Everyday there is a new scandal with Rick Scott in this state. I am already several scandals behind in my writing because I just cannot keep up. We've become one of the most corrupt states in America. (Damn you, Mississippi!)
Well, at least we are dead last in education funding. (No wait... damn you Alabama! - You know, if Rick Scott is truly in a race to drag us to the bottom, he can't even do that right.)
Oh well, yesterday's news may help us get closer to the top of the trash heap.
Rick Scott, who has had record turnover in his administration due to corruption, can add his "proud" appointee, Scott Batterson, to the list.
The man was just convicted of bribery, with more counts to follow, and looking towards at least 15 years in prison.
Little background, if you've ever been to Orlando: our tolls are sky high. That's because most of the board appointments for the "Xpressway Authority" have a long history of being extremely corrupt: developer deals, cronyism, huge monetary payouts, etc. It happens so frequently that there is a major scandal every few years. The grand jury for the last corruption case in 2009 called the board hopelessly corrupt. Two years before that, board members were again in Court because of a huge fundraising scandal.
Naturally, when Rick Scott arrived, he appointed the absolute worst person possible to the board: his longtime crony Scott Batterson.
Batterson was on the payroll for a mega-developer, Jim Palmer, who wanted $30 million for the use of his land from the Xpressway Authority. This was taxpayer money, mind you, and the offer was obscene. However, Scott Batterson was the one who was to "negotiate" for us with Palmer.
Only Rick Scott, (and a few corrupt politicians like my own Rep. R-Jason Brodeur ), thought this was a grand idea.
Scott was repeatedly warned not to put Scott Batterson on the Xpressway Authority. Every media outlet, watchdog group, and the two honest board members made waves over Batterson's appointment back in 2011. Rick Scott ignored them all and appointed him anyway.
Once on the board, Batterson did not disappoint. He started making backroom deals, including offering a $5 million dollar contract to a consulting firm in exchange for hiring some of his buddies. Worse, he did this in a bar in direct violation of the law, and KNOWING he was being watched.
And, as always, it got worse:
Investigative records released by [the prosecutor] Ashton's office last month appear to show Batterson and a handful of others plotted to take over the authority and its nearly $300 million in annual toll collections to win contracts for friends and further their own careers.
His "coup" involved forcing out the Director, who was put on by Charlie Crist to clean up the agency. He teamed up with another Rick Scott appointee, Marco Pena, (who resigned in disgrace), and the horrible Noranne Downs, who for some reason is still serving on the damn board!
Charlie Crist said it best:
“This is just the latest example of how shady Rick Scott’s Administration is – and how lobbyists and special interests get special treatment while we all foot the bill,” the email says. “There’s likely more to this story, as is usually the case when Scott or his cronies are involved.”
For every scandal involving Scott, please donate $1 or 1 hour to the Crist campaign. I realize this involves thousands of dollars or hours, so feel free to make it much less.
We can't go on like this.
Why vote between 2 known liars? Florida, we are fortunate enough not to
ReplyDeletebe stuck picking one liar or the other this time. We actually have an
alternative. Take advantage of the opportunity. Adrian Wyllie deserves
my vote. He is a honest average Floridian just as you and I , that is
willing to stand up and do something for the interest of all of us here
in Florida. The other candidates both Republican and Democrat are owned
and controlled by special interest, like puppets and will lie to your
face to gain your vote, then continue the same old agenda that we
complain about year after year. Time to get off this merry-go-round,
election after election, thinking it will be any different. Take a
stand, vote for the candidate that loves this state and is willing to
take time out of his life, effort and money to SERVE the people of
Florida and stop voting for these ‘paid for’ career politicians that are
only out for money and fame and have zero interest in us Floridians.
Even if it’s just for honesty alone, vote for Adrian Wyllie instead of
the other two (Scott/Crist) which are proven liars. The choice is yours
and yours alone, if you want the same old corruption and slap in the
face, go ahead and vote for one of the two puppets (Scott/Crist) OR do
what is right for our (yours and your children’s) future and vote for
Adrian Wyllie. Support him by donating to his campaign, spreading the
word and contribute to the super brochure program which I think is very
powerful. Visit his website today
admire your passion but our system doesn't work that way. If we had preferential voting, where you could rank the candidates, I would be all for it. What we have instead is "first past the post", where the only purpose of your candidate is to help Rick Scott over the finish line.
Deleterick and Charlie are neck and neck. If Rick scott wins, a bill signed into law this year will allow Scott to KICK OFF the three liberal justices on the Supreme Court. Our court, like our legislature, will be under the complete control of Scott. with no reelection, you will see a nightmare unfold. Our springs, fracking the everglades, voter suppression, etc. will be nothing compared to what will be in store.
Until the voting system evolves to not make it two-party heavy, my strong endorsement for Charlie Crist stands.
Not only that, I asked you a question, "Anon," under the other post. How about you answer it -- unless "you" are a spambot who puts this message everywhere Crist or Scott is blogged on?
Delete^^^
Anon, while Wyllie would be preferable to Scott, the reality is, he'll never win. Libertarians are making it hard on themselves by straining to win the whole enchilada like this. Just do it right -- get some people in lesser offices first, like county commissioners, mayors, etc. Let them establish a reliable record on those levels. Then they can go up the ladder: House seat, Senate seat, etc.
As it is all you do is set yourselves up as bad guys for possibly allowing Scott to win another terms -- the far greater of the two evils. And you'll never win an election if you do that.
Vin, I actually think this may be a spambot. This same message is being posted all over the place (Sunshine State News, Broward Bulldog, etc) almost verbataim.
DeleteI don't think much of a candidate who does copy and paste campaigning, "Anon".