In Florida, It's Now Legal to bribe Senators and House reps. - Polidicks

[URL]http://www.tampabay.com/news/politics/stateroundup/lets-say-it-again-floridas-legislators-are-for-sale/1160221[/URL] [quote] There is no state, no nation, no planet, and no universe where it should be legal to pay off a Legislature directly. There is no government in which a sworn lawmaker should be able to take unlimited payoffs from those seeking favorable treatment. And yet this is now precisely the law of Florida. In Sunday's column I called the Florida Legislature "the Whore of Babylon" for passing a law last week that legalizes its own bribery. But the topic cries out not to be forgotten. This is a turning point in Florida's history. [B]It is now legal in Florida for the leaders of our House and Senate, of both the Republican and Democratic parties, to operate what are laughably called "leadership funds." If you are an interest group in Florida, a corporation, a lobbyist seeking favor, you go to these "leadership" funds run by lawmakers …[/B] [B] And you pay them.[/B] They will launder the money into local elections around the state, to keep electing more obedient followers. This is so astonishing a corruption that it defies belief. The bill in question is House Bill 1207, passed in the 2010 legislative session. Then-Gov. Charlie Crist vetoed it. Last Thursday the Legislature overrode the veto. The House vote was 81-39. The Senate vote was 30-9. The twisted logic used in the Capitol, and what your legislator will try to tell you, is that it's [I]better[/I] for the Legislature to be paid off directly. See, they will write it down in a separate little report. So this is all about "informing the public" and "transparency." If they try to give you this line, just ask this question: "So, is it legal to make unlimited payoffs to 'leadership funds' that are operated directly by the leaders of the Legislature, or not?" Yes. People ask: What can I do? You can call or e-mail. You can go to the House's website ([URL="http://www.myfloridahouse.com"]www.myfloridahouse.com[/URL]) or the Senate's ([URL="http://www.flsenate.gov"]www.flsenate.gov[/URL]) and find contact information for your legislator. (I beg you to be firm but [I]civil, [/I]especially to the hard-working staff— the world is rude enough already, isn't it?) But they are counting on you not to do anything at all. Instead, here is what they are counting on you to do: Re-elect them. After all, those who voted for this last year overwhelmingly got re-elected in November. Some who voted [I]against[/I] it were defeated by newcomers who just voted [I]for[/I] it! Area senators voting yes: Charles Dean, R-Inverness; Dennis Jones, R-Treasure Island; Jack Latvala, R-St. Petersburg; Jim Norman, R-Tampa; Ronda Storms, R-Brandon. Senators voting no: Mike Fasano, R-New Port Richey; Paula Dockery, R-Lakeland; Arthenia Joyner, D-Tampa. House members voting yes: Larry Ahern, R-Seminole; Jim Boyd, R-Bradenton; Jeff Brandes, R-St. Petersburg; Rachel Burgin, R-Riverview; Richard Corcoran, R-New Port Richey; Jim Frishe, R-St. Petersburg; Rich Glorioso, R-Plant City; James Grant, R-Tampa; Shawn Harrison, R-Tampa; Ed Hooper, R-Clearwater; John Legg, R-New Port Richey; Seth McKeel, R-Lakeland; Peter Nehr, R-Tarpon Springs; Rob Schenck, R-Spring Hill; Jimmie Smith, R-Inverness; Greg Steube, R-Bradenton; Will Weatherford, R-Wesley Chapel; Dana Young, R-Tampa. House members voting no: Janet Cruz, D-Tampa; Richard Kriseman, D-St. Petersburg; Betty Reed, D-Tampa; Darryl Rouson, D-St. Petersburg.[/quote] why florida whyyyy

[quote]House members voting no: Janet Cruz, D-Tampa; Richard Kriseman, D-St. Petersburg; Betty Reed, D-Tampa; Darryl Rouson, D-St. Petersburg.[/quote] Thank fuck there's still sensible people there.

This is extreme bullshit and should be illegal. This is one of those times when mass protesting should be happening.

[QUOTE=Frankie;28901450]This is extreme bullshit and should be illegal. This is one of those times when mass protesting should be happening.[/QUOTE] too bad we live in republican south where they actually applaud shit like this as "going against the goverment!11"

Fuck my state....

[QUOTE=Wii60;28901469]too bad we live in republican south where they actually applaud shit like this as "going against the goverment!11"[/QUOTE] You liberals have to get your conservative stereotypes together. Republicans are FOR government.

[QUOTE=Wii60;28901469]too bad we live in republican south where they actually applaud shit like this as "going against the goverment!11"[/QUOTE] I'm pretty sure there has to be some non-brain dead people there. If not then I would move...

I like how everyone who voted yes was a Republican.

Well now I know what to do on my spring break.

[QUOTE=Bllasae;28901522]You liberals have to get your conservative stereotypes together. Republicans are FOR government.[/QUOTE] Republicans are FOR government when there's a Republican calling the shots. They are AGAINST government when there's a Democrat calling the shots.

[quote]House members voting yes: Larry Ahern, [b]R[/b]-Seminole; Jim Boyd, [b]R[/b]-Bradenton; Jeff Brandes, [b]R[/b]-St. Petersburg; Rachel Burgin, [b]R[/b]-Riverview; Richard Corcoran, [b]R[/b]-New Port Richey; Jim Frishe, [b]R[/b]-St. Petersburg; Rich Glorioso, [b]R[/b]-Plant City; James Grant, [b]R[/b]-Tampa; Shawn Harrison, [b]R[/b]-Tampa; Ed Hooper, [b]R[/b]-Clearwater; John Legg, [b]R[/b]-New Port Richey; Seth McKeel, [b]R[/b]-Lakeland; Peter Nehr, [b]R[/b]-Tarpon Springs; Rob Schenck, [b]R[/b]-Spring Hill; Jimmie Smith, [b]R[/b]-Inverness; Greg Steube, [b]R[/b]-Bradenton; Will Weatherford, [b]R[/b]-Wesley Chapel; Dana Young, [b]R[/b]-Tampa.[/quote] Notice a pattern?

[QUOTE=TwinkieHouse;28901556]Notice a pattern?[/QUOTE] Yes, all fucking idiots.

I want to move out and hope Florida sinks.

Oh Glaaaaaber, FP is caaaaaaalling...

Oh nice another perk to being rich.

[QUOTE=Redcow17;28901585]Yes, all fucking idiots.[/QUOTE] No, we've lost most of Florida to pirates. The "R" is shorthand for "Yaaaargh."

Why do I see buttloads of republicans using this to there advantage?

I already fully believe that we must have massive government overhaul within the next twenty years or face the breaking up/taking over of this country. We have multiple portions of states that want to cede from the other portion, you have state legislators flipping off a lot of the work force, especially unions, in multiple states. And then you have crap like this. If it isn't bad enough that in the last three decades we've had multiple bills passed on the national level to make donations larger and to get the money to electees easier, we got crap like this. Oh hey, why don't we just hand over the nation's keys to the top 5 banking/business companies. We've already handed them keys to several doors, and we only got so many more doors to give keys away for.

Perhaps if you didn't have a two party system. I suggest changing that first

Nobody gives a shit anymore. We all know our government is rotten and corrupt to the fucking core, and we just don't care anymore.

Fuck my state. I'm moving out of here in four months when I goddamn can.

[QUOTE=Sir Whoopsalot;28901430]Thank fuck there's still sensible people there.[/QUOTE] And would you just look at the Ds beside their names

We seriously need a new Constitution based off the old one that fits the 21st century. I mean our current one is great but it worked so much better a hundred years ago. I mean just the way our whole legislative process is with this first-past-the-post bullshit election system and how Congress is set up and run. Edit: I know this wouldn't really affect Florida much, just talking about government in general.

And sometimes im glad to live in California. Here is a perfect example.

Well, off to Florida I go. Wish me luck in running for public office.

[QUOTE=Bllasae;28901522]You liberals have to get your conservative stereotypes together. Republicans are FOR government.[/QUOTE] You should get your Canadian stereotypes together, you're supposed to be a liberal hippy dippy

.... [img]http://melialore.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/what-the-fuck-have-you-done.jpg[/img] At the end Florida

But people are already bribing the government. Oh my bad, I meant to say "lobbying".

[QUOTE=Lonestriper;28901839]Perhaps if you didn't have a two party system. I suggest changing that first[/QUOTE] We would have to get rid of FPTP. And probably the Electoral College. Which would be a good thing. FPTP is a horrible democratic system and the Electoral College is just plain retarded.

Could have sworn this would've come up in Wisconsin first... Damn it Florida.