'Florida Legislature proved this past week, once and for all, that it is the utter Whore of Babylon'

[seafan]

Howard Troxler explodes in the St. Petersburg Times today.

God knows he is right.


Florida Legislature proves once and for all that it is for sale

March 27, 2011

These are harsh words for a Sunday morning, but the occasion screams out for them. I take them from the Bible; please forgive me.

The Florida Legislature proved this past week, once and for all, that it is the utter Whore of Babylon.

It is now legal in our state to pay off the Legislature directly. Who says so? The Legislature.

.....

This is Florida — where the laws of our democracy are now openly, officially For Sale.

On Thursday afternoon, with greedy lip-smacking speed, the Legislature voted to relegalize a bygone and corrupt institution, outlawed in this state for more than two decades, known as "leadership funds."

These "leadership funds" are campaign slush funds operated legally and officially by the leaders of the Legislature themselves:

The speaker of the Florida House and his chosen successor, the "speaker designate."

The president of the Florida Senate and his successor.

The leaders of the minority party in the House and Senate.

So now, just as it was in Florida's corrupt past, if you are an interest group that wants a law passed, you simply go to the leaders of the House and Senate …

And you pay them off directly.

.....

Governor Crist saw through this filthy grab, and vetoed it.


Now, it's back.



And it's effective immediately.

[xchrom]

1. Recommend

[jpak]

2. And the Teabaggers are silent

yup

[Dappleganger]

6. The Teabaggers are nothing but a farce around here.

A few will rant about cutting expenses, but when you peel the layers back they are corporate money-grubbers who are anxious to stick it to the poor and middle class. Just business as usual.

[Hugabear]

10. Of course they are - they're against "corruption" except when it benefits them

So basically they're just like all the other politicians they claim that they're not.

[polichick]

3. WAKE UP FLORIDUH!!!

I love Florida, the state where I grew up, but it's so past time for Floridians to wake the fuck up!

A little good news: Last week I was there and ran into several Republicans who refused to vote for that criminal governor.

[roguevalley]

4. They should just saw Florida off and let it sail out to sea. Then

they can be an off shore designation for their own graft and they can plantationize the state for the oligarchy. God, Florida. Rise up. Please.

[mindwalker_i]

12. WRT Bugs Bunny...

[Dappleganger]

5. This state is disgusting.

Now the monthly pleadings to our teens of "you've got to get out of here as soon as you finish school!" have turned into weekly ones.

There is nothing for anyone but idiots in this state--NOTHING.

[MinneapolisMatt]

7. What a fucking embarrassment.

I'm so sorry to the Floridians who post here. How awful it must be.

[ellenfl]

8. i'm still gobsmacked that fla elected a known criminal as governor.

we haven't had a good governor since lawton chiles quit. and i thought jebbie was bad . . . :eyes:

ellen fl

[strategery blunder]

9. Quelle surprise, party-line vote, Rethuglican$ for, Dems against!

Granted, seems a couple Rs in the Senate voted against. The sane Rs must feel very lonely. :(

[d_r]

11. republicans in florida

are so corrupt

[Enthusiast]

13. OMG!

Well, actually this is in keeping with the ethics example set by Governor Scott.

[sakabatou]

14. Plutocracy anyone?

[Hannah Bell]

15. kr

And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet colour, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication:

And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.

The waters which thou sawest, where the whore sitteth, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues.

And the woman which thou sawest is that great city, which reigneth over the kings of the earth.

[seafan]

16. FL GOP-controlled Legislature has now legalized bribery, and are opening up their gunny sacks.

House Bill 1207. It passed in 2010. Governor Charlie Crist vetoed it.

These GOP radicals just overrode the veto.



Let's say it again: They are for sale

By Howard Troxler
March 29, 2011

.....

This is a turning point in Florida's history.

It is now legal in Florida for the leaders of our House and Senate, of both the Republican and Democratic parties, to operate what are laughably called "leadership funds."

If you are an interest group in Florida, a corporation, a lobbyist seeking favor, you go to these "leadership" funds run by lawmakers …

And you pay them.

.....

Area senators voting yes:

Charles Dean, R-Inverness; Dennis Jones, R-Treasure Island; Jack Latvala, R-St. Petersburg; Jim Norman, R-Tampa; Ronda Storms, R-Brandon.

Senators voting no:

Mike Fasano, R-New Port Richey; Paula Dockery, R-Lakeland; Arthenia Joyner, D-Tampa.

House members voting yes:

Larry Ahern, R-Seminole; Jim Boyd, R-Bradenton; Jeff Brandes, R-St. Petersburg; Rachel Burgin, R-Riverview; Richard Corcoran, R-New Port Richey; Jim Frishe, R-St. Petersburg; Rich Glorioso, R-Plant City; James Grant, R-Tampa; Shawn Harrison, R-Tampa; Ed Hooper, R-Clearwater; John Legg, R-New Port Richey; Seth McKeel, R-Lakeland; Peter Nehr, R-Tarpon Springs; Rob Schenck, R-Spring Hill; Jimmie Smith, R-Inverness; Greg Steube, R-Bradenton; Will Weatherford, R-Wesley Chapel; Dana Young, R-Tampa.

House members voting no:

Janet Cruz, D-Tampa; Richard Kriseman, D-St. Petersburg; Betty Reed, D-Tampa; Darryl Rouson, D-St. Petersburg.

Troxler encourages everyone to call or e-mail your legislator by going to the House's website (www.myfloridahouse.com) or the Senate's (www.flsenate.gov). Be assertive, but courteous.

We must take action.


These people are hell bent on Florida's destruction. And they are hoping we will avert our eyes from what they are doing.

But they are also hoping we will re-elect them.