This new story addresses additional questionable spending of political donations by Marco Rubio from BEFORE February, 2005, when Rubio was
first issued a GOP American Express card. And Rubio is still refusing to release his full GOP credit card statements for scrutiny before this election.
Marco Rubio has had a
long and repeated history of playing fast and loose with political donations to enhance his personal lifestyle. The voters have the right to know about his history, however, Rubio is
throwing up roadblocks every step of the way.
Wonder how that
FBI/IRS/US Attorney investigation is proceeding.....
Marco Rubio's biggest liability is the use of political donations to cover personal expensesBy Beth Reinhard,
Miami HeraldIn Print: Monday, October 4, 2010
Republican Senate nominee Marco Rubio spent heavily on four re-election campaigns as a state legislator, though he never faced a serious challenge.
Between 2000 and 2006, he shelled out about $676,451 for political consulting, television advertising and other routine campaign costs. He reimbursed himself about $11,436 for equipment, travel and meals. That's also routine.
But one payment stands out: a $1,485.55 check cut on June 12, 2002, to "Marco Rubio Bank of America Auto Finance Corp." for "auto expense," according to public records.
Rubio was leasing a 1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee at the time from the bank, said a top adviser to his Senate campaign, Todd Harris.
Harris said Rubio was owed the money for mileage racked up during 11 months while campaigning for re-election in the central Miami-Dade district, though he didn't face an opponent. He said Rubio drove 4,070 miles, which at the Internal Revenue Service's reimbursement rate of 36.5 cents per mile, came to exactly $1,485.55.
Harris did not say why the check was made out to the bank instead of to the candidate.
.....
Rubio's legislative district was roughly 30 blocks wide and 120 blocks long, encompassing South Miami, West Miami, Virginia Gardens, Miami Springs and parts of Coral Gables and Hialeah.
He did not seek reimbursement for mileage in any of his other House campaigns.
.....
"It looks bad," Ben Wilcox, a board member of Common Cause Florida, a government watchdog group, said of the 2002 campaign check to the bank. "It looks like he's making payment for his car out of his campaign expense. I certainly haven't heard of this happening before. It seems to be a pattern with him in which he plays fast and loose with the rules and tries to go back and justify it once it's pointed out."
(bold type added)
Wonder if Rubio will
again try to blame Governor Crist for his troubles?
Marco Rubio,
Shameless.Will the facts matter on November 2?