Crist personally pushed failed Digital Domain deal

[Baitball Blogger]

TALLAHASSEE — An internal investigation has turned up evidence that former Gov. Charlie Crist and legislative leaders were personally involved in pushing a failed, $20 million economic-development project that bypassed the normal review process for incentives.

The Port St. Lucie-based Digital Domain project initiated in 2009 was personally pushed by Crist, according to the report by Gov. Rick Scott's chief internal investigator, through leftover incentive dollars that would have otherwise reverted back to general revenues. Instead, they were allocated through a political process known as "proviso language" inserted in the budget.

Three years later, Digital Domain, a special-effects company founded by James Cameron that worked on films including "Titanic," filed for bankruptcy and closed its offices. The state is in line with other creditors attempting to get its $20 million back. Local governments lost more than $100 million.

The 130-page report by Inspector General Melinda Miguel released Wednesday found nothing illegal but said that the governor and key lawmakers circumvented the normal review process for projects receiving upfront cash through the state's Quick Action Closing Fund.

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/politics/os-digital-domain-audit-20130327,0,464594.story

[Baitball Blogger]

1. How can a twenty mil failed economic incentive deal that bypassed the normal review process

NOT be illegal?

This is the whole kit and kaboodle that is wrong with Florida. Nobody follows process and that's why no one blinks an eye when Local government lose more than 100 million.

[graham4anything]

2. Imagine, Rick Scott & the Bush family trying to smear his #1 opponent.How Bush League it is.

Imagine Rick Scott trying to smear his #1 opponent.
The Orlando Sentinel continuing their pro-Jeb Bush campaign, like always, nothing changes.
Will the team party ever stop playing games?

Scott must be sheeting bricks in fear of getting blown out in the next general election by Gov. Christ.

Charlie had the audacity to spit in Jeb's face twice. no one else ever had that courage and survived, politically.

[Baitball Blogger]

3. It's Florida.

Crist was a Republican at the time and there was a lot of dirty deals going on when it came to economic development programs. I would dare say that many right-wing communities jumped the process as a matter of practice. I live in a red county where the insanity was fever pitch during that time because there was no one that would come after them--and they knew it. They got away with fraud, conspiracy and a cover-up. So this would not surprise me about Crist.

I suggest you wait until he makes a statement before you start to defend him.

[graham4anything]

4. Except for Commander Coconut,always a must read,the Orlando Sentinel is 100% Bush league

Been reading the paper for decades ever since the great Commander first appeared, solely
for him.

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/entertainment/os-commander-coconut-20121227,0,2042190,full.column
"This is it!
•Here's a lovely lyric in a largely forgotten song from the '40s (I have it on a Jo Stafford CD). The song is "We Mustn't Say Goodbye." The lyric fits our parting: "Oh, don't you know the memories we gathered/ Can never, never die/ We mustn't say goodbye."
•I exit left.
•The lights fade.
•The curtain falls.
• I hope that sound I hear is applause"

hope that someday the DJ spins me one more song.

[Baitball Blogger]

5. I don't completely disagree with you. They are right-leaning during presidential elections.

But this is how a two party system works, when it works well. The fact that they're willing to expose Crist is a sign that we have a healthy adversarial situation going on. I despise it when Democrats and Republicans come to agreement in Central Florida. It usually means that secrets get buried and ordinary residents are going to get screwed.

Perhaps the timing of this info on Crist is timed to coincide with Jim Greer's 18 month sentence? Jim Greer didn't deliver, so the reporters are actually forced to do their job? We'll find out soon enough. Let's see who else picks up the story.

[graham4anything]

6. They are trying to take down Charlie Crist in his race vs. Scott. Charlie is creaming Scott

BTW, if James Cameron came to me with a deal, I would take it.
Cameron rarely misfires.

There is no other candidate who will beat Scott. If they take down Charlie, Scott will win reelection. It's sink or swim with Charlie. (pun intended).

[Baitball Blogger]

7. If there is validity to this story, I would rather hear it now, than right before election time.