22 floors up, a GOP power lunch

Dozens of business leaders ate lunch today on the 22nd floor of the Capitol and listened to a speech from Gov. Charlie Crist -- just one of several events today for the Republican Party of Florida's 2nd annual "Fly-In and Forum."

Later, House Speaker Marco Rubio, incoming Senate President Jeff Atwater and his likely successor Mike Haridopolos met with the visitors, who were touring the Old Capitol. "It was not a fund-raiser, just an opportunity to thank some of our donors," said RPOF communications director Erin VanSickle.

The events were not public and did not appear on Crist's or Rubio's daily schedule. The party rented the 22nd floor for lunch. At 4:30, the business officials will hear a policy discussion and the Republican plans for delivering the presidential race for John McCain and to win congressional seats. A 6 p.m. Lt. Gov. Jeff Kottkamp will host a reception at the Governor's Mansion.

RPOF Chairman Jim Greer said he felt uncomfortable releasing names of the attendees without their consent. But Greer described them as small and large business leaders who "have provided counsel and support to myself and the governor."

He said the event drew about 100 people, up from 30 last year.

Erin Isaac, the governor's spokeswoman, said party and personal events are never on his public schedule. "Taxpayer resources should not be used to promote his political schedule."

Comments

Please read related article "House, Senate settle budget issues" and you'll know more about just who those "donors" were.

[Don Mott]

"It was not a fund-raiser, just an opportunity to thank some of our donors," said RPOF communications director Erin VanSickle. Yeah sure, it was only meant to ensure that those funds keep coming, same difference. RPOF Chairman Jim Greer said he felt uncomfortable releasing names of the attendees but described them as small and large business leaders from across the state who "have provided counsel and support to myself and the governor." Well if they have provided support and counsel why would you feel uncomfortable releasing their names? After all they are helping us right? What a freaking joke.

They had a hard time getting people there. The boat is starting to take on water.

Nonono… you guys go ahead and have a good time while we lose our homes, economy, and future.

Could there be a better example of a dysfunctional, disconnected, self-serving, and absolutely useless leadership group than Chuck and his band of buffoons called the Floriduuh Legislature?

Oh-my-freaking-God! These people are the most embarrassing pile of sh*t I’ve ever had the displeasure of knowing!

May God help our State, and our Nation.

The Governors Office would benefit greatly from firing this Erin chica. Listening to her is like hearing finger nails on a chalk board.

Someone made a good point: if they're doing such good things that everyone is so proud of, why not name some names?

Whatever happen to the sunshine?

Geez 4:41, take a breather. I guess nobody in the state of Florida is allowed to have a good time? Must be a horrible life you live to get so upset on a blog.

Hey Paula, how's that run for the Presidency going? About as good as when you ran for Speaker.

How come it was not on anyone's schedule?

What is that about?

Stuffing their faces and lining their pockets while Florida burns.

Congrats, GOP on a well-deserved break from your hard days work. Hey, do you mind if I take a doggy bag to my poor grandma; she's been having a hard time making ends meet lately, and I hear it's going to get worse now.

God help us. Help the people of Florida from these corrupt legislative leaders. I wil pray tonight that they get caught at what they are doing. I will pray that they get unelected and they stop using the peoples process for their own pockets and egos. I hqave no faith in the losers we have in the Florida Legislature. They all need to go.

Who were the visitors? Why not Pruitt?

"RPOF Chairman Jim Greer said he felt uncomfortable releasing names of the attendees..."

Excuse me???? They met in a government building during normal business hours and we, the public, aren't entitled to know who attended?

How much was the RPOF (or rip-off) charged for using state facilities? After all, if they had wanted to use the facilities at Leon High they would have paid a fee.

greer's not giving out the list because it contained no real business leaders; i was there - just a few local mechanics and all the strip club owners in central florida. Seriously, the group was a random group of small business owners, no Publix, no BofA, no Sugar, no Insurance/Financial execs, no major builders or land barons.

While I'm working 2 jobs just to get by....you all go have some high priced lunch! Maybe you can throw in "let them eat cake"
When are people going to wake-up?

Well, that makes sense. After all, the big guys would probably expect a litle more than the 22nd floor.
I don't begrudge the legislators a time break, they do work hard, but the secrecy makes what was likely a small deal into a big deal.

"They work hard" - who are you kidding staffer????? SOME staffers work hard, but the members are too, too busy figuring out how to line their pockets or land a gold-plated job after they are termed out.

What they are "working" on are truck decorations, baggy pants, unnecesary ultrasounds and corporate subsidies all at the expense of meaningful TAX REFORM - they'd rather cut education, cut foster care workers, cut child abuse investigators, and eliminate nursing home inspections than raise taxes on cigarettes and alcoholic beverages or eliminate the fat-cat sales tax exemptions!!!

Even the Grinch had a bigger heart than the Republicans in the Florida Legislature.

hey SPT - love how you try to create a scandal where there is none by posting details of this event, yet you won't even come close to mentioning the moving House military/veteran ceremony - SPT all the news that's biased to print

hey STAFFER - love how you try to spin a scandal where there is one by posting drivel of this event, yet you won't even come close to working for the tax dollars you're stealing for you pinheaded boss... the bowel moving waste of freaking time your criminal bosses are spending on truck nuts...

STAFFERS... all the spin that's BS to print

spin a scandal? by expressing that a tribute to our military should get a mention on the blog if the editors are gonna mention a lousy meal?

wow, you really hate our military and veterans then if you can't see that.

oh, and i'm about as much of a staffer as you are a, oh say, a crack-baby, so that's what i'm gonna call you from now on

later crack-baby

[Tax reform now, but not TBRC's way]

Tax Reform is what this state really needs. I hope and trust that's what this meeting was about. Sen. Mike Haridopolos seems to be the only one standing up to the bait and switch plan being proposed by the TBRC. He's leading an effort to draw awareness to these bad proposals. Even created a website. www.protectfloridasfuture.com

Where you allowed to bring your dog up there?

[Tax Reform is a disguise for corporate welfare.]

Tax cuts are not what the people need. They obviously need protection from Big Business lobbyists who try to gut government regulations and divert the remaining tax revenue away from children, seniors and other disadvantaged people and into their pockets. Vote NO to all tax reform sponored by polluters and pavers. Vote DEM and return some compassion for common people to government.

hey 12:47 - you are an idiot and make the most pathetic arguments on this blog for keeping taxes high

[Omega83]

12:37

Haridopolous has had multiple opportunities to work towards true tax reform.

He chose to support Amendment 1 instead.

Enough with the hypocrisy.

1:19 Gotta do what you can when you don't have the big PR machine of the tax lobby working to write the slick slogans for you.

If taxes really were high, we wouldn't have a budget issue, right?

Problem Solved!*

*TM - Taxwatch Fanatics Big Guns PR Spin Machine, INC.

1:34 - you got a point in there somewhere or some iota of logic? or are you just spitting out garbage you receive from unions (the leadership of which seem to be living high off the hog compared to the workers)

and one thing you did get right, i am a fanatic for personal freedom and individual liberty - you apparently are so caught up in in petty hate and envy you see corporate boogeymen behind every corner - such a sad little life you have