More info on the Economic Development Issue supported by Crist.

[Baitball Blogger]

Whatever you think about Charlie Crist, put that aside and follow the bouncing ball. It's time to pay attention to what is going on in the Economic Development Organizations.

Failed Digital Domain deal was turning point for Brill

TALLAHASSEE — Dr. Dale Brill calls himself a "reformed bureaucrat and government interventionist." Translation: He thinks his old job was part of the problem with government wading into the private market and shaking things up.

As former Gov. Charlie Crist's main economic-development director, it was his job to go out and close multimillion-dollar incentive deals with companies that agreed to add jobs. Back before the recession, Florida lawmakers were throwing hundreds of millions of tax dollars at companies every year.

The now infamously doomed Digital Domain special-effects company project was code-named "Project Bumblebee" and pushed by Crist and key lawmakers through a back door in the budget that left taxpayers on the hook for some $20 million in incentives. It also changed Brill's life.

Brill was the star witness in a scathing inspector general's report last week that documented how the failed deal came together, a classic story of politicians using government to benefit themselves that not only can happen again but likely does every year.

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/politics/os-capview-column-deslatte-20130331,0,5101617.column

[DonViejo]

1. For what it's worth...

Crist and cronies were Republicans at the time

...a classic story of politicians using government to benefit themselves that not only can happen again but likely does every year

[Baitball Blogger]

2. Exactly.

But some of his supporters are STILL Republicans, and they still have secrets to hide.

I hope that the Democrats' desire to promote Crist as governor, will not also mean that his Republican cronies will get asylum.

[DonViejo]

3. Is Dr Brill renouncing...

Republican economic and governing style/principles?

Dr. Dale Brill calls himself a "reformed bureaucrat and government interventionist." Translation: He thinks his old job was part of the problem with government wading into the private market and shaking things up.

[Baitball Blogger]

4. I'm guessing he figured out that what they were doing was taking over the job of the

Chamber of Commerce.

I don't know why people haven't caught on to this yet.