In 2005, the Florida legislature adopted a zero-tolerance gift ban that was widely celebrated by both Democrats and Republicans as needed reform. Though I believed, at the time, that the legislature needed to go much further and outlaw state officials (and candidates for state offices) from controlling and soliciting for soft money committees (527’s and CCE’s), I supported and voted for the gift ban.
 
It has been reported in the news and, indeed, alleged by some Republicans, that in the wake of the gift ban, the Republican Party of Florida issued widespread credit cards to elected officials to allow them to charge travel, food and expenses to the party. This is troubling on many levels and I believe that the allegation is worthy of investigation and, at the very least, full disclosure to the public. If the distribution of credit cards was intended to avoid the gift ban, then the public has a right to know. If elected officials were receiving funds that were not reported, than other investigations may be in order.
 
While the fallout may be politically damaging, hiding the truth is much more destructive.  This is not merely an “internal party matter,” it is a matter touching upon the integrity of our governmental processes. It’s time to come clean.


Update: Below is a copy of a joint letter delivered to Attorney General Bill McCollum today.

Aronberg and Gelber Demand Accountability From McCollum Over RPOF
Remind McCollum of Duty to Request FDLE Investigation
 
Florida Senators Dave Aronberg and Dan Gelber released the following letter they sent to Attorney General Bill McCollum today:
 
The Honorable Bill McCollum
Office of Attorney General
State of Florida
The Capitol PL-01
Tallahassee, FL 32399-1050

Dear General McCollum:
 
During these tough times, Floridians are demanding accountability and transparency from their elected officials.
 
As you know over the past several weeks, the allegations of possible criminal activities have rocked the Republican Party of Florida (RPOF) and questions about the role elected officials had in these activities have arisen.
 
Through the reporting of the Orlando Sentinel, St. Petersburg Times/Miami Herald Tallahassee Bureau and other news outlets, Floridians have learned of excessive payments to Republican Party officials, elected leaders using party funds for their own benefit, and schemes to hide these dealings from public scrutiny.
 
Today, the Orlando Sentinel paraphrased the RPOF’s own former General Counsel Robert Sechen in saying the dealings, “might also run afoul of a state law governing Florida political parties that makes it a third-degree felony for a chairman or treasurer to knowingly make ‘a false or improper accounting for’ political money.”
 
These allegations by Sechen, along with other statements from prominent Republican Party officials and leaders echoing such allegations, demand a criminal investigation.
 
As Florida’s chief law enforcement officer, it is incumbent on you to formally request an investigation by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement into the possible criminal activity and public corruption surrounding the RPOF’s secret contracts and credit cards.
 
To date you have neglected to call for any such investigation. We hope you will reconsider your duty in this matter where it is clear that Floridians deserve to know the truth.
 
Sincerely,
 
 
Sen. Dave Aronberg                                                               Sen. Dan Gelber
 
CC: Governor Charlie Crist
      FDLE Commissioner Gerald M. Bailey