencaps and not only did Schorsch affirm that my previous comments were off the record, those direct messages were as well.

I have never in my life had someone violate an agreement to keep a conversation "off the record," especially when it was in writing. To not only have that confidence violated, but for Schorsch to go so far as to directly quote my allegedly off-the-record words is ridiculous.

Schorsch also has a criminal history. Creative Loafing awarded Schorsch "Most Arrests for a Political Operative." Schorsch was pleaded no contest for grand theft, has a history of writing bad checks, charged with stealing Tarpon Springs Democratic Club and fined $68,000 by the Florida Elections Commission.

Mug shot of of Schorsch.

There is a criminal inquiry now into Schorsch's activities. It appears that Pinson accusations has relaunch the inquiry. It was only a matter of time before Schorsch self-destructed again.

I have noticed the deleted posts from SaintPetersblog. I suspected that Schorsch was behind the chicken stunt. Schorsch admitted in 2009 to planning to use homeless people to crash a Kathleen Ford news conference. That is tacky and exploiting homeless people.

A political question is how long does Charlie Crist keep Schorsch and his wife Michelle Todd involved with the campaign? I privately told people that Republicans would attack Crist's links to Schorsch. An anti-Crist ad with a mug shot of Schorsch will not play well with the voters. The TBT article on accusations of payola only makes matters worse. The Obama people and the DNC will pressure Crist to cut all ties with Schorsch. That may even include firing Todd.

From a blogging perspective: this stains political bloggers on the Left and Right in the Florida blogosphere. Peter Schorsch is our Stephen Glass. I am not a lawyer. I will let the criminal inquiry decide the legality of Schorsch's actions. What I do know is Schorsch destroys the credibility of blogging. Every Florida political blogger will have to fight with the perception that we are all like Peter Schorsch. We are not. Most of use do not even sell ad space. I certainly never heard of a political blogger shopping his lack of convictions for the highest bidder. Political bloggers are passionate about politics. Schorsch is passionate about money

Conservative Bad Girl Ana Alliegro Back In Florida

Self-professed conservitive bad girl Ana Alliegro has surfaced. Talking Points Memo had this interesting profile of Alliegro's past misdeeds.

In a story published Monday night, the newspaper offered more details of Alliegro's past legal run-ins — from driving with a suspended license, to minor shoplifting, to shooting at her ex-husband...

She is a bad girl.

Alliegro was the money lady for bogus Democratic candidate Lamar Sternad. The latter ran against Joe Garcia in the Democratic primary. Garcia later beat the scandal plagued David Rivera in the Congressional general election.

Sternad used Rapid Mail to send out attacker mailers against Garcia. The problem was Sternad's fundraising was nonexistent. Alliegro gave envelopes stuffed with cash to Rapid Mail. Sternad told a grand jury that Rivera was funding his campaign. Alliegro quickly left the United States for an extended vacation in Nicaragua.

Alliegro has returned to the United States and was greeted by federal agents at the airport.

Multiple sources say Alliegro voluntarily arrived in Miami this weekend. Her passport was taken by federal agents and she spoke with investigators Monday. She is negotiating a deal to avoid prison time.

“The deal is simple: cooperate,” said a source familiar with the case. “They want Rivera.”

Alliegro will speak to a grand jury about her involvement with Rivera and provide a timeline of events. Sternad has already pleaded guilty to $81,486 in illegal campaign contributions.

It is time for a reporter to ask Sen. Marco Rubio about his former housemate David Rivera.

Rick Scott Makes CREW Most Corrupt List

Gov. Rick Scott has the dubious distinction of making the Citizens For Responsibility and Ethics in Washington list for most corrupt governors. Congratulation, Governor Scott..

The David Rivera Saga

Poor David Rivera couldn't get his sometime (nearly foreclosed) housemate Marco Rubio wouldn't take the time to talk about his friend to Miami Herald reporter Marc Caputo. Rivera's fundraising has been lagging behind Democratic Joe Garcia. Rivera could have used a hearty endorsement from Rubio. However, Rubio, chose to walk into the rain to avoid Caputo's prying camera. Rivera has also not been seen at any South Florida campaign rallies with Mitt Romney.

In Rivera's defense, he does have interesting tastes in women. Take self-described conservative bad girl Ana Alliegro. Talking Points Memo has the highlights of her past.

We do now know a bit more about her, though, thanks to The Miami Herald. In a story published Monday night, the newspaper offered more details of Alliegro's past legal run-ins - from driving with a suspended licence, to minor shoplifting, to shooting at her ex-husband - and her role in the campaign of an upstart Democratic congressional primary candidate.

Why would a conservative bad girl like Alliegro work on a Democrat's campaign. Perhaps if that Democratic candidate was set up by Rivera, in an attempt to knock Garcia out of the race.

Rivera gave enelopes stuffed with money to Alliegro. She in turn delivered the money to Rapid Mail. Garcia's primary opponent Lamar Sternad used Rapid Mail to send out mailers attacking Garcia. Sternad did not have the level of fundraising needed to send ouyt the mailers. When questioned on how he could afford the mailers - Sternad said: "Kiss my 'lily white' ass."

Alliegro was suppose to testify to a grand jury. She disappeared. Alliegro's attorney and family are not aware of her whereabouts.

Sternad wisely did not tell the grand jury to kiss his ass.

Justin Lamar Sternad, whose failed campaign became the subject of a federal grand-jury investigation, has told the FBI that Rep. David Rivera was secretly behind his run for office, according to the Miami Herald and El Nuevo Herald.

The most hysterical thing is that Sternad testified that Alliegro referred him by his nickname Gangster.

The Fashionable Connie Mack

Republican U.S. Senate candidate Connie Mack was caught using campain money to buy clothes from Brooks Brothers. Whoops.

Records show identical charges of $234 were made on April 12 and May 16 and the campaign listed it as "clothing." Federal law prohibits the use of campaign funds for personal items including "clothing, other than items of de minimis value that are used in the campaign, such as campaign ‘'T-shirts' or caps with campaign slogans."

Wisely, Mack campaign spokesman David James admitted to The Buzz that the Brooks Brothers purchases were a screw-up. I hope Team Mack didn't think they could get away with buying clothing with campaign money. Former Hillsborough County Commissioner got into a scandal for using campaign money to Mack has other problems. His hometown newspaper, The Naples Daily News, withheld their endorsement. To make matters worse, the NDN editorial board wrote an open love letter to Mack's opponent Dave Weldon. Ouch.

State Attorney Report on David Rivera

Chief Assistant State Attorney Jose J. Arrojo and Assistant State Attorney Howard R. Rosen have finished their investigation of Rep. David Rivera. No charages will be filed against Rivera. That doesn't mean that Rivera did not break the law. The report presents extremely damning evidence on how Rivera unethically abused his office for financial gain. Rivera used campaign money to live lavishly.

During the same time periodreviewed, the subject charged hundreds of thousands of dollars in cost associated with extensive state and national travel to his four personal credit card accounts Other costs associated with travel of friends, clothing, and entertainment were also charged to these credit card accounts The subject engaged multiple credit card transactions each week and made thousands of charges to his four credit card accounts during the review period. Therefore, the subject repeatedly wrote checks directly from the three campaign bank accounts to pay off the expenditures charged with owing on his personal credit cards. Alternatively, the subject wrote checks from the campaign bank accounts and deposited the checks into his personal bank account, thereafter writing checks from his personal bank account to pay off expenditures charged and owing on his credit cards.

This is stealing money. There is no two ways about it. It appears that Rivera, like his friend Marco Rubio, double-billed for travel. The State Attorney's office felt they could not prosecute Rivera for this offense based on the State v. Maloy decision.

It appears that on several occasions, the subject may have been paid for official travel as an elected representative by the state and then was also reinbursed for the same travel from his campaign accounts. Accordingly, we focused on these transactions as potential theft from the state.

The question that has never been answered is what happened to the over-billed money Rubio and Rivera received. A plane ticket needs to be bought only once. Where did the second money billed for the same plane ticket go. Rubio and Rivera have refused to give a straight answer on the double-billing question. The State Attorney's office wanted to charge Rivera under Florida's RICO laws. They felt they didn't have a strong enough case. However, state attorneys made it clear that they believed Rivera was breaking the law.

More specifically, the subject repeatedly and intentionally committed multiple instances of theft by converting funds in his campaign depositories and using them for purposes otherwise not permitted by law.

The State Attorney's Office cite the statute of limitations. The truth is it is hard in Florida to convict an elected official. Florida Senate members Gary Siplin and Jim Norman are a testament to how crooked politicians thrive in this state.

Cliff Stearns Corruption Scandal

Republican James Jett has accused Rep. Cliff Stearns of briding him. Jett was set to run in the Republican primary against Sterns for the new District 3 seat. According to Jett, Sterns offered to a bride, in exchange for Jett dropping out.

Jett said one offer included a job on Stearns' campaign staff that would pay him to cover the approximately $25,000 he had spent on his congressional run. He also said he was told there could be a job heading the Florida Department of Law Enforcement or a U.S. marshall position once there are vacancies.

Gov. Rick Scott would have to be involved, in order for Stearns to give Jett the head position at the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. It could very well be that Stearns was overplaying his influence. However, it does sound shady.

According to Jett, the FBI has recorded phone conversations Jett had with Jim Horne and Jud Sapp. Horne and Sapp were to help set up the deal between Jett and Stearns. Jett isn't someone who makes these kind of accusations likely. By all accounts he is honest and doesn't stand for corruption.

This is the second time Jett has said someone has tried to pay him, illegally, for politics. A Clay County man was convicted in 1990 for offering Jett, then a county commissioner, $30,000 for his vote. Tape recordings were used in that case, by the State Attorney's Office.

Lt. Governor Jennifer Carroll's name was brought up by Jett to the FBI. Jett adds that he doesn't think Carroll has done anything illegal.

Update: the Sterns story makes me wonder how often this kind of pay for play deals go on. State Sen. Jim Norman admitted to violated the law by not reporting a $500,000 house, given by campaign donor Ralph Hughes to Norman's wife. Former Florida House Speaker Ray Sansom gave Northwest Florida State College pork, in exchange for a job. It is no wonder that Republicans don't flinch when JD Alexander uses the legislative process to increase his property values of his company Atlantic Blue.

The current crop of Republicans are so confident that they have no qualms about breaking the law. Do you actually believe that Rick Scott is worried about the Florida Department of Law Enforcement investigation on the data erased from his laptop and cell phone? Scott and other Republicans do not have to worry about being indicted for violating Sunshine and campaign laws. Jim Norman and Ray Sansom will unlikely get convicted by the FBI. JD Alexander got the CSX line and state college near his Blue Atlantic property. Marco Rubio used the nonprofit Republican Party of Florida credit card as his own ATM. Rubio is now a Senator. Scott was involved in a huge Medicare fraud scandal and his now governor. These Republicans are going to keep behaving unethically because it pays well.

Jim Norman Admits to Violating the Law

Jim Norman protested about how he was innocent. Norman maintained that a $500,000 house paid for by Ralph Hughes of a business venture by Norman's wife Mearline.

NORMAN: "I'm not getting into my wife's investment portfolio. That's my wife's interests."

Mearline Norman hasn't worked in years and shares a joint bank account with Norman. Norman says he knew nothing about the $500,000 Arkansas home in his wife's name. That doesn't pass the laugh test. Apparently, the Florida Commission of Ethics felt the same way. Norman decided to take a plea deal.

TAMPA State Sen. Jim Norman has signed a consent order with the Florida Commission on Ethics admitting he violated the law when he did not disclose a $500,000 loan from a political supporter to his wife.

Norman, 58, of Tampa, signed the consent order Feb. 9, six days after the ethics commission found probable cause he had broken the law. He admitted to four counts, including not disclosing a gift, and not disclosing his interest in an Arkansas home and two boats.

The good news is Norman admits to breaking the law. The bad news is Norman is still a member of the Florida Senate. Florida is in desperate need for stiffer corruption laws. If we don't reform the system the result is more bought of politicians like Norman. If you aren't convinced that Hughes buying the Norman family a house isn't corruption than you are either a partisan or disengaged from reality.

The Trillion Dollar Sellout/Bailout

Matt Taibbi has a must-read article with a great rundown of the “Armageddon” of lawsuits banks face from states, counties, and investors due to their sale of fraudulent Mortgage Backed Securities [MBS].

[I]f you add up all of the MBS-related liability out there, the banks as it stands are facing an Armageddon of claims from all sides. It can’t possibly be less than a trillion dollars, and it’s probably much, much more.

This is important to know because, in Washington, Obama is busy working on a deal to sell us out to the bankers.

But the Obama administration’s current plan [the foreclosure settlement deal] is to let them all walk after paying a few shekels apiece into a $20 billion kitty.

That’s $20 billion combined from all the big banks, by the way — not $20 billion from each.

At a bare minimum, the Obama administration needs to push for strong regulations to stop this kind of Wall Street excess from happening again. Personally, I wouldn’t mind seeing big banks broken up into smaller, not-too-big-to-fail banks so this ridiculous merger graph can, again, be seen in reverse:

Indeed, going back to Taibbi:

If the Obama administration was serious about helping actual human beings through this settlement, then it would be fighting for homeowners to get the same bailout the banks would get. If the banks are getting a trillion or more dollars of legal immunity, why shouldn’t homeowners get that much debt forgiveness? Or, half that much? A quarter?

For anyone who wonders why activists are occupying Wall St., and dozens of other locations, look no further. And who anyone who wonders if this movement will benefit the Obama administration, again, look no further.

And for anyone who accuses common sense proposals like regulation and antitrust actions against the current banking system is somehow “socialist” or even from the political left, screw you. Get a couple brain cells to fucking rub together.

No Surprise: Gary Siplin in Trouble

Florida Sen. Gary Siplin is in trouble again. Siplin spent $13,000 to pay campaign workers. The problem is Siplin hasn't disclosed who those workers are.

Siplin's campaign treasurer, Arnold Gibbs, told investigators that the poll workers were paid in cash because "the Democratic Party of Florida did not pay the poll workers and we did not have enough campaign checks."

What candidate in this day and age would pay worker in cold cash and not keep records. This looks like Siplin funneled the money to himself. Siplin also accepted two $500.00 checks from Florida Phosphate CCE. The law allows Siplin to accept only one $500.00 check from Florida Phosphate CCE.

The The Florida Elections Commission has filed 8 charges Siplin from campaign violations. State Attorney Lawson Lamar has decided not to file criminal charges. You wouldn't know that by the way Siplin is doging the media. This is a man that doesn't want to make any comments on the record.



Why is Siplin still holding public office? Siplin was arrested and convicted breaking election laws in 2006. The conviction was overturned on appeal. Siplin's reaction to the media at that time was to jump over a fence instead of answering questions. Siplin is a disgrace and unworthy of his elected post.

No Surprise: David Rivera Investigated by FBI & IRS

This isn't really news. There has been rumors for quite some time that the FBI and IRS are investigating Rep. David Rivera.

Federal investigators have opened a second criminal probe of U.S. Rep. David Rivera, examining undisclosed payments from a Miami gambling enterprise to a company tied to the Republican congressman, The Miami Herald has learned.

Agents with the FBI and the Internal Revenue Service have begun interviewing witnesses knowledgeable about a $1 million consulting contract between Flagler Dog Track — now known as Magic City Casino — and Millennium Marketing, a company co-owned by Rivera’s 70-year-old mother and her business partner, according to sources familiar with the investigation.

The involvement of the IRS and the questions agents have asked indicate Rivera is the subject of an income-tax evasion inquiry, said a source.

The investigation goes beyond the exchange of money between Rivera and his family members through the Flagler Dog Track and Millennium Marketing. Rivera received $137,000 and did not report it. Rivera later claimed it was a loan. How many politicians receive loans from lobbying organizations run by his mother and godmother.

This is the classic shakedown job by a politician.

But Martinez told The Herald last year that it was Rivera who first approached the dog track about running the pro-slots campaign, and it was Rivera who suggested that the contract go through Millennium. Dog track officials had no contact with Medina or Magarino during the contract negotiations, Martinez said last year. Rivera signed the 2006 contract with Magic City along with Medina, records show.

Rivera then set-up family members to run Millennium Marketing. The loan looks like a secret funneling of money. Flagler Dog Track got its casino slot machines. The Rivera family got paid off for pushing slot machine legislation through the Florida legislature.

Esther Nurfer was interviewed by the FBI. Rivera made $150,000 and $250,000 payments to Nurfer's consulting firm Communication Solutions. The funny thing is the Republican Party of Florida have no record of these transactions. Nurfer is Rivera's girlfriend.

Luis Garcia Announces Congressional Campaign

Congressman David Rivera raised only $35,500 last quarter. Rivera is being investigated by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.

Rivera received an unreported $137,000 from Millennium Marketing. When the payment was discovered Rivera said it was a loan. Millennium Marketing received $510,000 from Flagler Dog Track. Millennium was run by an aide of Rivera's. The Flagler Dog Track is owned by the Havenick family. At the time Millennium was involved with the Flagler Dog Track. The latter was lobbying the Florida legislature. Rivera was a member of the Florida House during this time.

Democratic state Rep. Luis Garcia announced he will run for Rivera's seat. The 25th district is predominantly Cuban and Republican. Garcia is a former Miami Beach fire chief.

Despite all of Rivera's political scandals, the 25th district is a hard seat for Democrats. On paper, Garcia is the right candidate to run against Rivera. He is Cuban, experienced, been elected to the Florida legislature and has a solid background in public service. Garcia's problem is The Republican Cuban machine knows how to turn out voters on election day. A strong Democratic turnout is a must if he has any chance of winning. Rivera will get his voters to come out. Garcia needs to court younger Cuban voters that aren't obsessed with overthrowing Castro. The older Cuban voters will vote for Rivera because he is a Republican.

I wouldn't be surprised if the DCCC writes off this race.

Daphne Campbell Says 'I'm A Celebrity' After Asked About Medicaid Fraud

Florida House Rep. Daphne Campbell is under investigation for Medicaid fraud. Her husband, Hubert Campbell has been indicted for federal mortgage fraud. He pleaded guilty to using a false Social Security number to obtain a mortgage. He received three years probation.

The Campbell's son, Gregory, has been indicted.

The probe comes weeks after the arrest of the couple’s 28-year-old son, Gregory Campbell, in a separate Medicaid fraud case. He is accused of falsely billing the state for nearly $300,000 and has pleaded not guilty.

Below is a bizarre video of Miami Herald reporter Marc Caputo asking Campbell a series of tough questions. Campbell and her entourage run away from Caputo's camera. Campbell is laughing throughout the video and proclaims, "I am a celebrity." This incident and Campbell's public pen-throwing incident with Rep. Scott Randolph makes me think Campbell has the mentality of a child.

What wasn't caught on camera was Campbell running to Republican Rep Carlos Lopez-Cantera for help. Lopez-Cantera scolded Campbell as if she was a child.

As the camera went on, Lopez-Cantera pointed out to Campbell that she needed to stand on her own and face the press: "You're a state representative."

Campbell is a Democrat. Campbell actually thought Lopez-Cantera was going to throw a life line to her. The Republicans are going to let Campbell sink in the weight of her Medicaid scandal. Campbell's anti-abortion votes buys Campbell nothing with the Republican House caucus. Campbell has worked hard to alienate herself from the Democratic caucus and base. Campbell is done as a public servant.

Javier Manjarres of The Shark Tank took the video of Caputo videoing and asking Campbell questions. Campbell is laughing when asked why she was charging rent to homes that were unoccupied.

You can watch the Caputo cam video here.