From the builders, 'a sincere apology'

The Florida Home Builders Association has issued a "sincere apology" after an earlier web site posting that threatened to withhold campaign donations to legislators in 2008 unless they sponsored the group's priority: a cap on impact fees on new homes. The mea culpa message from president John Wiseman in an open letter to lawmakers notes that the builders' PAC met on Thursday and "reconsidered its prior action."

The builders' earlier stance smacked of a quid pro quo. It also was ironic. It was the same builders group whose political director, Wayne Bertsch, prompted then-Senate President Tom Lee to return a $20,000 campaign donation 18 months ago after criticism of Lee's fund-raising activities. See it here.

Comments

Too little too late. I think some changes might be in order.

[williams construction co]

That kind of crap never happened when richard gentry was making the decisions. Its way over the top. our issues are dead for the next 5 years. no more dues from us.

yeah yeah gentry was great. He was the best. thanks gentry staffer

I guess this means Senate Majority 2006 will not be refunding the $150,000 it got from Home Builders PAC in Sept.06. Gee, what a surprise!!!

[Bill]

I don't see why they apologized. Everyone knows corporate donations are done to influence legislators. They just made it very clear!

more crow with your fries?

I guess this means Senate Majority 2006 will not be refunding the $150,000 it got from Home Builders PAC in Sept.06. Gee, what a surprise!!!

Posted by: | July 06, 2007 at 08:49 AM

Who cares. They gave money. The party can spend it give it a rest. Nothing to see here

They probably apologized on the advice of their high paid consultant, Randy Nielsen, who wanted to keep riding the Home Builders gravy train without upsetting his legislator friends who direct a lot of $$$$ to him.

9:01
Senate President Pruitt is the one who said senators who got money from Home Builders PAC should give it back so he must have thought there was something to see here.
Pruitt is a guy with principles and I respect him for giving back money contributed by Builders PAC to senators and the fund that helped elect them.

he said something to make your little heart beat faster and is not going to do it suprise!

Tom Lee?

That mention of that name gives me reflux. Another great idea from Jeb Bush.

Thanks for giving a cabinet seat away boys!

This crap happened when Gentry was there too - that's when the Tom Lee thing occurred!

Who is the goofball Wiseman? Is he the one who took Gentry's place? If not who runs the place now?

A little bit of advice - Give the money back, or deal with the ads next fall.

And if you DO pass legislation dealing with caps, then you will have to deal with the label of "bribed" next fall too.

Sorry builders, Wiseman killed your chances for anything in the next few sessions (or special sessions).

“From the builders, 'a sincere apology'”

… a sincere apology… Buahahahahahahaaaa… yeah, once you got caught… hahahahahahaaaaaa… hey, Scooter’s available for employment… buhahahahahahaaaaaa… whooooo, that’s rich, hahahahahahaaaaaaa….

Why can't these people apologize for the wanton destruction to the rural environment and wetlands that they have caused?

these exurbs are built for the white evangelicals who are frightened to death of anyone with naturally browner skin. as usual, it's the evangelicals at the heart of yet another foul misdeed.

The greed of the FHBA is absolutely astounding. Shame on them. Why such bully tactics? They have torn up this state to line their own pockets.

Wiseman is an elected volunteer. Emitt Reed, someone who knows very little about politics runs the place now. Leave it to a bunch of dumb builders to put a political novice in Gentry's old job. The few people in the Capitol who have met Reed think he's a real bumbler, doesn't have a clue about things. Word in Tampa is they are going to have to clean house from top to bottom sooner or later. Get those resumes ready!!!!

Our soldiers are forced to stay in Iraq in order to enable the SUV culture these bozos have built.

Fool did you know we have a volunteer military?

Nobody's there who didn't voluntarily sign-up. Unlike that enforced debacle you Democrats perpetrated called Viet Nam.

12:00

You clearly don't know Mr. Reed...And your comments are not widely held opinions. In fact, he pretty much knows his sh*t when it comes to associations -- None of us know who had final authority on the posting of Mr. Wiseman's original comments, but I'm sure Reed will know how to handle the fall out!

It is all Randy Nielsen's fault. He is paid big bucks to give Home Builders political advice. Looks like he screwed up bigtime.

Mr. Reed huh? Is he (MISTER Reed) standing over your cubicle and forcing you to write how smart he is?

Word from builders on the street is that the whole place with be dealing with Reed's "fall out".

If "Mr. Reed knows his sh*t" then why is the builders legislative agenda smoking like a Bagdad car bomb for the next 5 years.

[Paul D. Harvill]

Too little too late. I think some changes might be in order.

Posted by: | July 06, 2007 at 07:53 AM
...............................

Agreed, except that BIG CHANGES should be in order.

The only big thing coming is a lot of money from Home Builders to our Republican Party--- Senate Majority 2008, House Majority 2008. etc., to buy their way back to our good graces.
Oh and kick in a few more bucks for our buddy, Randy Nielsen- he will make sure some of it gets back to us.
You messed with the wrong folks, builders so you can keep kissing our butts and like it!

... but the message WAS delivered...

Maybe the builders will hire Sandra Mortham. We hear that she is looking for a job.

Nielsen won't let them hire Mortham...he hates her

Neilsen gets paid by the RPOF, then gets paid by the home builders to give them advice to give to the RPOF, and gets them to give more money to the RPOF, and can't keep them out of a jam when he is needed. Sounds like Neilsen likes them getting into trouble so he gets paid more.

10:03 - very true...everybody hates her. She is finished.

Nielsen doesn't know Mortham well enough to love or hate her.

You bloggers seem to have hit the crack pipe a little too much over the weekend

12:06
If you think a GOP paid troll like Randy Nielsen doesn't know former GOP Secretary of State Mortham (member of state cabinet elected state-wide), you are the one on crack. He probably worked for her when she was Republican House Leader.

[Paul D. Harvill]

GENERAL ANNOUNCEMENT:

I am no longer going to respond to anonymous posters.

Why should anyone?

They waste our time.

GENERAL ANNOUNCEMENT:

Paul is an arrogant fool. We do not have to identify ourselves.

Quit trying to moderate the blogs

Get a real job.