It's better in the Bahamas, with Charlie

That kick-back mini-vacation in the Bahamas with Gov. Charlie Crist last weekend is still not something the governor's office or the Republican Party (which paid Crist's expenses) want to talk about. There are limits to all this transparency, you know.

The Buzz has learned that the event, which included two dinners and some fishing, was a sun-baked thank you to some of the biggest fund-raisers for the pro-property tax amendment campaign.

Attendees, who paid their own way, included John Sebree of the Florida Association of Realtors; Randy Perkins of Ashbritt, a nationwide engineering and trash-removal firm; power company manager Richard Paul-Hus; Republican Party Chairman Jim Greer; Sarasota chiropractor Gary Kompothecras; lawyer-lobbyist Brian Ballard; Slater Bayliss of the Tew Cardenas law firm; and Harry Sargeant, a Boca Raton business executive and FSU fraternity brother of Crist's. One who was there said it was "a nice weekend to not have to talk about taxes."

Comments

[HMMMMMMMM]

Hmmmm.......lawyer-lobbyist Brian Ballard; Slater Bayliss of the Tew Cardenas law firm. From the firm's web site.

"Members of the Firm have substantial knowledge and experience relating to insurance sales practices; having represented the Florida Department of Insurance, the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, and the Florida Attorney General in an investigation into the national sales practices of a national insurance company.
"

Hmmmmmm no women to say thank you to? The Men's Club??

[terminator]

how about hmmmmnnnn.....for did the Florida taxpayers pick up the tab for Chuck and his state entourage (staff/FDLE agents)?

shouldn't that be charged to the lobbyists/fatcats who accompanied Crist?

what was that office of open government all about?

Or was that just another of Charlie's broken campaign promises?

Again Termie, you're just pathetic. CC operates well within the letter AND spirit of the law. Get a job - one that really utilizes your talents. And yes, I would like to supersize for your future reference.

Perhaps one of the biggest "non-stories" on this blog in a long time.

[flconsumer]

Does anyone see anything wrong with this? I'm praying. How can we expect citizens to obey the law when it is all so "gray"?

Ballard - Registered to represent Allstate.

I don't get it.

Just think of the trips Greer will arrange when Crist is VP and Greer is RNC Chairman!

[Tipper]

Crist will never be VP and Greer will not leave as RPOF Chair because his main job is keeping the Local RECs under control and from turning on Crist which could happen at anytime and making sure Crist's Re-elect happens which is sooner then we think .

It would be better in the Bahamas WITHOUT Charlie. He truly makes me sick to my stomach.

Wow 11:20, you're special. You're one of the few people in this state who don't like our Governor and don't like the job he's doing. Congratulations you unique little fella you.

Aren't vacations meant to get you AWAY from your job and work?

I would hardly call it a "Mini-Vacation" with that list of people.

Come on St Pete Times: Give us a better heading.

According to FSU, "enrollment of out-of-state students, who pay the most in tuition, could be increased. Enrollment of other students will be reduced by as much as 1,000."

Thank you REPUBLICANS, Crist/Rubio/Pruitt - this is exactly why I pay taxes - to educate OUT-OF-STATE students (this includes all the foreign students).

Because YOU - Crist/Rubio/Pruitt are more concerned about your soundbites than the welfare of this state you choose to pander the fatcat interests and exempt from sales taxes the fatcat exemptions (skyboxes, horse and dog track admissions, Super Bowl tickets, collectible coins, fill dirt, cattle growth enhancers and most services) MY tax dollars are not used to subsidize the rich.

You people - CRIST/RUBIO/PRUITT are such scum I most certainly won't be voting REPUBLICAN again for a long while!!!!

Error - I meant to say that "my tax dollars ARE being used to subsidize the RICH."

I have been a Republican for over 30 years - not again. No Republican will get my vote. I will not work on another Republican campaign. Not one more dollar will they receive from me.

If the PARTY has plenty of $$$$$ to pay for the Governor's "vacation" they are flush enough to do without my money - especially since my salary hasn't kept pace with the cost of living in Florida - high property taxes, high property insurance premiums, increased car insurence since the PIP crisis.

Every time they fix something it costs me more!!!! But somehow they all manage to continue to line their pockets!!!!

so i hear word on the street is ballard is putting together a crist 2012 org. yes say it isn't so floridians, but 1 year in and not on issue solved and our fabulous governor is already planning to run for pres. good luck with that chuck

Charlie in '12!!! YES!

4:30/4:35 You are so transparent. You have never voted Republican in your life. It is obvious you are a demoncrat. 1) low paying job 2)can't read (the article states clearly that the RPOF paid for this trip, not the state of florida #)bitter and angry...

9:34 - honey so are so knee-jerk. Yes, I've been a Republican for over 30 years. I've worked on Republican Campaigns and been tapped several times for the fundraisers. Yes, the RPOF paid for this trip - with mine and other donors money - paid so the Governor could go on vacation with insurance lobbyists.

The same Governor who said his fix would make our property taxes "drop like a rock."

The same Governor who fixed property insurance and mine doubled after my previous insurer left this market.

The same Governor who expanded Citizens so millionaires who have second, third, fourth beach front houses could get insurance.

The same Governor who fixed property taxes once and mine went up.

The same Governor who supports Amendment 1 which will save me, at the most, 66 cents a day and, might, if not ruled unconstitutional (a likely outcome) save me some money if I move and IF the local government doesn't vote to exceed the 10% cap on property taxes (which they can easily do).

So this REPUBLICAN won't vote for these crooks again or and Republicans until the Party quits being the party of the fatcats and returns to being the party of the middle class.

Lighten up! one day to football, go Packers

Vacationing in a foreign country with lobbyists....

Which political genius thought this one up?

Maybe Jack Abramoff's travel agent.

It'd be better in Florida, if Charlie would stay in the Bahamas

10:34...the same Governor who reduced the budget, and use the veto pen to wipe out the most pork barrell projects in the history of Florida, the same Governor who signed the largest tax cut in the history of Florida, the same Governor who signed innovative insurance legislation that has resulted in lower premiums for some...and is taking on the insurance industry to make sure everyone gets the relief required by law, the same Governor that help bring new insurance companies to Florida resulting in fewer policies in Citizens than when he took office, the same Governor who is campaigning for MORE tax relief and will continue to do so? And your problem is Mrs. Gallagher?

1:09 - Oh, you mean the Governor who got voting rights for fellons, who stated that property taxes were going to "fall like a rock". You know, the guy who has increased everyone's property insurance because they have to pay to support Citizen's so that multi-millionaires can get insurance on their beach-front homes. That Governor who vacations with lobbyists (I bet the Republican Party didn't pay their salaries and expenses for this little romp).

Oh yes, this is the same Governor who has authorized the state employees' pension fund to bail out Citizens if the surcharge everyone else has to pay won't cover the costs of rebuilding all the multi-millionaires' beach front mansions in case of a hurricane!!!!

Wake up and smell the coffee - the Republican party has abandoned its base - middle income workers.

The Republican party didn't learn its lesson when it lost Congress and it looks like the Republican Party of Florida couldn't care less about its base either.

I'll remember this next election.

Slight correction - I suspect the Republican Party didn't pay for the Governor's FDLE body guards who accompanied him - also, did the Governor use his annual leave for this or was this some sort of special "comp time"?

2:50...you are completely incorrect

6:29 - So, felons can't vote? Oh, and there isn't a surcharge on every insurance policy sold to help fund Citizens? And in the event of a catastrophic event state employees' pension fund isn't the guarantor?

Oh, you must mean your property taxes did "drop like a rock?" Or maybe your property taxes went down and when your car insurance policy reinstated PIP your premium didn't go up?

6:29 - wakee, wakee - the Republican free ride is over!!!!! And it is the Republican base which is giving you the wake-up call!!!!

[No Relief For Me]

Posted by: | January 18, 2008 at 11:27 PM

What planet do you live on? Obviously you don't read many blogs, because Crist makes the majority of us sick to our stomachs. Empty suit Charlie, suntan Charlie, pathetic liar....these are just a few of the things he's been called.

Bottom line, he has failed to deliver on any of his promises and this poor excuse for tax reform is totally pathetic. It fails to help those most in need of help, and will ensure unequitable taxation always and will destroy our economy if passed.

VOTE NO ON 1
VOTE NO ON 1
VOTE NO ON 1
VOTE NO ON 1