Judge: Fla. senator should pay $8,750 for campaign law violations

[Judi Lynn]

Posted on Tue, Jan. 10, 2006
Judge: Fla. senator should pay $8,750 for campaign law violations
Associated PressTALLAHASSEE, Fla. - A judge has recommended that a state senator be fined $8,750 for campaign law violations, even though the Miami Republican has claimed to be too impoverished to pay any fines.

State Sen. Alex Diaz de la Portilla can afford to pay the fines, Administrative Law Judge Jeff Clark wrote in his order, which cited the senator's two homes, lease for a Lexus automobile, investment account and a $15,000 loan to a legislative aide in September 2004.

"No reasonable explanation has been offered for his ability to maintain his lifestyle. (Diaz de la Portilla's) net worth will allow him to pay any fine appropriate for the 17 violations of law," Clark wrote.

The Florida Elections Commission will decide whether to accept Clark's recommendation or order Diaz de la Portilla to pay up to $17,000 for 17 campaign violations during his 1999 election.

An appeals court in 2003 erased a record $311,000 fine against Diaz de la Portilla when it struck down all but 17 of 311 violations found by the elections commission.
(snip/...)

http://www.bradenton.com/mld/bradenton/news/local/13590375.htm



Senator says he can't pay fine
Lawyers questioned Alex Diaz de la Portilla's claim in light of his spending.
By LUCY MORGAN, Times Tallahassee Bureau Chief
Published January 4, 2005
TALLAHASSEE - Sen. Alex Diaz de la Portilla says he is living on the $29,000 a year legislators make and cannot pay a $17,000 fine the Florida Ethics Commission wants to collect for his failure to comply with election laws.

Election Commission lawyers say Diaz de la Portilla's spending habits don't reflect his income. They spent Monday questioning the way he handles his finances.

Diaz de la Portilla says the commission has a vendetta against him because some of its members are lobbyists who have opposed him politically.

Using bank and credit card statements, the veteran Republican senator from Miami was depicted as a man who spends a lot of cash and travels to casinos in Biloxi and Las Vegas, where he spent $599 to rent "the Elvis Chapel" and marry his wife in September 2003.
(snip/...)

http://www.sptimes.com/2005/01/04/State/Senator_says_he_can_t.shtml

[salin]

1. again showing the "party of personal responsibility" is an empty

phrase.

[BR_Parkway]

2. You left out Fiscally Conservative - wow, $313,000 in fines, 311 violation

Perhaps they should ask where he is getting his money, seems like there's this ReThug For Sale thing going on lately, "No reasonable explanation has been offered for his ability to maintain his lifestyle. Sounds like the Judge is a little curious too.

[MagickMuffin]

3. Don't people generally get thrown in the slammer

if they can't pay back their debt to society, or made to do community service?:eyes:

[rodeodance]

4. he worry is to 'maintain his lifestyle' ---geech!!

[DoYouEverWonder]

5. I guess it will be much harder now to rake in illegal donations

Have some sympathy for the guy. Life is tough when you can't gas up your Lexus.