Dubious Democratic Fundraising
A former Republican elections official has filed a trio of complaints with the Florida Elections Commission alleging that the state Democratic Party and two related committees illegally raised money in 2004 and 2005. The complaint, filed by South Miami attorney Eric Buermann, contends the two committees, called Florida House Victory and Florida Senate Victory, violated the state's fundraising limits when they collected in excess of $500 from individual donors. The two committees were formed to help Democrats win legislative seats.
"I felt this activity was really over the line and somebody needed to put it before the commission,'' Buermann said Monday in a phone interview. "This was not grassroots people sitting around the kitchen table trying to help their neighbor run for office. These are the sophisticated officials in the business. They need to be held accountable.''
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"I felt this activity was really over the line and somebody needed to put it before the commission,'' Buermann said Monday in a phone interview. "This was not grassroots people sitting around the kitchen table trying to help their neighbor run for office. These are the sophisticated officials in the business. They need to be held accountable.''
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11 Comments:
At 9:33 AM, May 16, 2006, gabriel said…
Looks like most of the expenditures of the commitees were for consultants, etc. as opposed to direct contributions to candidates. Buermann's right if any of these expenditures should have been allocated to candidates as in-kind contributions over $500 and wrong if they needn't have been.
The bigger picture is another ClusterF*** by the Dems Who Couldn't Shoot Straight-- no policies, no values,and no clue as to the law.Sad state of affairs if you really believe in the two-party system...
At 9:33 AM, May 16, 2006, Omega83 said…
I may be totally misinterpreting Florida election laws, but I thought the $500 limit was on a per candidate basis only, and that companies and individuals could make unlimited donations to PAC's like the two mentioned here?
At 10:16 AM, May 16, 2006, gabriel said…
Omega83--
You'd be right if these were CCEs. However and for reasons known only to the Gods of Stupidity, they set these up as Political Committees and came under the $500 limits in AND out IF candidate contributions are made. If the committees have problems, the donors do, too... Watch this one closely.
Remember, though,that the Elecions Commission can screw up a steel ball so take its initial actions with a grain of salt...
At 10:46 AM, May 16, 2006, Marley6969 said…
Sounds like this all came out of the Herald's stories a few weeks ago, it's pretty outrageous, some of their own attorneys told them they were f'ing up, from the sounds of it. I wonder if there will be another penpal battle between Thurman and Jordan over this one? Pretty hillarious.
As for rules, Omega83, Gabriel is dead on, you can only give political committees $500 a year, and some of the donations were up to $50k. Buermann's dead on with his quote, this is the "who's who" of the Dem fundraising operation, including Rod Smith's main fundraiser and advisor...Jim Davis's folks should be all over this.
At 10:59 AM, May 16, 2006, jpublic said…
Davis would be a fool to jump on this… in fact any politician would be.
There’s nothing like the “Kettle calling the Pot” to reinforce that the only bi-partisan thing going on in our government is corruption.
No news here, just confirmation of the obvious… there isn’t dimes worth of difference between the D’s and the R’s in power. They’re all crooks and need to go. No better election season for the cry “THROW THE BUMS OUT”… all of them.
At 2:20 PM, May 16, 2006, RonLincoln said…
The dems. cheat and still cant win
At 3:36 PM, May 16, 2006, buzzgrump said…
Tough day for Rod Smith...his top fundraiser has a date before the Elections Commission and his top supporter in Miami (Comm. Johnny Winton) was arrested last night for hitting a cop.
Judging by his friends, Rod Smith is in real trouble.
At 4:54 PM, May 16, 2006, Marley6969 said…
A quick search on the Rod Smith website says that Mr. Winton is still a member of the Miami-Dade Steering Committee...
ELECTED LEADERS
The Honorable Harvey Ruvin, Miami-Dade Clerk of the Courts
The Honorable Dorin Rolle, Miami-Dade County Commissioner
The Honorable Gwen Margolis, State Senator, Miami Beach
The Honorable Frederica Wilson, State Senator, Miami Gardens
The Honorable Larcenia Bullard, State Senator, Miami
The Honorable Dan Gelber, State Representative, Miami Beach
The Honorable Ed Bullard, State Representative, Miami
The Honorable Robert Ingram, Miami-Dade School Board Member
The Honorable Solomon Stinson, Miami-Dade School Board Member
The Honorable Johnny Winton, City Commissioner, Miami
The Honorable Luis Garcia, City Commissioner, Miami Beach
The Honorable Maria Anderson, City Commissioner, Coral Gables
The Honorable Wayne "Chip" Withers, City Commissioner, Coral Gables
Rough day indeed...
At 6:25 PM, May 17, 2006, 1sourcem said…
I am shocked, shocked to learn that there is a campaign finance scandal at the FDP.
At 6:59 PM, May 17, 2006, uberpol said…
anyone who knows anything about florida election law knows that no one did anything wrong.
in fact, this is a good litmus test to separate the political wannabees from the pros on this blog.
At 10:53 PM, May 17, 2006, Marley6969 said…
please elaborate? Whether you look at stories in the Tribune, the Herald, or the Times, even the Palm Beach Post, it does sound like they did something wrong? Form as a political committee, limited to $500, but takes up to $50k. Gives that money to candidates and even the Senate Minority office in the state capitol building? Doesn't pass the sniff test by me, but maybe you know better? Please elaborate...
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