Rubio, Florida GOP enmeshed in trouble. Growing wave of scandals
Harry Hope
http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20100304/COLUMNISTS0205/100303021/1138/OPINION/Growing+wave+of+scandals
March 4, 2010
Growing wave of scandals
Rubio, Florida GOP enmeshed in trouble
BY TYLER WINIK
The Republican Party of Florida�s American Express cards � issued to
party leaders, including at least one high-ranking official in Brevard
� were one of the many controversial subjects over the past few months
that led to the resignation of former state GOP party chairman Jim
Greer.
Calls for the release of the American Express statements by the
general public, the Florida Democratic Party and Republicans
themselves have gone unheard or have been dismissed.
That was until recently, when it was discovered that Greer had
negotiated a contract worth several hundred thousand dollars with
then-state GOP executive director Delmar Johnson.
Transparency has been a highlight of Charlie Crist�s stint as
governor, and in maintaining that tone in his campaign, he released
his Senate primary opponent Marco Rubio�s American Express statements,
totaling more than $100,000.
Rubio�s $130 for a ritzy haircut, $1,000 to have a family car
serviced, and almost $3,000 to rent a car in Miami, where Rubio lives,
is a scandal for the Republican who is becoming well-liked across the
state for his anti-tax and anti-large government spending image.
Rubio, a former speaker of the Florida House who recently has carried
a sizeable lead over Crist in the polls, spoke out against Crist�s
release of his credit-card statements and implied former boss Greer
was complicit in the release of statements, of which only the party
and Rubio had copies.
Greer, who once hailed Crist�s support as his golden ticket, denies
any wrongdoing.
With a new executive director, chairman and staffers who have
congressional experience coming aboard to help �save the day� at the
RPOF, under the direction of state Sen. John Thrasher, GOP faithful
are asking for a transparent look into Amexgate and other questionable
spending on behalf of Greer, Johnson and party officials.
Thrasher has said that a forensic look into the records will begin
shortly�just not in the public�s view.
But the buck doesn�t stop with Rubio, Crist and Greer.
House Republicans announced their selection of scandal-ridden state
Rep. Chris Dorworth as their speaker designate for 2014.
Dorworth, a 30-something newcomer to the Legislature, has an
outstanding judgment worth $2.7 million against him on a land deal
gone wrong, had his driver�s license suspended for insurance
nonpayment and has a habit of neglecting to pay tolls on Central
Florida roadways.
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Hmmmmmmmmmm
Harry