Oh. My. Gods. Governor-elect of FL cancels inaugural ball- $$$ to charity.

[badgerpup]

http://www.news4jax.com/news/10502700/detail.html
:wow:
Crist Cancels Inaugural Ball; It 'Didn't Feel Right'

Gov.-elect Charlie Crist has decided to cancel his inaugural ball, saying Saturday that he didn't feel right about an expensive party when many people are struggling with higher insurance and property tax bills.

Other free events, including a prayer breakfast, parade, the swearing-in ceremony and tours of the governor's mansion will still continue.

"It's a difficult time for a lot of Floridians and there's no need to have a big party," Crist said. "Many times it's your natural inclination to follow tradition, but then you start to reflect and you realize what the circumstances are for many Floridians."


The ball was to be a $100-a-ticket celebration and concert at the Tallahassee-Leon County Civic Center.

Crist said he had been thinking about canceling the event over the past week.

"It was a mistake to want to go forward to honor that tradition just for tradition's sake," Crist said.

Other inaugural events will precede the Jan. 2 swearing in, beginning Wednesday with an inaugural breakfast at Miami's Parrot Jungle Island and followed by a kickoff barbecue Dec. 17 at the New York Yankees' spring training site in Tampa.

Crist's inaugural committee is also returning all donations it's received, including $100,000 from Trigeant Air LLC; $50,000 each from GEO Group Inc. and U.S. Sugar Corp.; and $25,000 each from Colodny, Fass, Talenfeld, Kalinsky & Abate and A. Duda and Sons Inc.

The committee won't take any donations above what previous administrations have accepted. Once it determines that figure, it will set a limit on donations and begin accepting them again.

Gov. Jeb Bush raised more than $2 million for the governor's inaugural festivities in 2002, including $10,000 donations from several companies.

Any money left over after costs are covered will be given to Derrick Brooks Charities, the Jessica Marie Lunsford Foundation and the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children.


:applause:

[SeattleGirl]

1. I. Am. Impressed!

Truly, this is a great thing. Would that more government officials would do the same. :applause:

[Rageneau]

22. My guess is that this is a ploy to appease the masses.

Crist may have sensed how the wind has changed and that the public isn't going to be as tolerant of wasteful excess as they were when Smirk had his ten lavish inaugaral balls. (Which no one in the press criticized.)

[Mythsaje]

2. This guy IS a repug, right?

[Homer Wells]

4. Seems that he is a decent man first,

and a Republican second. Quite refreshing!

:applause:

[Mythsaje]

5. Unbelievable...

That's amazing.

Didn't know such creatures even existed. Thought they were as mythical as dragons and unicorns.

[silverojo]

16. Kudos to him

Even if he IS a Republican! :D

[DoYouEverWonder]

28. Don't be so impressed

He was planning a big gala with donations from the among others, his friends in the insurance industry. However, that 25% rate hike since Wilma hit, isn't going over very well with his constituents and people were having fits about it.

[Erika]

3. He knows Americans are mad as hell at feeding GOP coffers

of the elite while our country is suffering.

[DRoseDARs]

6. I wonder which Republicans are going to whine about not being able to strut their stuff...

Marriages might suffer if they can't spend quality time with their wives/husbands and families at this affair.

[Hippo_Tron]

7. Cheap stunt or not, I have to give Crist credit where credit is due

I hope that others will follow his example.

[Mojorabbit]

15. Don't be impressed.

This article leaves a lot out.
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.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=2647248

[Lasher]

21. Aha! That explains everything.

I was having particular trouble understanding this goofy contribution size limit thing:

"The committee won't take any donations above what previous administrations have accepted. Once it determines that figure, it will set a limit on donations and begin accepting them again."

:wtf:

Thanks to the information you supplied, I can see this is an attempt to deflect controversy that was generated by the humongous contributions he was trying to solicit.

[DoYouEverWonder]

29. LOL

I just posted the same thing before I read all the way done the thread.

Crist is no hero, he just not stupid.

[tbyg52]

41. Well, that's an improvement over most of 'em. n/t

[soup]

31. Colodny, Fass, Talenfeld, Karlinsky & Abate, P.A.

>snip<
The firm represents its clients in connection with a variety of matters, including the formation and financing of insurers, mergers and acquisitions, adding lines of business and expansion into other states, various licensure matters, multiple compliance issues, market conduct examinations, financial issues, statutory accounting procedures, RBC levels, capital infusion issues and financing arrangements, rate, form and rule filings, agent and agency matters and a wide variety of other insurance-related regulatory issues.

In addition, the firm works closely with a variety of state-run joint underwriting associations and guarantee funds and was instrumental in the creation of the Florida and Louisiana residual property markets. The firm previously served as general counsel for the Florida Residential Property and Casualty Joint Underwriting Association and its successor, Citizens Property Insurance Corporation, and continues to represent Citizens in connection with a variety of matters. Furthermore, the firm has represented the Florida Department of Insurance, Division of Rehabilitation and Liquidation, with regard to the marshalling of assets.
>snip<
http://www.cftlaw.com/practices.php?category=Practice+Areas

[soup]

32. Ha! check this out...

The GEO Group lists as a 'Healthcare facility' on Crist's donor page:

PDF file
http://www.charliecrist.com/donations.pdf

Do ya think he doesn't know who they really are?


"Welcome to The GEO Group, Inc. You might already know that GEO is a world leader in privatized correctional and detention management. But did you also know that we offer a wide range of other diversified services - from home detention and electronic monitoring to the development of medical and mental health facilities?

We invite you to browse throughout our website to learn more about our company - and what makes us different from our competition. You'll see why our management team is the best in the business and how our unique turnkey approach allows us to more effectively design, build, manage and finance our state of the art facilities. You will learn why our unique approach to rehabilitation has become the model of treatment for our entire industry. You will also learn more about the many benefits of privatization - and why we believe a strategic investment in GEO makes good business sense."
http://www.geocareinc.com/

[ContraBass Black]

38. Ouch. Just when it was starting to look good.

[Nicole]

8. Good for him!

I hope others will follow his fine example. :toast:

[KingFlorez]

9. What a phony

He's just trying to make his greedy party look good and some people are gullible enough to buy into it.

[Reterr]

20. well maybe he means well...still its a rethug

[berni_mccoy]

25. Not every republican is as evil as those in office

Some are decent people. Obviously, enough of them are otherwise we would not have swept the Congress.

[pnorman]

10. He's also (tacitly) admitting that the Bush-economy isn't all that great.

Perhaps there's hope for him yet!

pnorman

[nam78_two]

11. wow -good for him

A Repug no less :wow:

[Pushed To The Left]

12. Good for him! n/t

[Jack Rabbit]

13. I'm sure there will be plenty of reasons to take issue with him in the future

Right now, Governor Crist is off on the right foot.

:applause:

[magellan]

14. Some might call it a stunt

...but the charities will benefit. This is a surprisingly good start for a Repub.

[Maraya1969]

17. WOW Finally something good happening in Florida! Thank you Governor Crist!

[JCMach1]

18. Chaingang Charlie sounding like Gov. Jerry Brown

:wtf:



I will give him credit here... Let's see if he follows-up.

[puebloknot]

19. Let this ball keep on rolling...

...right up to The Hill!

[Cocoa]

23. is anyone else as confused as I am about this part?

maybe it's too early in the morning, but I can't make sense out of these two paragraphs taken together...

Crist's inaugural committee is also returning all donations it's received, including $100,000 from Trigeant Air LLC; $50,000 each from GEO Group Inc. and U.S. Sugar Corp.; and $25,000 each from Colodny, Fass, Talenfeld, Kalinsky & Abate and A. Duda and Sons Inc.

The committee won't take any donations above what previous administrations have accepted. Once it determines that figure, it will set a limit on donations and begin accepting them again.

[soup]

30. Here's my take on it

Keep in mind that I'm a cynical old woman and don't trust Crist as far as I could throw him. Whenever I see a pic of him, I think of
"Never smile at a crocodile. Don't be taken in by his friendly grin."

--

Apparently, in 2002, John Ellis Bush accepted donations up to $10,000.00 for his inauguration (Disney, U.S. Sugar, developers, private prison co.s, friends of John Ellis, etc.).

So Crist, after getting slammed by the press for asking for (and getting) big bucks from the same special interest lobbyists, businesses, attorneys for the insurance industry and Republican donors, is toning it down a notch. He's going to return the money, accept only what John Ellis did, and then supposedly give the leftovers to charity. Time will tell. I'm not giving him an inch.

There's also the iffy legal aspect:

from December 1, 2006

>snip<
There are questions as to whether Crist is sidestepping Florida's nearly year-old ban on gifts from lobbyists and whether his transition team is following other state laws regarding prompt disclosure of who's helping him out.

The 2007 Florida Inaugural Committee has obtained a legal opinion from the lead attorney for the Florida Commission on Ethics that the arrangement is legal despite a state law that prohibits lobbyists or their clients from buying meals or providing gifts of any amount to state elected officials and their staffs. The sweeping law replaced an earlier $100 limit on gifts and meals.
>snip<

But in an effort to make the fundraising legal, the inaugural committee has registered with the Internal Revenue Service as a ''527 committee,'' even though such organizations -- named after the section of the tax code that governs them -- are supposed to be political groups trying to influence elections or appointments to office.

So far, the Crist inaugural committee has not complied with a new state law that requires that all state elected officials who set up 527 committees to establish a website to disclose donors within days of setting up the group. State corporate documents and IRS records show that the inaugural committee was established Nov. 17.

WEAK LAWS

Vivian Myrtetus, a spokeswoman for Crist, said the inaugural committee plans to report all donations and expenses within 90 days after the event, which is required under a state law that authorizes ''testimonial'' events for elected officials. Myrtetus said that Crist's lawyers did not believe they must follow the stricter requirements now that the election is over.
http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/news/local/16136739.htm

I'm not going to sing any 'what a guy!' praises just yet, but am taking a wait and see stance.

"Never smile at a crocodile. Don't be taken in by his friendly grin."

[seafan]

34. Crist can't justify hitting up Big Insurance for party $$$, then trying to *fix* the ins. crisis...

More details here.

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


I hope people aren't fooled by cha-ching Charlie. Well, folks, we've just endured 8 years of dictatorial government, and now we're looking at 4 years of flotsam drifting with the moneyed tide.


As many critical problems Florida has that must be addressed immediately, this whole turn of events is sickening.


Can we instigate a recall now??

[soup]

36. Thank you, seafan.

I should have known you'd be on this.

Good job (as usual)! :hi:

[seafan]

39. Good to see you, soup. What a colossal mess we have to deal with...

Thanks for the info you posted on the donors.

Something tells me *The People's Governor*-ship will be an exercise in futility. Pretty soon, an even angrier electorate will have a say in these matters.

[Cocoa]

40. the intricacies make me suspicious

seems like Crist is pimping the system and trying to buy some goodwill with a symbolic gesture.

[seafan]

37. From what I've heard, Jeb limited single contributions to 10K only.

Charlie's eyes are bigger than his stomach.

[Ian David]

24. That's just because he couldn't figure out a way to invite his partner without causing suspicion.n/t

[ecstatic]

26. ha!!

:rofl:

[WilliamPitt]

27. READ POST 15

[bluedog]

33. many Fl republicans don't like Crist

they think he is too "liberal"..........I listened to him campaign for Gov...and have to say......he sounds like a good man.......

From personal experience....he did help me with my mortgage company and trying to get my refund back from an Insurance company that flew the coop from Fl.......His staff gave me so much information and many numbers to call.........he followed up with a letter .....hoping everything worked out and asked if he and his staff could be of any more help.

This was back in 2004..........I almost voted for him........but followed the party lines this year...........

As I said......I think he'll crack down here in Fl............and just maybe he is a Democrat in hiding.

[Freddie Stubbs]

35. Crist beat is more conservative primary opponent 64%-35%

He managed to beat this year's Democratic tide by running as a moderate.