WaterColor: a lobby-free zone

Two years ago, a number of high-profile lobbyists had primo access to House Republicans during the inaugural retreat at WaterColor, the secluded beach resort in Ray Sansom's back yard.

This time, lobbyists are banned.

It's part of now-Speaker Sansom's goal to cultivate team building and focus on policy discussion. It also helps remove some of the controversy surrounding the expensive getaway, held during an economic crisis. The Republican Party of Florida is picking up the tab for about 150 people, including 74 GOP House members. (Lobbyists, of course, are welcome to make contributions that would cover the expense.)

"We're not here to be lobbied," Sansom said in an interview. "We're here to think."

Members are now getting a lesson on decorum from Speaker Pro Tem Larry Cretul. Amid his advice: Remember there is a public gallery filled with people with cameras and recording devices. "The folks can be your friends or they might not be your friends," he said. "Remember, as I say, the world is watching."

Sansom emphasized that message. Imagine, he said, if someone with keen interest in a bill turns on the TV to see a rep laughing at his BlackBerry. "It's vital that the less walking around, the less talking ... it looks very respectful the more we listen to the debate."

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Comments

[indknow]

BS-
This event is strictly organized by 3 lobbyists with places over there (heard a 4th just bought a place). This is a convenience for the lobbyist, not the members (just tell me how easy it is for Reps. Grimsley or Williams to get to rural NW Florida. This is a lobbyist event, for a select group of lobbyists, who are simply being hogs. Not to worry, the sheep will come!

[night watchmen]

So I am clear- 74 members and SEVENTY-SIX staffers. Time for new leadershp at the RPoF.

Talk about a tin ear...this will be the first of many PR debacles over the next two years in the Florida House.

4:24 - how about some names?

Talk about tone deaf. Floridians are on the ropes and these guys are partying at a resort. It's one thing to get beaten by your opponents. It's another thing to make a completely unforced error. Why doesn't someone have the sense to pull the plug on this one? They are godawful stupid.

To Our Elected Officials:

Just because you've done it in the past doesn't mean you have to do it now. Times have changed and for the worse. The stock market has crashed. Retirement savings have been wiped out. Home prices have plummeted. Property taxes are still sky high.

You need to start living like the rest of us. It doesn't matter that you are getting this money from a political party. What matters is the incredibly callous and dismissive manner in which you're behaving. Republicans are always talking about honor and courage. Isn't there one among you has the guts to stand up and acknowledge the obvious: THIS IS WRONG.

I still don't understand, nor have I heard an explanation from the legislators, why these meetings are being held at Water Color? Why not in the community room(s) at the Florida State Capitol?

And another thing, lobbyists at Water Color is not the main problem here - it's the money spent to have the meetings at Water Color.

You'd think after last weekend's public spat over RPOF spending, they (Greer) would have had the sense not to do this.

Good grief.

Why are they going there and why is the RPOF picking up the tab in an economic crisis like this in the state?

What an waste of money. Nothing less would suffice than San Destin on the Ocean?

http://www.watercolorresort.com/resort_home.aspx

this reminds me of the Big 3 auto CEOs who flew into DC on private jets, with their hands out...

"There is a delicious irony in seeing private luxury jets flying into Washington, D.C., and people coming off of them with tin cups in their hand, saying that they're going to be trimming down and streamlining their businesses," Rep. Gary Ackerman, D-New York, told the chief executive officers of Ford, Chrysler and General Motors at a hearing of the House Financial Services Committee.

"It's almost like seeing a guy show up at the soup kitchen in high hat and tuxedo. It kind of makes you a little bit suspicious."

Hey night watchmen. The other 76 are predominantly wives and children.

To think?

I guess that the Repugs forgot that you have to start with a brain before you can think. And if any group has shown that they are lacking in the brain department, it is our Repug house members.

4:40 - Just have Alex Leary (the paid person on this blog) to tell us. Alex knows. Everyone in Tallahassee knows and the press just gives them a pass.

Quit you whining. This event was paid for with private donations. If you do not wish to fund the RPOF, so be it. While I would agree that Greer needs to be audited, there is nothing wrong with this. Sounds like a bunch of cry babies who are spewing money. Get over the entitlement syndrome, get a job and quit with the class envy. Its boring.

Sounds like a bunch of cry babies who are spewing wealth envy.

Sorry. typed to fast.

Ban the lobbyists?

Does that mean banning those who represent us? Perhaps better than our legislators?

There seems to be some thought that since it was all sponsored by RPOF it is above special interest influence. Where do you think the RPOF money came from?!

Seems like some D staffers are having some fun- It is private donations, a private organization can spend their money in any matter that is not illegal or unethical- I can't see what the big dealio is????

Hey 836 no one is saying that it is illegal from the posts I've read. What people are saying, and they are correct, is that it is profoundly stupid to spend hundreds of thousands of dollars at a swanky retreat in the midst of the toughest economic time our country has faced in the last 50 years. Talk about bad PR and playing into stereotypes. This guy is already proven he's not ready for prime time...Johnnie Byrd redux.

where do u think that party money comes from?

R or D, it is disgusting to sell out to lobbyists who affect policy with cash rather than valid information.

Most members have sold their souls to the lobbyists while turning their backs on the people who pay the bills. Let the phone company, the insurance company, the cable company jack up their rates just a bit so you can raise money to live in the style you deserve and get reelected. We know you cannot serve two masters.

Government too big? Then leave. Two years in office and you have a bigger sense of entitlement than a third generation welfare mother. Only she cannot get a sweet job (rather a check) at a cash-strapped school.

I don't care that the party pays for this, the money is dirty. Both parties have crossed the line. It is no longer one person-one vote. These may be the rules that you found yourself within but be honest, the system is one big prostitute now.

12:33 said it all, nothing left to add.

It's house campaigns not Greer.

The economy is depressed largely because people no longer trust their government - and for good reason. Knee jerk government policies that pander to special interests along with the greed of CEO's who have preemptived ownership rights have caused this mess. Now comes the Republican leadership partying it up at a posh resort that few of their constituents could afford. Have they no shame? And to add insult to injury, it is obvious that Samson used his political swat to land his new job at plus $100,000 per year. Greedy b-----ds all.

[BGS]

To all of the RPOF apologists posting on this site - you don't get it. I am a former legisative staffer, RPOF staffer and a former CR state chair who helped build the FL GOP in the 1990s so we could become the majority. Going to WaterColor is not the problem. The decision to spend party money doing it to the tune of $400,000 is the problem. I have a hard time asking people to cut checks to our side when we lost Florida by a small margin, and the party sat on money prior to election day so they could spend it on items like this. Getting away to think is important for any leader, and no one should begrudge the house memebers for doing that at WaterColor. The fact my legislative leaders and party leadership cannot see what the problem is, is more disappointing than the event's underwriting itself.

Sansom doesn't need the lobbyists there. He will be brainwashing the new members to the leadership's (the same as the lobbyists that PAID for the event) agenda. How many spouses and children are attending on the RPOF (I mean the lobbyists' and corporations') tab? Are the "staffers" only party staffers or are Florida House staff also being treated to a lobbyist PAID vacation?