Sansom shouldn't have missed this class

The seminar was titled "How Not to Get in Trouble as a Legislator."

The trouble is, it was put on by House Democrats, so the one person who should have been there wasn't: Rep. Ray Sansom of Destin, Republican speaker of the Florida House.

Of course, Republicans held a similar discussion when they gathered this week to prepare for a new legislative year.

No, Sansom is not in trouble in the literal sense. But the first week of his two-year term as speaker did not produce headlines for the scrapbook. (Rest of Steve Bousquet's column is here.)

Comments

He's not in trouble? Better check again. We the people elect these folks and from what I can see We the People are not happy with Sansom.

Samson has met his Delilah.

First, there's the most ill-conceived event of all time, the beach retreat, that he refuses to cancel.

Followed of course by an uptight lecture on the need for humility by public officials.

Then, there's the job announcement where Sansom has squeezed another paycheck out of the taxpayer.

And, now the revelation that he screwed with the system to get a sketchy appropriation to pay his own unearned salary, mislabeled so only the most ignorant would be fooled.

All of this pales is comparison to his use of the RPOF where he spends about $12,000 a month on what are essentially trips and meals for his family.

So here's the question: Has this guy ever actually earned any of the luxuries of which he seems so fond?

What an idiot. He represents the exact opposite of humility: Unchecked complete arrogance.

Other House members should know they will be judged not only by what they do, but also by what they tolerate others doing.

I wonder how many hours a week Sansom will actually spend at this new job? I hope he gets to give the inaugural speech at at the "Leadership Institute"; he can detail the shenanigans of the last week as a case study in how not to be a leader.

It'll be a long two years with this guy as Speaker. On the bright side, there are no other offices for him to run for.

In less than a week, Sansom AND his wife have pissed of a myriad of people.

By his actions, Sansom has shown he has no class.

Amen, 10:19. We in Miami call Sansom's new gig a "Botella."

10:31 I wonder how many hours Sansom will spend in his "old" elected job... I hear he wants to institute a 4 day work week during session.

No, 2:32, it's actually only a 3.5 day work-week

Check his job again folks. His job at the college is not paid for with taxpayer dollars nor does he fall under any direction from the President of the college or anyone else in the administration. His job is a glorified fundraiser and is paid for by fundraising dollars. Every school in Florida has a development program and they are not an official part of the state university of college system. How else do you bring in boosters, alumni dollars, and addition private money? This is different than Haridopolos and Rubio who are actually paid to teach, fair or not.

7:50, he cheated the system to get this school money that was not in the budget, he rewarded disloyal staff (who are also complicit in this theft of state funds), filled his pocket with state money and now turns around and tells every other member of the House that there is no money for their districts. He is a fraud.

Every one of them was an unforced error. If there were a World Series for arrogant morons, he would get the pennant.

Hear Hear 8:13. This isn't complicated and while being technically probably not illegal, it's surely unethical and hypocritical.

1.) He secretly hid money in the budget with the help of Rubio staffers (Ward and Hanson) behind the Speakers back...this is a FACT!

2.)He received a sweet heart job, days after becoming Speaker, with a college that he has personally directed million of dollars and other benefits to...this is a FACT!

He and is staff know what the truth is. He's exactly the kind of Republican Leader we DON'T need in these times.

[--]

The story is deeper than what has been reported so far. He misdirected millions for building projects to the college in the last several years. Projects that are lining the pockets of his local friends and supporters, with taxapayer PECO funds that were take from legitimate projects needed at universities and schools. He supported The president of the college who "retired" for a month just in the last year, took a huge payout of taxpayer dollars, and then only to be hired back at a big salary as president and now getting paid retirement and a salary. Follow the money. Word is, the behind the scenes deal really is the president retires again in two years, with another huge payout, and Sansom becomes president of the college. Aren't there any good reporters out there. FOLLOW THE MONEY.

[Cheo]

GOP Wars: Rivera vs Curbelo
http://versaillesbeat.blogspot.com/

[---]

R's and D's are not the issue. Both have good people, and both have had corrupt people. Nothing new. This is about power corrupting people, and taxpayers getting the shaft as a result.

Isn't this the same college president who hired former speaker Bo Johnson (D), who ended up in jail? There is a pattern here of quid pro quo. Money flowed to the college from one corrupt politician 10 years ago, in exchange for a job, and now another.

As 9:05 said, Do your job reporters! I'm a life long Republican but I'm so sick of this sort of corruption I can't stand it. We need to root out these people from the GOP.

Greer and Sansom have a deal to keep the spending secret. Lawsuit coming soon.

[GOP UNITED]

Look for a new candidate for rpof chair soon. He will be able to unite all sides and give Gov Crist a man he can trust at the helm. Greer has less than 40% of the votes needed to be re elected. Much movement behind the curtain.

7:09 the schedule is actually strange. I feel really bad for staff on Tuesday-Thursday evenings, they will be there later than usual. The house should really look into providing day care service for staff, and not just members. It was sad last session when Rubio hired on staff just to take care of his kids because family was so important, but yet they do not take care of the staff family. Hypocrites

[terminator]

7:50
what's next for Sansom? A football team for Northwest Florida College?

Hmmm...Let's see, which budget chair or Speaker or President or Pro Tempore wouldn't find money in the budget to appropriate to their home district? All you liberal lefty loons need to look at your darling, Speaker Pelosi, and see what she does. It is called being and staying in power. Fair? Maybe not. But you would do the same. Trust me.

[panhandledem]

Why does no one mention Rep. Marti Coley? She is a highly paid employee of Chipola College. Since she has been in office chipola has recieved $12 million in approps! She moved her district office to the campus of the college so that no one knows when she is at one job or the other, and also, no one can tell you her job title nor her job description!

It's no wonder Sansom wanted all of Rubio's people out. He knew what Rubio's people knew and he didn't want them polluting the rest of the staff with the truth. Well, Sansom would probably be wise to block access to all the blogs.

This republican hasn't even started his leadership role yet and already he is caught up in a "conflict of interest" issues. You would think "basic intelltigence" would be able to dictate to Sansom that he should not take this position at this time. Are these people just plain "stupid" or is that they are just corrupt government welfare queens. Another nail in the republican partys future.

He's in trouble because he took a job where his salary is not paid for by taxpayers's money?

From my experience people who talk incessantly about "humility" and "being humble", as Sansom does, are usually the opposite. They're projecting their own shortcoming on to others. This last week has proven that to be true.

No 12:02, he's in trouble because he secretly funneled money to a college which just hired him in a sweet heart deal of a job.

And save this whole "he doesn't get paid with public money" nonsense. While technically true,paying him from non-public funds is nothing more then a shell game.

If that school gets a law or med school in the next two sessions, I'm calling all the boys together to commence the uprising. Maybe Marion can lend the guns.

Samson has met his Delilah.

Samson should resign as Speaker.

This is going to be an interesting year. Sansom, Galvano, Rivera, Lorente and Bogdanoaff in the Republican leadership and Sands, Thompson, Kiar, Fitzgerald, Saunders and Jenne in the Democratic leadership. It is going to be an interesting year to watch.

1:02 - more like a 3 ring circus.

as i posted in a blog a few below:

which is,

Resign the VP position and apologize

or

Resign the Speakership and apologize

or

BOTH

Who said Rivera will be part of leadership? Himself?

[--]

College president Richbourg hires House Speaker Bo Johnson, gets lots of buildings, speaker ends up in jail. College president Richbourg hires House Speaker Ray Sansom, (complete the story yourself)

[true]

Rivera is in leadership. Sansom loves him.

Rep Coley got $12 million for what? How can she have a legislative office inside a college? Bousquet, help us out here. Foundation money has always been the oldest trick in the book. Steve, why don't u do a piece on ALL the members who work in public higher ed and when they get their so-called jobs. Write a good piece for a change. Expand on this for us would you??

Has anyone else seen Rubio's page on YouTube under "marcorubio2010???"

Be asured there are lot"s of members and other"s ready to spill the bean"s on Rubio and Rivera if Marco tries to Run For Governor or Party Chair Carlos will Win.

112.3173(6) Felonies involving breach of public trust and other specified offenses by public officers and employees; forfeiture of retirement benefits.--

[I know what they did last summer]

This is nothing compared to the stuff Rubio did when he was speaker. Has anyone heard that Rivera is running for Dade county GOP chair which opens up the State committee position for Rubio and then One of them could run for Party Chair, this would be great because all the stuff that everyone has on Rubio and Rivera would come out and it's bye Sen race or anything else in politics they want to do..

The House ought to investigate these allegations.

Shell game, money laundering, whatever

Is Sansom still working for the power company and getting paid until he "officially" begins his job at the college after session?

[--]

Quid pro quo -- his new boss's payoff this past year:

Retiring OWC head hopes to return to post
Comments 0 | Recommend 0
September 1, 2007 - 4:26 PM
Rachel Kyler

Okaloosa-Walton College President Bob Richburg is scheduled to retire Sept. 30 after 30 years in the community college system.

But probably not for long.

Richburg, 62, appears certain to be rehired as the school’s president just weeks after his retirement.

“He’s made it very clear that he would like to be rehired,” said OWC’s Board of Trustees chairman Joseph Henderson. “I see no reason that we wouldn’t rehire him.”

Richburg is the highest paid public official in Okaloosa County, earning $215,000 a year. And compensation is at the heart of Richburg’s decision to retire, and his desire to be rehired again.

The state’s Deferred Retirement Option Program – known as DROP – will enable Richburg to collect more than a half-million dollars upon retirement.

If he is rehired, Richburg will receive his salary, and within a year of being rehired he will also begin receiving more than $8,000 a month in additional retirement compensation.

And, if he works for at least another year, Richburg will receive additional retirement compensation.

In Richburg’s case, he will receive a lump sum of $553,000 when he retires. And after a month, if he doesn’t return to OWC, he will also receive $8,546 monthly in additional retirement compensation.

perfect material to be named the Buzz's winner of the week. lol

Is it true the House will hold committee meetings that last til 9 pm? Is this another attempt to keep the public from coming to the meeting? What about all the women who have to walk to their cars by themselves at night?

Brilliant!

Finally we get a speaker who makes Johnnie Byrd look good!

Where can I sign up for a Legal Money Laundering class?

[Johnny Byrd]

History has absolved me, and its name is Ray!

That's a great article a few posts up on your new boss Ray. Obviously none of this is about the money, right?

I feel bad for his staff; they're going to have to shill for this fraud for two years.