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Rubio's cozy favor uncovered

In print: Thursday, April 10, 2008

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Nowhere in House Speaker Marco Rubio's book of "100 Innovative Ideas" did he call for giving a state transportation contract to one of his Miami friends. Maybe that's why Rubio tried to avoid an untidy public debate by slipping a few instructive words into his chamber's 366-page appropriations bill.

The "proviso" language, now having been discovered by a Miami Herald reporter, has elicited a somewhat audacious response from Rubio. He told reporters he is concerned about the "cozy relationship" that could develop between the Florida Turnpike Enterprise and a company that would be granted a single contract providing both concessions and fuel.

"The real story here is not some guy from Miami who owns gas stations," Rubio said. "I think the story here is who is this DOT megacontract designed to help?"

Sorry, Mr. Speaker. Whether it is wise to bundle the two contracts is a reasonable question. But the real story is, in fact, "some guy from Miami." That guy, businessman Max Alvarez, is a personal friend and political supporter of Rubio. He distributes fuel and wants to be able to bid separately for a fuel contract. Having lost that argument with state turnpike officials, he turned to Rubio.

Rubio is right that his proviso language would not guarantee Alvarez a contract, but that's hardly the point. The speaker chose not to subject his qualms about the state contract to staff analysis, committee hearings or any legislative scrutiny. Instead, he had it secretly placed into the appropriations bill in hopes that no one would call attention to it.

This is the kind of "political gamesmanship" Rubio once urged his House colleagues to rise above. If the speaker is truly on the watch for "cozy relationships" between businesspeople and state government, he can begin at home.