The Florida Progressive Caucus and Charlie Crist

Florida Progressive Coalition head Susan Smith has been less than enthusiastic about Charlie Crist winning the Democratic nomination for governor. Smith was Nan Rich's biggest public supporter. The Florida Progressive Caucus is a member of the Florida Democratic Party structure. Which makes Smith's disparaging remarks about Crist stand out.

Smith told William March of the Tampa Tribune that there was a lack of enthusiasm for Crist's candidacy.

But Rich backer Susan Smith, of Tampa, president of the state party’s progressi ve caucus, said her supporters “will vote for Crist, but I’m not sure if the enthusiasm will be there or if people will be working for him. People don’t get excited about voting against something. They get excited about voting for something.”

Smith gave another lukewarm response about Crist to MyNews13.

Despite the effort, some Democrats aren't thrilled about Crist being the nominee.

"People are discouraged about the governor's race," said Susan Smith. Smith is President of the Democratic Progressive Caucus of Florida.

Mitch Perry asked Smith if she would support Crist. Her statement was underwhelming.

“I will no longer speak out and criticize on issues that I care about,” was as far as Susan Smith would go when asked about her support for Crist.

I asked Florida Democratic Party chair Allison Tant on the Florida Progressive Caucus's lack of public enthusiasm for the party's gubernatorial nominee.

Q: There have been people on social media that have suggested that FDP bylaws allow the Florida Progressive Caucus to speak out against party nominee Charlie Crist. Florida Progressive Caucus head Susan Smith has been rather negative against Charlie Crist publicly since he won the nomination. For the record: is the Florida Progressive Caucus allowed to publicly not back Crist?

Allison Tant: Nan Rich has shown the way to go. She has asked her supporters to support Charlie. I think if the caucus wanted to have an honest conversation with Charlie rather than a contentious one, one where they would honestly listen, they would be happy with his answers. We have too much ground to cover to allow division to occur.

Q: Thank you for your response. On the record question. What happens to the Florida Progressive Caucus's membership if they continue to be outspoken against Crist?

Allison Tant: I am going to have to review with the rules committee. It galls the hell out of me.

We will see what happens next.

Who Is Writing Not Getting Squeezed

This looks like a blog that has started in reaction to Florida Squeeze. Not Getting Squeezed has a very positive outlook towards the Florida Democratic Party.

we are a blog that supports democrats and stops the lies coming from other blogs that are claiming to be democrats we will support our party leadership on country state and national levels we will work hard to ensure the democratic message gets out we will be positive and praise the party never criticize like others we will expose bad democrats who are bloggers activists candidates and legislators soon we will launch.

This blog lays the bullshit on thick by describing Charlie Crist as a progressive. Really?

As a top Obama. We have Charlie Crist a real progressive. He was forced out of the republican party of florida for standing on principle. Our State House and State Senate campaigns are strong. We had a problem in the House. That was solved last year. We made a change. The change was putting the outstanding Mark Pafford as the leader.

This is a shot taken by the anonymous blogger against Florida Squeeze and Saint Petersblog.

If you look around the other blogs including the Florida Squeeze and the Saint Petersblog, you would think the democrats were losing everything. Obama won Florida in 12 and 08 and Sink would have won in 10 but national trends got in the way. Rick Scott is a tea partier. Now that people in Florida know that this he will be beat by Charlie Crist.

Peter Schorsch is a registered Republican. I think it is rather silly to expect Schorsch to show love to the Florida Democratic Party. Florida Squeeze has been critical of the state Democratic establishment. In the end it doesn't matter. No Florida political blogger has the same audience as Talking Points Memo or The Huffington Post.

This is a lot of inside baseball stuff. The political establishment doesn't love bloggers and bloggers don't love the political establishment. I have heard stories about activists making bogus Twitter accounts to troll other activists they disagree with. Don't these people have lives? It doesn't seem like a productive use of one's time.

Florida Democratic Party Ad On David Jolly

David Jolly has won the Republican p;rimary for the late Bill Young's seat. Jolly will face Democrat Alex Sink in the special election. The Florida Democratic Party has released an online ad attacking Jolly's career as a federal lobbyist.

Mark Pafford Next Florida House Monority Leader

It is nice to see the Florida Democratic establishment actually do something right. After the disaster that was the brief Darryl Rouson tenure; Florida House Democrats have made Mark Pafford the next Minority Leader.

Pafford was nominated and seconded by two state representatives who had been mentioned as possible leadership candidates: House Democratic Leader Pro Tempore Mia Jones, D-Jacksonville, and Rep. Janet Cruz, D-Tampa. Jones lost out to Rouson to be the next Democratic leader back in February by a narrow margin. Rep. Shev Jones, D-West Park, and Rep. Katie Edwards, D-Plantation, nominated and seconded Williams.

Pafford in a leadership position will make progressives in Florida happy.

Update: Florida Democratic Party chair Allison Tant statement on Pafford.

"I congratulate Representative Mark Pafford for winning the support of his colleagues. I look forward to working with Rep. Pafford and all House Democrats in building a unified and and strong Caucus. I am excited for the great work ahead, and I am confident Representative Pafford will have great success."

Rachel Sutz Pienta Is Running For VP of Florida Democratic Party Democratic Women’s Club

Rachel Sutz Pienta is running for 2nd Vice President of the Democratic Women’s Club. The DWCF is a caucus of the Florida Democratic Partic Party. Pienta is a noted Florida progressive. Pienta has a post on her resume.

I first became involved in Democratic politics as a student at the University of Florida. I was part of a team of College Democrats who worked statewide to elect President Bill Clinton. Following the 1992 election, I worked as a district intern for then-Democratic state senator Kirkpatrick and then worked on campaigns to elect Congresswoman Karen Thurman and Governor Lawton Chiles.

Later, I went to Washington to intern in Karen Thurman’s Congressional office. When I moved to Tallahassee for graduate school, I was awarded a paid legislative internship to work as a legislative policy analyst for the Florida House of Representatives on Education K-12. After my internship year, I continued to work on public policy and political campaigns.

In 2011, I helped to found a new caucus in the Florida Democratic Party - the Democratic Progressive Caucus of Florida and I currently serve on the caucus Board of Directors (http://www.progressivedemcaucusfl.org/). In 2012, I was selected to chair and host the Florida Democratic Party’s Small County Coalition Conference in Wakulla County. I currently serve as the Secretary for the Small County Coalition.

Over the past three years, I have also served on two statewide Democratic Party committees – serving on the team of authors who wrote the Florida Democratic Party’s state platform and serving on the team that developed an endorsement and slating procedure for statewide candidates. I currently serve on the FDP Campaign Committee.

I also served on the North Florida Finance committee for the Obama Campaign under the leadership of Allison Tant Richard.

Read Pienta's entire resume on her blog post.

Charlie Crist Is Officially the Democratic Establishment Candidate Against Rick Scott

Via Peter Schorsch: there was never much doubt that Charlie Crist was the preferred candidate to run against Gov. Rick Scott. Crist will join Florida Democratic Party chair Allison Tant for a FDP fundraiser at the home of Joe Falk and Mark Scott.

Expect Crist to make many more appearances with Tant and other big name Democrats across Florida. Crist is being rolled out by the party for his run.

Florida Democratic Party Goes After Scott's Driver's License Veto.

For once the Florida Democratic Party is doing something smart by hammering Gov. Rick Scott for vetoing the right for immigrants with Deferred Action status from obtaining driver licences is stupid politics. Scott still thinks the tea party is a driving force. The Pew Research Center showed how President Obama beat Mitt Romney with Hispanics.

The state’s growing non-Cuban population—especially growth in the Puerto Rican population in central Florida—contributed to the president’s improved showing among Hispanic voters. This year, according to the Florida exit poll, 34% of Hispanic voters were Cuban while 57% were non-Cuban. Among Cuban voters, the vote was split—49% supported Obama while 47% supported Romney. Among the state’s non-Cuban voters, Obama won 66% versus 34% for Romney.

Of course, Scott's veto doesn't surprise me. Scott ran an xenophobic campaign against Muslims. A Salon investigative article found that Scott's company had to settle many discrimination cases.

Yet even before it was fully operational Solantic executives were accused of a pattern of serial discrimination in hiring, a pattern supposedly initiated by Scott himself. The suits alleged a standing policy not to hire overweight women, Hispanics with strong accents, older women and black women.

The company settled the suits, and never admitted any wrongdoing. Today, the company’s CEO, Karen Bowling, adamantly denies there was ever such a policy. But as Scott exerts influence on the national healthcare debate, and holds up his own company as a model of the virtues of the for-profit system, the chronology of the accusations is compelling. It starts with one of the very first people Solantic hired.

Scott can't help but come off as xenophobic anymore than a tiger can change its strips.

Nan Rich Will Not Speak At Jefferson-Jackson Dinner

You know Nan Rich's gubernatorial candidacy is in trouble is when she will not be allowed to speak at the Jefferson-Jackson Dinner.

"I think it's inappropriate, given the amount of attention the governor's race will draw," said Rich, a Weston resident. "I've been a candidate for a year, I've traveled the state and built a significant infrastructure and grassroots support. And I'm just asking for five minutes."

But it's five minutes too long in the eyes of the Democratic Party's chairwoman, Allison Tant, who decided along with party leaders to keep the June 15 fundraiser at the Westin Diplomat in Hollywood limited to three speakers: Congresswoman and Democratic National Committee Chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz, U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson and featured speaker Julian Castro, the mayor of San Antonio.

I'm surprised that someone of Allison Tant's progressive background is blocking Rich from speaking. Florida Democratic Party political director Christian Ulvert explained that the focus of this year's dinner will be Julian Castro, Bill Nelson and DNC chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz.

I wonder if the DNC told the FDP to not have Rich speak. Charlie Crist stumped for Obama in Florida and was a campaign bundler.

Dems Reaction to Mark Sharpe's Candidacy

Hillsborough County Commissioner Mark Sharpe (R) announced that he will run for District 11 House of Representatives seat. In the past Castor has ran against walking punch line candidates like Tim Fasano. Redistricting has changed things. Due to the uncertainty, the Florida Democratic Party fired off an email stating their support of Castor.

Statement from Scott Arceneaux, Executive Director of the Florida Democratic Party:

“Congresswoman Kathy Castor has a strong record of fighting on behalf of the families of the Tampa Bay area, always putting the interests of the people of Florida ahead of the special interests in Washington,” said Florida Democratic Party Executive Director Scott Arceneaux. “She is a principled leader working hard to create jobs, improve schools, and protect consumers and the environment. Elected to Congress in the last cycle with overwhelming support, she is a proven fighter on behalf of the people in her district, and we are confident that her constituents will send her back to Congress next fall.”

The Hillsborough County Democratic Party is demanding that Sharpe step down from the Commission.

“Voters in Hillsborough County have a right to full-time representation," states Chris Mitchell, Chair of the Hillsborough County Democratic Executive Committee. “Today's announcement makes it clear that Mark Sharpe will be paying attention to his US House campaign, and that is not what people expected when they voted for him last November.”

Candidates hold elected office and run campaigns all the time. I wish both parties would dump this attack. It does say that the Florida Democratic establishment is taking Sharpe's candidacy seriously.

What Should Be the Democratic Message on Rick Scott's Budget

I am getting emails from the Florida Democratic Party of news articles of how Rick Scott's budget didn't keep his campaign promises or how the budget will never pass. This is horrible messaging which is standard operating procedure of the Florida Democratic Party. FDP chair Rod Smith delivered this highly uninspiring message.

This budget is a frontial assault on the quality of life of every Floridian and will not create a single job nor spur our economy forward; instead it takes us further into the economic ditch," Florida Democratic Party Chairman Rod Smith said in a statement.

The right message is Scott's budget is going to increase the tax burden on the poor and middle class. Here is a breakdown of the current tax increase of the poor, middle class and top 1 percent.

Lowest 20% - 13.5 percent

Middle - 9.2 percent

Top 1% - 2.6 percent

If you make over $509,000-a-year expect Scott to back tax cuts for the top 1 percent. Not exactly a "I feel your pain" moment.

Florida has one of the lowest corporate tax rates in the country. Scott has proposed lowering the corporate tax from 5.0 percent to 3.5 percent. Scott hopes to eventually eliminate the corporate tax. Never mind Scott is proposing this when Florida is facing a $3.5 billion budget shortfall.

Scott has proposed repealing the drug tracking law designed to deal with pill mills. Scott refused to give a reason. Considering Scott's shady past at HCA/Columbia, this should give people concern. Can anyone think of a mainstream politician that is against cracking down on drugs? Seriously.

Scott has accused the unemployed of being too lazy to look for work. The Florida legislature is working on bills to cut unemployment compensation from 26 to 20 weeks. Scott will sign the bill if it hits his desk. The 12 percent of unemployed in Florida could be looking at homelessness.

Scott proposes to eliminate $1 billion from Medically Needy program. Pregnant women and children lives will be at risk from not getting health care. These are people that do not have private insurance. Patients will be denied organ transplants from the cuts to the Medically Needy program. Arizona citizens have died from Gov. Jan Brewer denied patients transplants.

Scott's budget proposes $3.3 billion in education cuts. The result would mean layoffs of teachers. The cuts would mean there would not be enough teachers to follow the constitutional guidelines of the class size amendment. Scott education budget would violate the Florida constitution and set up legal battles.

Scott is a horrible politician. Scott has low poll numbers and needed to unveil the budget to a mainstream audience. Instead, Scott chose a Tea Party rally. Scott is politically operating as if he is still running in the Republican primary. Scott is governing a state with a Democratic voter advantage. These Democrats stayed home in 2010. They didn't switch over and vote for Scott. High approval for Scott's policies is not going to happen with regressive proposals and poor communication.

Scott is an unconfident politican that barely beat the poor campaigners known as Bill McCollum and Alex Sink. Scott has alienated the media and they are now hammering his budget. The Tea Party doesn't make up the majority of Republican voters. Republican and Democratic voters are going to be angry when there aren't enough teachers for their children. These voters will also be angry when they can't get Medicaid or other state heath care. I'm guessing a lot of these voters won't be too happy about Scott making it harder to go after pill mills.

It is absolutely sad that the Florida Democratic Party can't hammer Scott on his budget. Scott's base of support is weak and even other Republicans won't back Scott's budget. (Florida Republicans knows Scott isn't popular.) The Florida Democratic Party should attack Scott for waging class warfare against the poor and middle class. Democrats should be pounding the message that people could die because of Scott's health care proposals. Many people are hurting in the economy and Rod Smith and Eric Jotkoff haven't attacked Scott and other Republicans for their insensitivity to the unemployed. And the Florida Democratic Party wonders why they keep losing elections.

What Is the Florida Democratic Party's Message?

"Meanwhile, as a friend of mine in mediaworld said to me tonight, how could Florida Democrats could so screw things up, when the state party is flush from victory in 2008, has raised tons of the money, which erased the Republican advantage, and when the state party they’re facing are almost all under investigation by the FBI and IRS … including Marco Rubio??? You begin to wonder if Democrats can even play this game… "

Joy-Ann Reid, of The Reid Report.

Peter Schorsch and I both have touched on this. Let me use a sports term. Florida Republicans can ball and the Democrats can't. Republicans will tell voters what they stand for. No one has any doubt that Marco Rubio will cut corporate taxes and is against abortion. Democrats literally run from what they are suppose to stand for. There is the infamous moment of Alex Sink walking away from a question about the health care public option.



Voters want to see candidates stand for something. Rubio has horrible policy positions. Rubio sells being anti-choice and anti-gay as being principled. Florida Democrats let Rubio get away with his unprincipled social positions because they avoid bringing up the subject. Kendrick Meek didn't make gay rights a campaign issue until Charlie Crist supported gay adoption.

The Florida Democratic Party sends out rapid response emails everyday about what is wrong with the Republican Party of Florida. Politically, attacking the opposition is fair game within the bounds of reason. What we aren't hearing from the Florida Democratic establishment is new ideas. Rubio's "100 Ideas" was nothing more than a political gimmick The (false) message voters were receiving is Republicans have proposals. What is the Florida Democratic Party's message besides Republicans are bad. I and other progressive bloggers buy the message. The voters of Florida aren't the Florida Progressive Coalition. The voters need a reason to vote for Democratic candidates.

Florida Democratic Party Statement on Health Care Protests

Eric Jotkoff of the Florida Democratic Party released a statement on last night's violent protest against the Kathy Castor health care townhall meeting.

Enough is enough! First Florida Republicans used riots to stop the recount and make George W. Bush President. Now they're trying to use the Republican mob rule tactics to stop efforts to reform our broken health insurance system and obstruct President Obama’s efforts to bring change to Washington. That’s why tonight we are saying, ‘Enough is enough!’

Not only do Florida’s Republican leaders such as Gov. Charlie Crist, AG Bill McCollum, and Rep. Bill Young need to immediately denounce their party’s tactics, but they also need to apologize for the violence that was witnessed today in Tampa. If they don't they will be equally as guiltily as the protesters starting these fights.

Two reported fist fights broke out at the event. Police were called in to maintain order. Many tea party protesters banged on windows and doors. The protesters failed to realize fire marshall rules will not let a venue by seated beyond capacity.

The event organizers left a door open. The idea was that people who could not get seats could hear Castor speak. At 1:40 in the video, a woman warns the protesters to either stop shouting down Castor or they would close the door. Notice the edit at the 2:06 mark. What is not shown is a man in a green shirt obstructing the organizers. The video only shows organizers pushing the man away from the door. The man resisted and had his shirt ripped. A police officer can be seen keeping another man away from the door. The second man has a more severely ripped shirt.



A vlogger confirms organizers had to remove a man from the doorway to close the doors. Check the video. Notice the tea baggers banging on the doors. How civil of them.

Florida Democratic Party Voter Registration

Republican Party of Florida Chairman Jim Greer admits new Democrats are registering in higher numbers than Republicans.

“We must not allow the success Democrats have seen in voter registration in recent months lead to success at the ballot box,” state GOP Chairman Jim Greer declared Tuesday in announcing a major statewide voter registration drive. “With a U.S Senate Seat and four open Cabinet races in 2010, we must maintain our focus on the general election next November and work to build our infrastructure of registered voters and grass roots volunteers who will implement our nationally recognized GOTV Program.”

Unfortunately for Greer what Republicans are selling is not very appealing to young people. The Florida Democratic Party released their voter registration numbers.

New Reg Oct 7 - May 1

Dem - 86220 39.54%
Ind - 76134 34.91%
Rep - 55720 25.55%
Total - 218074

African American

Dem - 22551
Rep - 891
Ind - 6305
Total - 29747

Hispanic

Dem - 15662
Rep - 5134
Ind - 12619
Total - 33415

White

Dem - 41261
Rep - 46396
Ind - 49242
Total - 136899

Other

Dem - 4710
Rep - 2163
Ind - 6260
Total - 13133

Under 35

Dem - 43995
Rep - 25406
Ind - 39518
Total - 108919

35-65

Dem - 32166
Rep - 21392
Ind - 28358
Total - 81916

65+

Dem - 8017
Rep - 7780
Ind - 6543
Total - 22340

People are registering Democrat or Independent in stronger numbers than Republican. The GOP response is to sell the same message of bashing foreigners, social conservatism (that they don't practice) and tax cuts for top earners. The GOP is a small tent party and is happy that way. The staunchly far right factions that make up the party would rather lose election than compromise.

Jefferson-Jackson Dinner

The Florida Democratic Party will hold it's Jefferson-Jackson dinner. The star of the event is CFO Alex Sink. The dinner is being used as a funraiser for Sink's campaign to be Florida's next Governor.

Cut and Run Crist

The Florida Democratic Party released the internet ad "Cut and Run Crist." The ad targets Crist taking 62 days off from his work schedule. He is not running for a second term as Governor. Crist has been accused of leaving Florida is in a financial crisis. Florida's deficit for 2010 is projected to be in the $5 to $6 billion range. Crist is faced with the options of cutting programs, tax increases or both. All the choices are bound to anger parts of the population.

First and foremost, Crist is a politician. Crist has one eye on opinion polls and another on the political winds. The forecast in Florida is stormy. Crist knows when it is time to sail calmer waters.

Q and A With Karen Thurman

Florida Democratic Party chairwoman Karen Thurman talks with the St. Petersburg Times Adam Smith. Thurman had to spin when Smith pointed out Obama won Florida and Democrats didn't pick up a seat in the Florida legislature.

Thurman attack Crist for not having his own stimulus program. I actually think a Florida stimulus plan is a great idea. Crist would show true leadership if he tried to kick start the Florida economy with infrastructure projects. That would require Crist closing tax loopholes and making more cuts in the budget. Crist's approval rating and speaking skills give him the platform for a stimulus plan. I don't see Crist putting himself in a position to be attacked by both parties. One can dream.

FDP Press Release On Crist's Leadership

Eric Jotkoff, of the Florida Democratic Party, sent out this press release.

While they might agree to put ideology above the needs of Floridians during these hard economic times, it is striking how little political capital that Charlie Crist has with the legislature.

Despite the fact that Crist continues with his signature tone-deaf optimism and his out-of-touch attitude, it is clear that Crist has failed Florida when our state desperately needs real leadership.

As the first week of the current Special Session wraps up, perhaps the most interesting development has been the fact that even embattled Speaker Ray Sansom seems to have more credibility than Crist among Republican Legislators, despite Sansom's ethical and legal woes.

Crist's fake optimism is getting boring. In 2006, I wrote a post about Crist's lack of understanding about Florida's tax revenue. We are now seeing how Crist's lack of seriousness about economic issues is hurting Florida.

The Florida legislature shot down Crist's budget and Seminole gambling deal. The base views Crist as too moderate. Jeb Bush makes thinly-veiled shots at Crist for being for being "Democrat-lite." The voters may love Crist. The GOP views Crist with utter disdain.

Crist is still a popular Governor. Win or lose, Crist's 2010 Democratic challenger will attack Crist's economic policies. That will hurt the party more than Crist. The party in power will be blamed for the budget deficit, unemployment, economic downturn and cuts to schools and social services. In the mean time, Crist will tell voter the future is so bright.

The Gay Lesbian Bisexual Transgender Caucus Is Upset

The Gay Lesbian Bisexual Transgender Caucus is part of the Florida Democratic Party. The GLTB Caucas is angrey at the FDP for their silence on Amendment 2.

"The caucus wanted the party to do a mailing opposing Amendment 2 and it never went anywhere,'' said Stephen Gaskill, a spokesman for the GLBT Caucus. "The party's official position was that they don't take positions on constitutional amendments, but this is a civil rights issue at its core...We decided that we wanted a say in the direction of the party.''

Can anyone blame them?

The Democratic Party pays lip service to the LGBT community. THE FDP offers no aid when gay rights are stripped away. The Democratic establishment chooses political convenience over LGBT issues. That doesn't stop Republicans from demonizing Democrats are gay issues. The best way to fight is push back. Democrats can explain why gay marriage is not a threat to hetrosexual marriage or families. The FDP ducks and hides; instead of getting in the trenches. Their attitude is the LGBT community has no other place to go. Sadly, they are right.

FDP News

The Florida Democratic Party has selected its leadership.

Karen Thurman, Marion County, re-elected state party chair
Rhett Bullard, Hamilton County, Vice chair
Rick Boylan, Pinellas County, Secretary
Alma Gonzalez, Leon County, Treasurer

DNC Members:

Diane Glasser, Terry Brady, Joyce Cusack, Evelyn Garcia, Nancy Jacobson, Chuck Mohlke, Jon Ausman, Mitch Ceasar, Alan Clendenon, Tony Hill

Karen Thurman Letter To Charlie Crist

Florida Democratic Party chairwoman Karen Thurman asked Charlie Crist to repay $430,000 the Governor spent on his lavish summer trip.

The Honorable Charlie Crist
The Capitol
Tallahassee, FL 32399

Dear Governor Crist,

As you know, Florida is facing a major budget crisis. After cutting billions of dollars from vital education, healthcare and public safety programs last year - cuts that hurt Floridians struggling to get by during these tough economic times - our state still face larger and ballooning deficits.

This weekend, the South Florida Sun-Sentinel reported that your trip this summer cost taxpayers a total of $430,000. They reported that taxpayers footed the bill for your entourage of more than two dozen, including a photographer and nine bodyguards. They write about your accommodations and expenses that, “His London hotel suite, originally estimated to cost $1,800 a night, actually was $2,179, the Sun-Sentinel found. He flew first class for about $8,000 round trip, courtesy of a Miami travel agency. He ran up room service and minibar tabs of more than $1,300. And he spent $320 on electric fans to keep him cool while giving speeches.”

This news comes at the same time you are calling on Floridians to make sacrifices and ordering government agencies to cut spending. With tours of Buckingham Palace and visits to the Eiffel Tower on your agenda, it was clear at the time that your trip served as a taxpayer financed vacation. While some positive results may come from the trip, the lavish accommodations and first class travel were beyond excessive. The same results could have been accomplished should you have stayed at more modest accommodations than the Presidential suites of five-star hotels, while creating huge saving for taxpayers.

While your office continues defending your trip, claiming it has helped Florida’s economy the statistics are clear: since your trip more than 48,000 Floridians have lost their jobs, over 145,000 Floridians have received foreclosure notices, and our tourism industry has seen a major decline in the number of visitor. Additionally, since your trip we have learned that our state’s deficit has grown by more than $2 billion.

To show that you are a responsible steward of Florida taxpayers’ hard earned dollars, you should reimburse the state’s treasury the costs associated with this trip.

Sincerely,

Karen L. Thurman
Chair, Florida Democratic Party

Related: Power Play