Fasano: hero or menace, he's atop his game

When Florida legislators approve the state's slimmed down budget this week, no one may be as proud as Sen. Mike Fasano.

Despite the smallest state budget in four years, the New Port Richey Republican wedged in $10-million to help build roads near schools on his home turf, Pasco County. There's also $5-million to recruit companies to Pasco. And another $10-million to improve affordable housing in three counties. One of them: Pasco.

And that's just a partial list for the senator, whose district also includes parts of Citrus, Hernando and Pinellas counties. "Somehow, it all ends up in Pasco," said Sen. Charlie Justice, D-St. Petersburg.

After 14 years in the Legislature, Fasano has emerged as the Tampa Bay area's most powerful lawmaker — however unlikely. (Click here for the profile by David DeCamp.)

Comments

I beg to differ. Senator Crist is much more powerful and influential than Fasano.

No one works harder than Mike. He's the best!

Yep, he's done well for Pasco and CSX and Rubio's buddy and St. Joe Paper Company.

Too bad he couldn't care less about foster care children, hospice, chronically ill children, the elderly (other than his mother) and the mentally and severerly handicapped.

Senators can only be as successful as their House counterparts let them be. It is never done unilaterally. Hats off to Legg and Weatherford.

History is full of monstrous figures who were masterful at manipulating the system but were otherwise pathetic examples of humankind.

[me]

Not bad for a high school drop out.

A clear example to high school students....where there is a will there is a way.

Powerful? Yes! Hard worker? Yes! Absolutely! But, he opportunistic and works from a position of extreme leverage. Old school politics that create enemies and political allies but, seldom any friends!

Any other trite sayings that we should throw out at this point?

Fasano has a delightful way of making sure his name is always mentioned, he doesn't carry the water or pull the weight....Fagsano shows up to make sure he gets the credit. It's all slight of hand and the press falls for it. While he plunges that knife deep into your back, you will always hear God Bless You.

14 years???

I think it is time to find a real job...ditto for all the other career politicians.

Do I see the start of a veto list?

Looks like the whining is because Fasano got in there and stood for the working people of his district and did not let the handout crowd take anything away from them. Good work and God Bless!

Fasano is a GOP hack, plain and simple.

The Tampa Bay Partnership will regret letting that clown Chair the Bay Area Legislative Delegation.

He preaches cooperation and regionalism, then sharpens the knives when it suits him.

He singlehandedly tried to ruin Hillsborough County's attempt to put the Moffitt/Merck project where it is today, using false witness and manipulation of others in the community.

He is a hypocrite, liar, and traitor. Good riddance to such scum.

[ed]

"somehow, it always ends up in pasco"-maybe fasano works harder, justice!! all we ever read about justice is "he may challenge young" & he just got to the senate!! oh yeah, he's worried about government spending money to tell voters how to vote. good point but is that all there is??????

he's atop his game - robbing from the poor and porking for the rich. Formerly beautiful Pasco County, now covered with empty subdivsions. All in the last 14 years. Great job, Mike, great job, GOPFL.

Don’t forget the hard work CJ did to make sure he could stay on our dime while running for higher office. That helped stem a few foreclosures, aye Chuck?

[Chris Ingram]

Mike Fasano represents everything that is wrong with American politics.

He is nothing more than a self-serving, egomaniac. If he cares so much about his constituents, why has he repeatedly sought to provide a $2M tax break every year for thirty years for every pro-sports team in Florida?

If he was truly a "caring" person, he would be working hard for Florida's families, not corporate welfare. I am a life-long Republican, and I think Mike Fasano is a disgrace.

From what I hear from his colleagues, he is the least liked person in Tallahassee. As 8:19 said, Old school politics that create enemies and political allies but, seldom any friends!

He is a power monger and he hates almost anyone who even slightly disagrees with him. What you see is the guy who knows how to do the things that are no brainers. How come you dont report the things he does that are anti citizens? Sneaky amendments that benefit his contributors? Where was he on the CSX deal? There is an election coming up for him, he knows how to play the game and he certainly has snookered you guys. People in Tallahassee that know him, know better.

I agree. Fassano has a lot of skeletons in his closet too. But the media seems to ignore them...

Here are some things in his bio and that are public about him.

He's single/never married.
Catholic.
No kids.
Lives with his mother.
Youth sports coach.

Don't know about you, but I don't want anyone with all these odities (when considered together) coaching my kids!

Also, he's a product of special interests. 90% of the funding in his last race came from sources outside of the district (special interest groups, businesses, lobbyists, party committees). He is not a man of the people that is for sure. He is a man of the powerful, and that is it.