Dems: Rubio 'reeks of corruption'

The Florida Democratic party is jumping hard on this Herald story, sending a release liberally sprinkled with the c-word (corruption):

"TALLAHASSEE - Despite budget cuts that will gut education, healthcare and law  enforcement, Republican Speaker Marco Rubio "quietly slipped tough-to-spot  language in a state budget plan last week that helps a friend and political  money-man bid on a major fuel contract in a $265 million turnpike overhaul  proposal."

"Does he have no shame? The only people 'better off' with Rubio's budget are Rubio and his political friends. It takes incredible contempt for the people of Florida to corruptly slide millions to a wealthy friend while millions of regular folks are hurting because of the recession he helped create," Florida Democratic Party spokesman Alejandro Miyar said. "...Rubio's pattern is disturbing and reeks of corruption."

Rubio told the Buzz that he put in the language over objections to the Department of Transportation's bid proposal. It was so narrowly drawn, he said, that only a few mega corporations could compete to build hotels, gas stations and food courts.

His elaborated in a statement sent earlier: “We strongly support requiring DOT to make competitive its bidding processes for businesses on the Turnpike and elsewhere.  DOT makes the bidding decisions—not the Legislature.  The Legislature’s job is to ensure that the citizens are well served by this process.  Monopolies don’t serve consumers well.  The rising cost of gas already burdens motorists; it’s vital that we stimulate an open marketplace with the most competitive prices possible. By limiting the bids to a small number of big companies, as DOT wants to do, they would actually reduce competition and that could lead to further price increases.”

Comments

[Hope!]

"It takes incredible contempt for the people of Florida to corruptly slide millions to a wealthy friend while millions of regular folks are hurting because of the recession..."

It's true, just ask your Congressman!

“…reported in Friday's paper, 47 members of Congress have invested between $4-million and $8-million in companies that make weapons and equipment for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. The value of those stocks has gone up as the war has gone on.”

Wake the hell up, folks! Vote every self-serving one of them out of office… from the crooks in Washington, to our own State criminals, to our own local bag men and women… they ALL must go if we are to regain control of this once great nation!

Rubio - the man who wants to be Governor, rules by political patronage. His budget has HIS pork projects, his friends are appointed to $10,000 a month jobs while child abuse workers are laid off.

Kick HIM and every member of HIS party out of office this November - we deserve better than this!!!!!

“Say ello to my little “$265-million” friend”

Ahhhhh, yes… politics; Floriduuuuuh style!

The St. Pete Times should remove the comment posted at 4:47Pm for being a baseless RACIST remark!!!

Get a grip, 4:54... Miami IS as corrupt as you can get. And the democraphic IS... the demographic.

Pot, Kettle, whatever.

It's not like the Dems don't have their own share of corruption, like Geller with his parimututel buddies.

problem is we just keep recycling the same people over and over into different offices.

The democrats do not like the fact that Marco Rubio is super popular with the people of FL, because he supports their wishes of meaningful property tax relief.

The democrats & local government lobbyists want the drunken spendings to continue.

Speaker Rubio should sued Florida Democratic Party spokesman Alejandro Miyar @ss for libel

I had a kettle full of pot once... does that count!

The democrats under Steve Geller & Dan Gelber are some of the most "corrupt" legislators out there.

Look how much money they took from local government & gambling interests.

Speaker Rubio should do us all a favor and resign.

The republicons under The Rube & The People's Mistake are some of the most "corrupt" and useless legislators out there.

Look how much money they took from local government & gambling interests.

4:58 - The "drunken spending" that you refer to has been done by the Republican majority who has ruled the House and Senate for over a decade. Care to answer for that??? I didn't think so...

TaxWatch to Rubio's rescue!!!

Ship his a## back to Cuba.

Get lost Marco and I sure hope this is the end of your corrupt tax reform as well. You're busted!

The drunken spending is all the local governments taking our property taxes & wasting it away.

Now they are paying the price & whining when we the people turn the table on them.

Democrats fat cats Geller & Gelber are the worst.

Times & liberal media jealous of Marco Rubio's popularity?

5:09 TaxWatch to Rubio's rescue!!! Your boy is going down!

Rubio for Governor in 2010!

It's funny how this has turned in to Democrat bashing. I wish for once, these Republican staffers would see the light, and realize that their "leadership" (I use that term VERY loosely) is corrupt. These poor sheep are so gullible.

Rubio couldn't deliver the tax cuts big business demanded, so they called in some favors. They're going to get their money back one way or another.

Baaaaahhhhhhhhh

5:13 Are you kidding? Half of them are corrupt, and the other half are employed in making up the spin they use to trick the voters. Why would they ever see the light?

Can anyone say Kool-Aid?

Toast!

Get rid of Rubio and all other corrupt GOP hacks!

Problem Solved!

Waterloo!

I can't wait for the 2008 elections. It's going to be so nice to see all these young, punk-a## Republican staffers out of a job. Better start researching whether you're eligible for unemployment or not.

5:20- Maybe they'll all join the same gay commune when they become unemployed.

lol- polls show McCain winning Florida with ease.

By this time next year, there will be so many restrictions in our FL Constitition, it won't matter who is in government.

The people have spoken baby.

Just got a press release that Dockery has come out against Rubio. Turns out Rubio once rode on commuter rail so Paula's against him!

It's simple..file a complaint with the ethic commission....

and file a complaint against every other person in power going back 130 years...

And for those who don't know - 122 of those years, the dems were in control pulling the same crap that goes on now.

I am so sick of the corruption, lies and hypocracy. The Republican party is going to lose all its party members if they cant get a grip on these crooks. Same goes for the senate and their giveaways. It sickens me.

I agree with the comment above. If you feel Rubio has done something corrupt, file a complaint with the Ethics Commission or the AG. Otherwise, shut up!!!

Yes, please! Someone who will suffer no retribution file a complaint! I wish I could. I would be there.in a heartbeat.

There is so much the press could get him for. Just dig a little bit Adam!

He has hired just about every family member he has. Even his wife's brother. They sit around and do nothing an get a paycheck. That is taxpayer money they are being paid with. While school funding and healthcare are taking cuts, his family members are raking it in.

Then you have his shady loan, his sneaking in budget language to help his contributors and all of the budget items for his own stuff that he has also hid in the budget. Not to mention how David Rivera is "consulting" for a fee to some of those same entities that are getting budget allocations.

These guys have no shame.

politicians, by definition, are corrupt. You just have to watch them real close and have the news report everything they do, so they don't get re-elected.

Adam, this is beneath you. You know that legislators frequently question agencies about procurements and use the budget and legislation to direct their activities on behalf of constituents. Simply because the dems slander and defame marco does not make this newsworthy.

You all are clueless. Rubio isn't the crook. He's actually a pretty honest and decent guy as far as politicians go.

Now his buddy, Mr. Bean, is a whole other story. He's the one who needs to be watched closely by the Dems and the press.

Whatever became of Rubios attempt to slip an exemption for Miami into last year's property tax rollbacks?

Tax cuts are great for the people, except in Miami?

This guy is a crook.

Typical liberal Times rhetorics. No other newspaper or news have anything about this. Check it out at Google news.

vote out all the liberal democrats that want to property tax us to death

Please pay attention to the GOP at 5:25.

He's telling everyone flat out how they intend to get our state constitution so screwed up we'll never get it away from Big Business and back in the hands of the people.

This same totalitarian crap is taking place on all levels of our government, because we were stupid enough to turn our gevernment over to Reagan, Gingrich, and Rove.

If there ever were a time to vote straight DEM. this is it.

The only thing that reeks in this story is booze-addled banshee that is Karen Thurman.

8:42 typical GOP bs. What happened to your liberal media bias? Just vanishes when it suits your purposes? If anybody outside of Florida even knew who Rubio was, I'm sure the FOX moguls would be in serious supression mode.

Let's take away the tax exempt status of TaxWatch and all the other tax fanatics. It should be obvious to everyone that they're nothing but a lapdogs for Big Business and a PR machine for the Republicans.

Problem Solved!

Isn't being from Dade or Broward a big general negative for any politician like Marco Rubio seeking a statewide Florida elected office. Aren't Floridians by and large distrustful of politicians from there. Other than Jeb Bush (who I think of as a carpetbagger) and Bob Graham, who else from down there has been elected to high profile statewide office?

question...who is buying dinner for all the members tonight?

Get rid of all liberal democrats & their fatcat government lobbyists wasting taxpayer's money.

Democrat corruption exploits throughout Florida’s history are legendary.

This is how they lost power after 122 years.

Does St Pete Times give as much credence to RPOF press releases?

10:21 etc. Poured yourself a nice glass of Kool-Aid and watched some FOX news and now your feeling all frisky again?

Miyar: You are so misinformed, I am appaled someone would have assigned you the responsibility of speaking on behalf of the Democratic party. The language in question, merely enforces the CURRENT bidding process. One bid for food, one bid for gas. The best bids for both..win. No where in the language is a single entity singled out or does it mention a particular person will benefit. It only restricts group submissions of both gas and food bids. Why should they be considered under the same bid when one has nothing to do with the other? Had you read the language or done the least bit of research, you would have realized this.

11:31 It took the GOP spin machine, what, 11 hours to come up with THAT?

1131, Did you read the proviso language? Because if you did, I would love to hear your interpretation of it. Please point out where I was not accurate or where I was misleading. You havent discussed the actual language or the policy reasons behind it. At least I was able to convey my reasons behind why I think the language is good and sound public policy. The only point you have made is you never bothered to look up the language. Your point is well taken. Thank you.

My Bad. That should be "the Rubio spin machine" because it looks like even a lot of his GOP buddies are hanging him out for the buzzards.

Please don't pick on Aaron Bean...he is a good man.

11:49
How's this?
(ahem)
In summary -
The Turnpike Enterprise thinks they can get a better deal for the taxpayers through a combined contract.
Rubio's buddy and angel, Alvarez, decides he can make a killing on the gas side of the contract, but knows he can't compete if the contract is combined. He gets Rubio to insert language to keep the bids separate. Rubio, knowing that his shady actions are open to severe criticism if discovered, attempts to sneak them through but they're noticed. Then he denies his involvement. Unwilling to burden the taxpayers with GOP pork, the turnpike enterprise decides to wait it out, but that doesn't sit well with Rubio's payoff plan, so he tacks the language onto a Senate bill. Busted again! Webster strikes it from the bill. Does Marco get the message? Apparently not, because it's back again in the 2008-09 session! My isn't Marco's payback crusade becoming just a bit obvious by now? Even the GOP are balking! They abandon the pint-size Napoleon in droves and even go so far as to rat him out when approached by the Miami Herald. Observant St. Pete Times bloggers, fed up with Marco, point out that this isn't the first time, and vow to help other Buzz readers throw off the chains of the totalitarian GOP and achieve political freedom!

Let's not besmurch the character of the Speaker...he can show bad judgment without being a criminal...most of his mistakes are mistakes of youth...most of the truly troubling things that have taken place with him at the helm are the result of who he surrounds himself with rather than a result of criminal intent....

23 Days.....

Sorry, 12:23b, but I don't buy it. He needs to be severely besmirched or he will just keep coming back again and again. Like Jeb.

Rubio has a pattern or abusing public trust. He should RESIGN!

More corrupt Cuban state officials from Miami: Bo Johnson and WD Childers. Oops. These are corrupt rednecks. Sorry.

Vote out all democrats especially "corrupt" legislators like Geller & Gelber.

lapdog

[Wiseguy]

It just freaking amazes me by the number of people here that read a story then blame the oppisite party. If he pushed that through it must be the Democrats fault? They hipnotized him and made him do it. My head is spinning from all you Monkey Sticks. Get this clown and the rest of the cowboy tax exemtion, insurance is gonna drop like a rock knuckleheads out of there.

[Jason Straight]

Its real simple.Miami where Jason was born is a GENUINE THIRD WORLD Country..Its the poorest and most corrupt county in florida..Huge govt boondogles in the face of a budget crisis..New stadium new port tunnel two BASKETBALL ARENAS ..Run like nicargua..gotta know sumbody Cuban to do business.The GOP has figgured out if you can spread it statewide more kickback money for law firms and friends..Nice work Dems for exposing it.You GOP whoples in Pasco hate them Miami Cubans admit it without their votes you know the GOP wouldnt be able to control Florida..You get the Goverment you vote for..Jason Straight ..

and what type of government do you get from have Geller and Gelber types in the majority?

[ForLaw]

So the Dems want only big corporations to bid?

1220..."Knows he can't compete"...isn't that the point? Why shouldn't Max be allowed to COMPETE for the bid? Should he offer the best deal, should he offer the best prices, should he offer the fairest result to the state consumers, why shouldn't he be awarded the GAS contract. It doesn't just allow Max to compete it allows every food vender and gas distributer a chance to offer their services..not just the two companies (host marriott and arias) in the WORLD that can fulfill such a project as one bid...one of which is not even a US company. Competition benefits the consumer..not Host Marriott..so I still don't see what's wrong with the POLICY.

If they'll allow Dockery's bullet train then she'll be for it.

[Make mine a double]

7:31 Marco(wringing hands) Everyone else was just ignoring the obvious benefits. Those Turnpike folks had no idea what they were about to do. I had to step in and rescue the poor taxpayers. Why don't the people just understand that everything I do, I do for the good of the citizens of Florida????

I love how Marco said he HAD to slip the proviso language in because as speaker, he doesn't file bills. Really, what has stopped him from having another legislator run it through committees? What has stopped him from having a committee do a PCB that could then be vetted? No, of course he couldn't do either of those things, because he knows it would never fly! He is as corrupt as they come.

Senator's, PLEASE look very closely at the budget. You will be surprized how much crap they have "slipped" in. Don't let them get away with it.

Rubio should resign.

What do you expect, Rubio is mini Jeb!. Thats how these people work, cronyism for friends and family.

Rubio should resign - unfortunately, that would require some honor and integrity. If those qualities were dominate in him he wouldn't have done these things in the first place.

The Republican Party of Florida - the party of political patronage - turning the middle class into the working poor one special interest bill at a time.

Rubio needs to resign. No one can respect him now. Not that anyone ever did.

Does the proviso language prohibit the gas vendor from using CITGO gas? That's a much bigger concern than whether its searated from the food vendor.

Rubio reeks of illegal Cuban cigars.

This isn't any worse than Amendment 1, that Rubio stuck Florida with.

Speaker Marco Rubio is one of the few legislators in Tallahassee supporting the people.

He is single-handedly fighting for meaningful property tax relief as demanded by the people.

The "corrupt" democratic party under Steve Geller & Dan Gelber are taking money from unions & local government lobbyists (taxpayer's money) to continue the DRUNKEN SPENDING.

Vote every Democrat out of office.