McCollum: Calls for Sunshine, Keeps his Cronies' Misdeeds In the Shadows

From FDP:

Florida Democratic Party Releases Web Video Highlighting McCollum's Hypocrisy

Despite repeated outcries from Democratic and Republican leaders, a flood of calls from taxpayers to the Attorney General's corruption hotline, and newspaper editorials demanding action, career politician Bill McCollum still refuses to investigate potential corruption with state GOP finances and party-provided credit cards for legislators, in direct contrast to McCollum's previous calls for transparency in government.

Today, the Florida Democratic Party released a web video highlighting McCollum's hypocrisy, which can be viewed here:

http://www.fladems.com/page/content/McCollumShadows/

"Why is Bill McCollum so scared of putting some sunshine in these dark corners? Good things never come out of shady places," Florida Democratic Party spokesman Eric Jotkoff said. "Bill McCollum likes to talk the talk, but he doesn't walk-the-walk when it comes time to confront his political cronies in Tallahassee. Does Bill McCollum stand by his previous calls for honesty and transparency in politics or will those words amount to nothing more than empty political promises?"

BILL McCOLLUM: TALKS THE TALK WHEN IT COMES TO BRINGING SUNSHINE TO DARK CORNERS

McCollum Called For Transparency-In-Government New Year's Resolution In December 2008. In a press release from the Office of the Florida Attorney General, on December 30, 2008, "Attorney General Bill McCollum today called on local governments, sheriffs and school districts to make government transparency their New Year's Resolution and to commit to providing enhanced access to information before Sunshine Sunday in March." [Office of the Attorney General of Florida, 12/30/08]

McCollum's Office Reiterated Call For 'Transparency Resolution' In March 2009 Press Release. A press release from McCollum's office on March 17, 2009 stated, "In December, the Attorney General called on local governments, sheriffs and school districts to make government transparency their New Year's Resolution and to commit to providing enhanced access to information." [Office of the Attorney General of Florida, 3/17/09]

McCollum: Open Government is 'Right Of The Tax-Paying Public.' In a press release from the Office of the Florida Attorney General, on December 30, 2008, Attorney General Bill McCollum stated, " 'As Florida is a national leader in providing public access to government records, merely responding to requests is no longer sufficient in light of the technological advances which make it infinitely easier, cheaper and more efficient to do so. Open government is not only good government; it is the right of the tax-paying public.' " [Office of the Attorney General of Florida, 12/30/08]

Transparency A 'Priority' For McCollum's Administration. In a press release from the Office of the Florida Attorney General, on August 31, 2009, Attorney General Bill McCollum stated, " 'Florida has a proud tradition of leading the nation in open government and transparency, which are the keys to building and maintaining public trust in the institutions of government. I am honored to help promote and protect that access, a responsibility which will continue to be a priority of my administration.' " [Office of the Attorney General of Florida, 8/31/09]

McCollum Called Government Accountability 'Vital.' In a press release from the Office of the Florida Attorney General, on March 17, 2009, Attorney General Bill McCollum stated, " 'It is vitally important that Florida's citizens have access to their government and can hold government accountable. Our Sunshine laws were created to provide that transparency and accountability, and our public entities should strive for nothing less than full compliance.' " [Office of the Attorney General of Florida, 3/17/09]

BILL McCOLLUM: INSTEAD HE HELPS HIS POLITICAL CRONIES KEEP MISDEEDS FROM COMING TO LIGHT

McCollum Refused To Ask For Inquiry Into GOP Financial Scandals. McCollum said he won't ask for inquiry until an audit of the RPOF is complete and he gets direction from the new party chairman to move although Gov. Charlie Crist last week said that party officials should open the books now. [Palm Beach Post, 2/15/10]

McCollum Continues To Stall A Criminal Probe Into His Own Party-McCollum's Hometown Newspaper Asked "Why Wait? "A former general counsel for the state GOP told the Sentinel that the spending might violate a state law against a party chairman or treasurer making a 'false or improper accounting' for political money. And some leading Democrats have pointed out that some Republican legislators could have charged luxury items to party-issued credit cards to evade a state law that bans gifts to elected officials. Attorney General Bill McCollum, the GOP's leading candidate for governor, has said he would rather wait for Mr. Greer's successor to lead an audit of the party's finances. Mr. McCollum said he would notify authorities if the audit suggests 'potential criminal activity.' Why wait, and why let an in-house audit dictate the next step? Top Republicans should welcome an independent investigation. A thorough, credible probe either will exonerate the party, or point out what it needs to fix, and whom should be held accountable." [Editorial, Orlando Sentinel, 02/17/10]

St. Petersburg Times Calls Out McCollum's Refusal To Hold RPOF Accountable "Now Attorney General Bill McCollum, despite knowing about the secret contract and the transferred funds for more than a month, is resisting calls for an external inquiry. He's content to let the next state party chairman, due to be elected this weekend, conduct an internal audit before calling the authorities in. Surely many of the entities that the attorney general investigates wish they were given such leeway to clean up their books. McCollum's office is likely not the appropriate state agency to investigate - a state attorney, statewide grand jury or the Florida Department of Law Enforcement would seem more likely - but his answer suggests he's more interested in saving the party embarrassment than getting at the truth. Once again it's clear Tallahassee can't be counted on to police itself. State and federal investigators should conduct an independent examination." [Editorial, St. Petersburg Times, 02/17/10]

McCollum Said Only 'Party Regulars' Should See Audit Of RPOF Finances, Not Good To Have Party Business Open To The Public. According to the Orlando Sentinel, on February 10, 2009, Bill McCollum said he doesn't think party business should be a public matter and that releasing AmEx statements for past cardholders was a decision that should be left to the next chairman. "That might be a question for the Legislature to decide since the Legislature makes the rules for parties," McCollum said. "Right now, the party matters are totally internal ... I don't think it's good for any political party to be having everything that's done inside the party open to the public and the press." said he did think "party regulars" were entitled to the information. [Orlando Sentinel, 2/10/10]

McCollum Initially Dismissed Calls For Broader Investigation Into Sansom's Actions-Now 15 Months Later Details Revealed Scrutiny Justified. Initially, Attorney General Bill McCollum, "dismissed a call for a broader investigation into Sansom's dealings with a state college." Now, "15 months have passed since the scandal involving Sansom and Northwest Florida State College erupted in late November 2008, after Sansom took a $110,000-a-year, unadvertised part-time job at the college on the same day he became speaker of the House." It is now know that "During the 2007 legislative session, Sansom, as House budget chair, inserted $6 million into the state budget to fund an emergency operations training center the college would operate at Destin Airport. Documents and interviews by state investigators indicate the center was also to be used as an aircraft hangar by Destin Jet owner Jay Odom, a close associate of Sansom and a major contributor to the state Republican Party." [St Petersburg Times, 1/21/09 and Florida Freedom Newspapers, 02/08/10]