Crist cancels inaugural ball amid criticism (FL Gov-elect)

[seafan]

Crist cancels inaugural ball amid criticism

Jason Garcia | Tallahassee Bureau
Posted December 10, 2006

TALLAHASSEE -- Gov.-elect Charlie Crist reversed course Saturday and canceled plans for a $100-a-ticket inaugural ball, after he drew criticism for asking lobbyists and industries to help pay for it.

"Day after day, I am hearing stories about the skyrocketing costs of property taxes and property insurance from Floridians across the state," Crist said in a statement distributed by his staff Saturday afternoon. "After thoughtful reflection, I feel it is more appropriate to cancel the pricey ball and move forward with the previously scheduled events that are free and open to the public."

Crist's decision to scrap the ball comes just days after news reports that he was seeking donations of as much as $500,000 from lobbyists and others to underwrite it and other inaugural events.

The incoming governor had already raised $275,100 from a handful of high-powered contributors, including $100,000 from a Boca Raton aviation business and $50,000 each from U.S. Sugar Corp. and the Geo Group, a private prisons operator. Agriculture giant A. Duda & Sons and a Fort Lauderdale-based law firm gave $25,000 each.

snip

More detail:

http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/16205759.html">Crist cancels inaugural ball

BY GARY FINEOUT
December10, 2006


TALLAHASSEE - Citing hardships faced by many Floridians, Gov.-elect Charlie Crist on Saturday abruptly canceled his inaugural ball, the lavish centerpiece of a celebration that was expected to cost at least $2.5 million.

snip

Initially, Crist had asked his supporters, including high-profile lobbyists, to raise as much as $500,000 each to pay for a series of events, including a breakfast in Miami.
The Governor's Ball was scheduled to be held the night of Jan. 2 at the Civic Center in Tallahassee, with tickets costing $100 each.
Crist said that he decided it was wrong to hold such an extravaganza while Floridians are struggling with rising insurance premiums and property taxes. His decision goes against a long-standing tradition of incoming governors holding an inaugural ball.
State lawmakers on Jan. 26 will come to Tallahassee for a weeklong special session on the insurance crisis.

''We're at a time in our state where a lot of people are hurting,'' Crist said Saturday. ``The more I thought about it, the more I was uncomfortable about having a party. . . . Just the notion of a glitzy ball is not appropriate in my mind. I know it's breaking a tradition. That's not easy to do. . . . But I think it's appropriate.''

Crist had set up a committee to raise money for all the inaugural events but so far had raised only just over $275,000. The list of donors included $100,000 from Trigeant Air of Boca Raton, $50,000 from U.S. Sugar, $50,000 from private prison vendor The GEO Group and $25,000 from Fort Lauderdale law firm Colodny, Fass, Talenfeld, Karlinsky & Abate.
Crist said he concluded that it was ''a mistake'' to ask for large donations for the inauguration events.

In recent days Crist, who billed himself as the ''people's governor'' during his campaign, had come under criticism for asking people to donate as much as $500,000 for his inauguration.
''I made a mistake by asking for too much, and it was a doozy,'' Crist said. ``Sometimes it's appropriate to admit that and move forward.''

snip

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

1. Are they finally waking up to the fact that

the reason so many repukes lost was because of graft and corruption?

[AlCzervik]

2. meanwhile out here in Ca. the Gropenfuher is planning an inauguration of epic proportions.

[MGKrebs]

3. How can people be hurting?

They have been living under the management of the best Governor the state of Florida has ever had!

The idea of distancing oneself from "Bush" keeps getting bigger.

[Nite Owl]

4. This is Governor-elect Spitzer's plan

http://blogs.timesunion.com/capitol/?p=2934


People's Innaugural

The event is decidedly low-key with no black-tie gala - a significant departure from Gov. George Pataki’s 1994 inauguration.

~~~snip~~~


The idea, Spitzer said, is to have “a people’s inaugural with access that is as broad-based as possible, obviously in spaces and the areas that we are dealing with there are space contraints.” The fact that it tends to be fairly cold in Albany in Janaury will make this “the first test of people’s hardiness and willingness to participate in the rigors of government as we envision it in New York,” Spitzer said.

Spitzer was reluctant to put a dollar amount on his inauguration, saying bids are out to do things like build the outdoor stage. He said he expects the final figure to be less than the $5.5 million he has on hand.

There will be “complete transparency” about the cost, he said, noting that since the event will be paid for by his campaign committee, the Jan. 15 financial filing with the state Board of Elections will give an accounting of how much he spent and on what.




How can they keep saying there is no difference between the parties?

[seafan]

5. Hey, it's The People's Governor! What's a little hypocrisy?

:sarcasm:




This is from two days ago:


Crist seeks millions for inaugural


Jason Garcia and John Kennedy | Tallahassee Bureau
December 8, 2006

Crist is seeking as much as $500,000 each from lobbyists and industries to underwrite his inauguration even as he prepares for a January special session to decide changes to the powerful insurance industry.
But in a move designed to blunt criticism, the incoming governor said Thursday that he would begin revealing donors today, after initially saying state law allowed him to wait as long as three months before making the names known.

snip

Crist had received an opinion from the state Ethics Commission that said state law gave him 90 days to report donations.
The potential delay proved controversial, with critics pointing out it could shield the identities of contributors not only through the insurance session but into the regular legislative session in March.
Instead, Crist agreed to post a list of contributors every Friday on his inauguration Web site, www.charliecrist.com.
But that did little to placate critics of big-money politics still stinging from Crist's gubernatorial campaign.

The Republican attorney general raised almost $20 million for his election and became the most advertised political candidate in the nation.
"When someone donates half a million dollars, it's got to raise an eyebrow," said House Democratic Leader Dan Gelber of Miami Beach. "We ought to know not only who it is, but we ought to really consider why they're doing it."

Ben Wilcox, executive director of Common Cause Florida, agreed.
"It's really become another avenue for special interests to try to gain access and influence with political leaders. I don't like it," Wilcox said. "I think $500,000 is an excessive amount to ask for. And then to call it the 'People's Inaugural' borders on hypocrisy."

snip

Jim Davis was right.

This is going to be four additional years heaped onto the last disastrous eight, of no effective leadership for the people of Florida.


(emphasis added)

[Chipper Chat]

6. The insurance crisis is REAL in Florida.

There was a letter to the editor Friday from a woman in Melbourne FL who recently received her homeowners insurance bill. In 2006 she paid $1200. In 2007 she'll pay $6000!!!! Hikes like this are COMMON throughout Florida.
A LOT of Floridians regret their vote for Crist since he is clearly in the pockets of the insurance companies.
If this situation doesn't improve you will soon see a mass exodus of dejected seniors returning to their home states up north.

[seafan]

8. And we are supposed to *have confidence* in Crist, when he asks

the insurance guys for money for his inaugural party, and then he's going to turn around and decide via a special legislative session a couple of weeks later how to address the insurance crisis??

Sorry, Charlie.

And remember to just say no to Jeb, because he's waiting in the wings to browbeat you for the next four years. Jeb ain't finished with *his legacy*.

[LostinVA]

13. Many are already leaving, and moving to North Carolina n/t

[marmar]

7. I don't understand Floridian voting patterns....

Haven't they had enough?

[DoYouEverWonder]

9. What's there to not understand?

With touchscreen machines and a Sec of State who thinks they are the next best thing since the electric light bulb, the Repugs don't have to worry about actually winning a majority of votes anymore.

[mitchum]

10. He'll just have to wear that gown around the house now

[crikkett]

11. great mental image

with feather duster and tiara

[nealmhughes]

12. Holding any festivities at our present state of affairs is in extremely poor taste.

Crist ought to have a day of fasting and mourning for lost lives in Iraq and Mississippi and Louisiana, not cavorting.