Thurman: McCollum's Role in GOP Scandal Necessitates Independent Investigation

Today, Florida Democratic Party Chair Karen Thurman demanded that Governor Charlie Crist use his authority to start an independent investigation into the Republican Party of Florida's alleged corruption by appointing a Special Prosecutor, as new information that has come to light raises questions about Attorney General Bill McCollum's potential prior knowledge of corruption at the state GOP and his conflicts of interest in this case.

"Exactly what did Bill McCollum know about Jim Greer's secret sweet-heart deal to leave his job and precisely when did McCollum know it?" asked Thurman. "Since McCollum's conflicts of interest serve to question McCollum's motivation not to investigate or get all the facts out on the table, only an independent investigation by a Special Prosecutor can legitimately determine if crimes were committed by Republican politicians and party officials. McCollum's central role in the timeline of the case, and his refusal to take action, taint the integrity of this potential investigation. At this time, only an independent review will carry any merit. This is the only way to ensure Floridians have justice and officials are held accountable for their actions."

Addressing Governor Crist directly, Thurman added, "Governor Crist, the ball is in your court. Please don't repeat the mistake you made when you refused to order an investigation into disgraced Speaker Ray Sansom. On behalf of all Floridians, I ask you today to do your duty and appoint a Special Prosecutor."

New accounts in the press over the last two days illustrate a 'back-and-forth' on whether there was a secret severance package deal finalized for the outgoing chair of the Republican Party of Florida. News accounts suggest Bill McCollum had some, yet to be detailed, knowledge of the alleged corruption at the Republican Party. Since McCollum chose to not make public the financial and other questionable practices of the state party, his ability to fulfill his responsibility as Attorney General and hold an investigation has become highly questionable.

While Attorney General Bill McCollum refused to call for a larger investigation, the controversy grew and members have had time to possibly try and cover up possible wrongdoing. The truth will not be known without an investigation independent of McCollum.

PARTY OFFICIALS ADMITTED THERE WERE NEGOTIATIONS FOR A SECRET DEAL FOR OUTGOING CHAIR'S 'SEVERANCE BUT DENY IT WAS EXECUTED-OTHER OFFICIALS SAY DEAL WAS SANCTIONED AND EXISTS

"Back And Forth Over Whether" Outgoing RPOF Chair Got "A Secret Deal" Continued Yesterday. The St. Petersburg Times reported that "the back-and-forth continues over whether the outgoing chairman of the Republican Party of Florida, Jim Greer, cut a secret deal to get severance and legal protections." [St. Petersburg Times. 02/18/10]

RPOF Officials Acknowledged There Were Negotiations To Pay Greer A Secret Deal As Severance-But Insist The Deal Was Never Excecuted. Yesterday , RPOF officials acknowledged "that there were negotiations to continue paying Greer his yearly $130,000 salary and other benefits as severance. But they said the agreement was never formally 'executed.' Greer's ouster was precipitated by lavish spending, subpar fundraising and a grassroots rebellion." The Sentinel reported, "the existence of a secret severance deal agreed to by Thrasher could damage his candidacy". [Orlando Sentinel, 02/17/10]

Outgoing RPOF Vice-Chairman Insist The Deal Was "Sanctioned" And "An Agreement Was Formed, And Exists". According to outgoing Vice-Chairman Allen Cox, "Greer critics ... sanctioned a severance package that would pay Greer his $130,000 salary, health coverage and other perks in exchange for leaving with 11 months to go in his term". In a letter, Cox stated, "I believe that an agreement was formed, and exists, and the truth will be revealed when Greer seeks its enforcement." [Orlando Sentinel, 02/17/10 and St. Petersburg Times. 02/18/10]

McCOLLUM ADMITTED TO BEING "AWARE OF NEGOTIATIONS" BUT DENIED KNOWING "ANY SPECIFIC DETAILS" OF SECRET DEAL FOR OUTGOING CHAIR-YET McCOLLUM WAS CENTRAL TO GREER'S OUSTER, HAD A COPY OF THE CONTRACT AND HAS BEEN KEEPING THE CONTROVERSY "QUIET"

McCollum's Office Admitted To Being "Aware" of Severance Negotiations But Denied Knowing "Any Specific Details". According to the Sun-Sentinel, on February 8, 2010, a campaign spokeswoman for McCollum said, " 'We were aware of [severance] negotiations taking place as Chairman Greer announced his resignation. We were unaware of any specific details.' " The severance package in question was reported to be $130,000, roughly Greer's annual salary, along with health insurance coverage. [Sun-Sentinel, 2/8/10]

McCollum Was Central To Ouster Of Greer And Johnson, Has Tried To Keep The Matter In The Dark. On January 9, "McCollum was given a copy of the two-page contract at the GOP's annual meeting in Orlando...He immediately told Cannon and Haridopolos about it..." and, "They stormed over to GOP headquarters, and Greer and Johnson vacated the office soon after." The Orlando Sentinel reported on February 12, that McCollum, "was a driving force in ousting former chairman Jim Greer and Executive Director Delmar Johnson." "Attorney General Bill McCollum...has been deeply involved in the controversy, while trying to keep it quiet." [Orlando Sentinel, 2/9/10; St. Petersburg Times, 2/9/10; Orlando Sentinel, 2/12/10]

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]

Candidate McCollum Calls for Transparency, Career Politician McCollum Refuses To Let Sunshine In

From FDP:

Republican gubernatorial Candidate Bill McCollum likes to talk about his support for openness and transparency, but Career Politician Bill McCollum covers his cronies in times of scandal, as proven this week.

"Bill McCollum continues to duck and dodge taking action in his role as Attorney General in favor of his political allies, again. Whether its partisan misdeeds or questionable credit cards to lawmakers, Bill McCollum's last priority is the taxpayer and his first priority is his political cronies. Why is Bill McCollum protecting the status quo and the political elite instead of working to bring some transparency to the way business is run in Tallahassee? Why is Bill McCollum afraid of a little sunshine in these dark corners?" Eric Jotkoff, Florida Democratic Party spokesman asked.

When two candidates to replace McCollum as Florida Attorney General called on him this week to open an investigation into whether or not spending scandals at the Republican Party of Florida that included doling out credit cards to legislators constituted a breach of a 2005 ban on gifts to lawmakers, McCollum refused. In fact, the former Congressman refused to join a litany of other Republican statewide candidates in calling for the GOP to open its books to public scrutiny.

McCollum's politics-as-usual was editorialized against in the Sun-News, Friday, this way:

McCollum drew the line at transparency in government at the party door. He has publicly stated that the finances that are in debate, the party's finances, are not for the review of the common man. It's none of our business because it's party business, so to speak. As if the common man is only to pull the lever for a party no longer representing the people who vote for them. The common man is to ignore the doings behind that curtain, and the great and powerful Oz will tell you what to believe. The party has become more important than the voter. What is McCollum afraid of? Is he afraid that the public will be upset with the extravagant spending in a time when 10 percent of Floridians are looking for a job?

Read the full editorial, here http://www.newssun.com/opinion/edt-0212-mccollum

Will Bill McCollum please let a little sunshine in? What's he afraid of?

When Will Candidate McCollum Explain The Actions of Congressman McCollum?

From FDP:

At Wednesday's Associated Press Forum in Tallahassee, Republican gubernatorial candidate Bill McCollum failed to explain, yet again, his insistent effort for financial deregulation that eventually led to the current economic crisis. And the $4.7 trillion question remains on the table, when will McCollum explain his repeated efforts to raise the national debt ceiling?

In Congress McCollum Helped Turn Our "Lemonade Into A Lemon"-As Governor McCollum Would Likely Turn Florida's Economy Into A "Permanent Bust". "In Congress, McCollum helped turn our lemonade economy into a lemon. In 1999, he co-sponsored the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act to repeal the Glass-Steagall Act, which prevented banks from taking on riskier investments that could precipitate the very financial crisis Obama inherited. ... As governor, McCollum would likely turn Florida's economy into a permanent bust." (Column, Sun-Sentinel, 01/15/10)

Congressman McCollum Held Hearings On Subprime Lending - Then Did Nothing-Years Later As Attorney General And During The Crisis: "It's Not The End Of The World." According to the St. Petersburg Times, McCollum, as vice chairman of the banking committee in May 2000, held daylong hearings into mortgage issues, including rising defaults rates and subprime lending practices. The St, Petersburg Times reported, "But hours of testimony resulted in little action. 'It was very hard to convince anyone it was epidemic,' said Cathy Lesser Mansfield, a Drake University law professor who testified before the committee." In 2007, the News-Press reported that McCollum said he thought that the subprime collapse had been exaggerated by the media and investors. "It's not the end of the world," he said. (St. Petersburg Times, 5/24/09 and The News-Press, 11/15/07)

Congressman McCollum Voted At Least 11 Times To Raise The National Debt Limit. The Miami Herald political blog reported that Congressman McCollum "voted to increase the national debt limits" several times. According to records, McCollum voted at least eleven times to raise the national debt limit between 1984-2000. (Miami Herald Blog, 01/20/10; Vote 48, 3/7/96; Vote 30, 2/1/96; Vote 270, 6/29/84, Vote 330, 9/22/87; Vote 336, 11/7/89; Vote 369, 11/13/85; Vote 353, 11/1/85; Vote 743, 10/26/95; San Francisco Chronicle, 10/28/95; Vote 812, 11/17/95; Vote 820, 11/20/95; Vote 102, 3/28/96 and USA Today, 3/29/96)

During Congressman McCollum's Time In Washington, The Debt Increased By 4.7 Trillion. During McCollum's time in Washington, America's debt increased by $4.7 trillion from $907 billion in 1980 to $5.66 trillion in January 2001 (when McCollum left office). (US Treasury)

Got Debt?

From FDP:

Congressman McCollum Sold Out Florida Consumers, Attorney General McCollum Dropped The Ball, And Now Candidate McCollum Says He Wants To Start Helping

Tallahassee, FL - The countless Floridians facing mortgage, credit card or other forms of debt during the current economic crisis should be concerned--very concerned-- by Republican candidate for governor, Bill McCollum.

Candidate Bill McCollum says he wants to protect Floridians who are facing mounting debt and growing bills after Attorney General McCollum dropped the ball. But Congressman McCollum pushed anti-consumer legislation for the banking and credit card interests that funded his campaigns and committees.

"After three years of dropping the ball, Candidate Bill McCollum is now calling for more power to go after abusive debt collectors," Florida Democratic Party Spokesman Eric Jotkoff said. "However, in Washington, Congressman McCollum pushed anti-consumer legislation for the special interests that funded him. Congressman McCollum went on to be well rewarded with campaign cash-a payoff for representing the special interests, not Floridians. He lined his campaign coffers at the expense of Florida consumers."

CANDIDATE McCollum Called For Greater Powers To Go After Abusive Debt Collectors AFTER ATTORNEY GENERAL MCCOLLUM Dropped The Ball

McCollum's Office Called For Broadened Powers To Go After Debt Collectors-But His Office Had "Not Opened A Single Investigation Despite A Flood Of Complaints." "Consumer advocates and lawyers say harassment - including threats - has surged as the economy tanked and people lost the ability to pay their bills." The Orlando Sentinel reported that McCollum "wants to broaden his power to go after debt-collectors - and his office is suggesting Sink's proposal" to grant the Department of Financial Services the power to regulate and punish debt collectors "would weaken the attorney general's ability to protect consumers." But "McCollum's office had not opened a single investigation despite a flood of complaints. Initially, McCollum's office said it had received more than 4,400 complaints last year but later lowered that number to roughly 2,400." The Office of Financial Regulation also received complaints but had not "fined or suspended anyone." (Orlando Sentinel, 01/25/10)

Jacksonville Lawyer Specializing In Consumer Law And Predatory Lending Found That McCollum Rarely Pursued Collector Cases. The Sun-Sentinel reported: "The Attorney General's Office can launch investigations against rogue collectors, but it focuses on companies that generate lots of complaints from consumers across the state. Laura Boeckman is a Jacksonville lawyer specializing in consumer law and predatory lending. She said she has found that the attorney general rarely pursues collector cases - something she attributes to a lack of resources. 'It would be great to see the AG go after more of these on their own,' said Boeckman, 'but given the current budget cuts the office has had, I don't see that happening soon.'" (Sun-Sentinel, 11/09/09)

Attorney General McCollum's Office Only "Generally Referred" Consumer Complaints To OFR, But Never Sent Official Notice. McCollum "said his office would begin taking complaints it receives from its consumer line and forwarding those items to OFR. Until now, staffers manning the hotline - or responding to consumer e-mails - generally referred the person to OFR but did not send that office any documentation." (Orlando Sentinel, 11/04/09)

Orlando Sentinel: "Onus On The Attorney General To Protect Consumers From Illegal Business Practices". The Orlando Sentinel reported: "Florida law puts an onus on the attorney general to protect consumers from illegal business practices. Mr. McCollum's predecessors, Republican Charlie Crist and Democrat Bob Butterworth, took on that responsibility with enthusiasm. (Orlando Sentinel, 07/06/08)

Candidate McCollum Is Running From Congressman McCollum's Record Of Pushing Anti-Consumer Legislation For Bank And Credit Card Contributors

Candidate McCollum Has "More Recently - Morphed Into Something Of A Consumer Advocate" As Voters Might Be Seeking A "Pocketbook Protector" For Their Governor- McCollum's "Record In Congress" Is Known For Different Agenda. The Sun-Sentinel reported: "Bill McCollum's current stint as Florida's attorney general is the latest stop in a three-decade political career that began with his 1980 election to Congress from Central Florida. Once known as a fiery social conservative, McCollum in Tallahassee has been mostly low-key. He has pulled together groups to fight gang violence, sought to crack down on child pornography and - more recently - morphed into something of a consumer advocate. ... In a state with the nation's fourth-highest foreclosure rate, double-digit unemployment and the first year-over-year population loss since 1946, economic woes could crowd out everything else" during the election. ... McCollum's record in Congress as a staunch social conservative ... might matter less to voters than having a 'pocketbook protector' for governor." (Sun-Sentinel, 08/23/09)

Congressman McCollum "Was Blistered By Consumer Groups" For Pushing Bankruptcy Law Changes From Banks And Credit Card Companies As He Took Contributions From Them. Earlier, while in Congress, Mr. McCollum was blistered by consumer groups for pushing bankruptcy-law changes for banks and credit-card companies as he took campaign contributions from them." (Orlando Sentinel, 07/06/08)

Congressman McCollum Pushed Legislation On Behalf Of Banking And Credit-Card Industries Who Wanted To Make It Harder For Borrowers To Discharge Their Debt In Bankruptcy. To "Campaign fundraising documents exposed by the Wall Street Journal show that McCollum heavily targeted banks and credit-card companies on whose behalf he has been promoting legislation to make it harder for borrowers to discharge their debts in bankruptcy." (St. Petersburg Times, 10/18/00)

Congressman McCollum Was Well Rewarded For His 'Anti-Consumer Credit Card Legislation. The Orlando Sentinel stated, "In 1998, Public Campaign (an open government group) gave McCollum its 'Golden Leash' award for accepting $373,857 in campaign cash from the banking and financial service industries while using his position on the Banking and Financial Services Committee and the Financial Institutions and Consumer Credit Subcommittee to promote anti-consumer credit card legislation." (Orlando Sentinel, 05/14/09)

DEBT INDUSTRY IS GROWING AND FLORIDANS ARE FACING A SURGE OF DEBT CHALLENGES

Debt Collectors Are In High Demand, Particularly in Florida Which Has "The Second-Highest Rate Of Credit Card Delinquencies In The Country." The St. Petersburg Times reported that debt collectors' "services are in sharp demand. Double-digit unemployment translates to surging delinquencies, particularly acute in places like Florida, which has the second-highest rate of credit card delinquencies in the country. Retailers, hospitals and credit card companies are all willing to turn to experts ... in trying to get bad debt off their books as painlessly as possible." (St. Petersburg Times, 11/29/09)

With Millions Of Americans In Debt, 'Secondary Debt' Industry Is Estimated To Be A $60 Billion Industry. Millions of Americans "find themselves saddled with debt they can't repay or can repay only with such difficulty it discourages them from even trying. Trying to collect these debts has become a big and fast-growing business with debts being packaged and sold, of-ten for pennies on the dollar, in financial instruments with a disturbing resemblance to the way subprime mortgages were packaged and sold off. The whole point of buying deeply discounted debt is that the buyers keep every dollar they collect. So-called secondary debt is now a $60 billion industry." (Naples Daily News, 12/02/09)

Governor Crist Continues Putting Political Ambition Above Florida, As Crist Administration Announces Unemployment Rate Up To 11.8 Percent

With Governor Charlie Crist's Administration announcing today that Florida's unemployment rate is now at 11.8 percent, Florida Democrats reacted to Crist's failed economic policies.

"Since Charlie Crist became Governor, 1,522,300 Floridians have lost their jobs according to his own administration. Rather than working to bring jobs to Florida, Governor Crist continues putting his political ambitions above efforts to jumpstart Florida's economy," said Eric Jotkoff, Florida Democratic Party spokesman. "While other states are beginning to see signs of recovery, Floridians continue suffering under Crist's failed economic policies. Instead of spending his time doing his job as Governor, Crist has only focused on his efforts to reinvent himself as he attempts to appease Republican primary voters. That's why Floridians are going to send Crist into retirement in 2010."

According to the Crist's Administration, when Crist took over as Governor, 8,866,000 Floridians were employed. After 3 years of Crist's failed economic policies, now just 7,343,700 Floridians have jobs.

When 'More-Of-The-Same' Just Won't Cut It

With the news today that Florida's unemployment rate is the highest the state has seen since May 1975, the people of the Sunshine State must make the choice: change directions or continue more of the status quo from our state's politicians this November.

"After more than a quarter century as a career politician, what can we possibly expect from Bill McCollum but more of the same business-as-usual in Tallahassee?" Florida Democratic Party Spokesman Eric Jotkoff said. "A 20-year congressman and Washington lobbyist will do nothing - absolutely nothing - to change Florida's economy for the better. We've tried leaving it to career politicians like Bill McCollum to turn Florida's economy around, and they've driven it into a ditch -11.8 percent unemployment."