Weekly Word - HYPOCRITE

From Jim Piccillo:

Greetings Friends and Supporters!

Thank you for taking a moment to read The Jim Piccillo for Congress campaign's Weekly Word. It's been an incredible week for the campaign and national politics. We hope you find the content of this newsletter useful and informative. Again, if we didn't address an area you are interested in, please call or email us. Your feedback is important to us! Click here to join the team.

On the Money

We are in the final stretch of the first quarter, which ends March 31st, and are diligently working toward our critical goal of raising $100,000 this quarter. Now is the time t0 donate; we need your support today! Please click here to help us reach this crucial milestone.

Jim and our team members have been busy on the phones, reaching out to supporters across the country, to show that this race MUST receive national attention and the seat be delivered back to the Democrats in November. The incumbent is heavily funded by greedy insurance and banking industry PACs. Take a look at her financial reports on the FEC website to see who she truly represents; it's crystal clear.

Community Outreach

Since our last 'Word', Team Piccillo has been attending events and continuing to spread the message of Common Sense for Congress. Last weekend, we had the privilege of addressing the Southwest Citrus Democrat Club and received a very warm response as well as many signed petitions. After our visit to Citrus County, we spent several hours in Hernando County at the annual Swamp Fest. Jim had the opportunity to speak with voters, hear their concerns, answer questions and get additional petitions signed! Jim will continue to tour the District, visiting with as many organizations, companies, businesses and Clubs over the course of the next eight months as possible, so he can learn what issues most affect the people of the 5th District.

This Saturday the 13th, Team Piccillo will be marching in the Zephyrhills Founder's Day Parade! Supporting victims of Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault is very important to us. That being said, the team will be walking with the Sunrise Center of Pasco County in their "Walk A Mile In Her Shoes" group in a show of solidarity to raise awareness about gender violence. Jim Piccillo will be wearing heels, so that he can truly feel what it's like to walk a mile in a ladies shoes. Come out and walk with us for this worthy cause! Visit www.sunrisepasco.org to learn more.

Weekly Word: Pressing Issue

Just when you think you've heard, and seen, it all something happens that is just so shocking it stops you in your tracks. This is the pressing issue of this last week that had us all stunned. The incumbent in Florida's 5th District, "Ginny" Brown-Waite, this past week voted AGAINST the Hiring Incentives to Restore Employment Act. This bill provides incentives to small businesses to hire people who are currently unemployed. While the partisan aspect of it is not surprising to any of us, the fact that she just a few weeks ago stated, "Government doesn't create jobs; small businesses do" and then voted against a bill that would help small businesses create jobs is what floored us. How completely hypocritical!

With an unemployment average of 14% in her District, it is unfathomable that she would vote against a measure that might actually HELP her constituents. After all, she's held a government created job for decades, she thinks she has job security. Click here to help us send this hypocrite packing!

Spreading the Message

We MUST continue the fight to lift the 5th District in Florida back to the glory of the good old days; significantly lower unemployment, generate small business growth and ensure stability to those who have been hardest hit by these tough economic times. The time to get involved is NOW. The most important part of any campaign is the people who volunteer. Sign up to contribute, canvass, phone bank, send literature and spread the word by sending this email to five (5) people you know. Walk with Jim side-by-side on this journey. Please visit jimpiccillo.com to sign up to contribute, host a house party or just volunteer your time to help bring common sense back to Congress.

Yours in service,
Team Piccillo

State Representative Janet Cruz Hits The Ground Running

Newly elected State Representative Janet Cruz (D-Tampa) has completed her first week in office as the newest member of the Florida Legislature. Since her special election victory on February 23, Representative Cruz has hired staff, opened her district office, filed all six of her allotted bills, received her committee assignments, met with her constituents, and traveled to Tallahassee for the Opening Day Session of the Florida Legislature where she was sworn in by Supreme Court Justice Barbara Pariente.

“I basically had to accomplish in one week in Tallahassee what might normally take four months,” said Representative Cruz.

Representative Cruz will have her work cut out for her over the next two months as lawmakers grapple with the State’s budget and legislation aimed at revitalizing Florida’s sluggish economy.

“I don’t plan to let up until we bring much needed-relief to Florida’s citizens who are struggling with this economic turmoil,” she said.

Representative Janet Cruz’s 2010 Committee Assignments
Elder & Family Services Policy Committee
Government Operations Appropriations Committee
Governmental Affairs Policy Committee

Representative Janet Cruz’s 2010 Bills
HB 925 Breast Cancer Early Detection and Treatment Referral Program
HB 1493 Career Offenders
HB 1495 Consumer Protection
HB 1497 Civil Citations
HB 1603 Florida State Employees' Charitable Campaign
HB 1623 Employment Discrimination

Thurman Demands Accountability By Filing Election Commission Complaint Against Republican Party of Florida

Florida Democratic Party Chair Karen Thurman filed a complaint today with the Florida Elections Commission, asking the Commission to hold the Republican Party of Florida accountable for not fully disclosing their finances as required by Florida law.

"With Governor Charlie Crist and Attorney General Bill McCollum ducking their responsibilities in order to protect their political cronies and keep their backroom deals at the Republican Party secret, it is now up to all Floridians to demand accountability to clean up the Republican culture of corruption in Tallahassee. Today, I asked the Florida Elections Commission to investigate the fact that the Republican Party of Florida has failed to follow Florida's election laws by not fully disclosing their finances," said Chair Thurman.

Over the past year, the Republican Party of Florida has been marred by scandal and controversy over a host of issues that stem from the misuse of RPOF AmEx cards issued to dozens of Republican politicians including U.S. Senate Candidate Marco Rubio, Republican Speaker-designate Dean Cannon, Senate President Jeff Atwater, and many others.

Despite repeated calls from Florida's Editorial Boards, Republican Party leaders, and citizens across Florida, the RPOF has refused to disclose their AmEx statements.

This scandal has played a major role in the indictment and later the resignation of disgraced Speaker Ray Sansom, as well as the ouster to Republican Party of Florida Chairman Jim Greer. As Sansom's mentor, Marco Rubio is one of the many Republican leaders who have been wounded by this scandal, when his RPOF AmEx card statements were leaked to the Miami Herald/St. Petersburg Times, showing Rubio used the GOP's credit card to pay for a $134 haircut, to fix his families mini-van and other personal expenses.

The Republican Party of Florida's skirting of campaign finance laws appear to be an attempt to hide the secret deals, excessive spending, and the millions of dollars Republican politicians charged to the Republican Party AmEx slush fund, which they used to live large on other people's money. Had the RPOF followed Florida's campaign finance laws for instance, the secret contract with former RPOF Executive Director Delmar Johnson would have been discovered even earlier.

Specifically Thurman's complaints against the RPOF, former Chairman Jim Greer, and Treasurer Joel Pate states:

Section 106.29, Florida Statutes, requires that the state executive committee and each county executive committee of each political party regulated by Chapter 103, Florida Statutes, shall file regular reports with the Division of Elections of all contributions received and all expenditures made by such committee.

The Republican Party of Florida (RPOF) has failed to include all contributions and all expenditures on reports that it has filed with the Division of Elections.

The RPOF failed to include on its reports filed with the Division of Elections contributions and expenditures that are included on reports filed with the Federal Elections Commission. Florida law contains no exemption permitting the RPOF to exclude from its reports filed with contributions and expenditures included on reports filed with the Federal Elections Commission; nor is the language of Section 106.29, Florida Statutes, limited

In the current cycle, the RPOF has reported to the Federal Elections Commission receiving $6,481,469 and expending $6,896,984. In the 2007-2008, election cycle, the RPOF has reported to the Federal Elections Commission receiving $34,416,232 and expending $34,434,621. [See attached Federal Election Commission summary reports for 2007-2008 and 2009-2010.] These contributions and expenditures have not been included on its reports of all contributions received and all expenditures made as required by Section 106.29, Florida Statutes, that are filed with Division of Elections.

Included herewith are copies of the RPOF state reports from April 2007 forward and federal reports from 2008 forward.

The RPOF, its chairman and its treasurer, have violated Section 106.29(1), Florida Statutes, by failing to file reports with the Division of Elections of all contributions received and all expenditures made by the RPOF.

The RPOF, its chairman and its treasurer, have violated Section 106.19(1)(b), Florida Statutes, by failing to report contributions required to be reported by Chapter 106, Florida Statutes.

The RPOF, its chairman and its treasurer, have violated Section 106.19(1)(c), Florida Statutes, by failing to include information in its campaign treasurer reports filed with Division of Elections required by Chapter 106, Florida Statutes.

The two faces of transparency

From Loranne Ausley:

Floridians are witnessing the height of two-faced hypocrisy.

The first face…The face they want you to see: The leaders of the Republican Party of Florida rail on about public accountability, responsibility, and transparency.

The second face…The face they try to hide: These same so-called leaders have been knee-deep in the cover up of campaign expenditures; expenditures that are governed by state law and supposed to be used for very specific purposes. The excuses for a blatant lack of transparency and accountability run the gamut from “not my job” to “not my card.”



How can anyone claim the mantle of public watchdog when they are unwilling to take a strong stand on hidden contracts, outrageous expenditures, lavish spending and irresponsible use of campaign dollars?

How can anyone speak about a “record of integrity” while, at the same time, be in the middle of a massive cover up within their own ranks.

All of our leaders, Republican and Democrats, need to have one face when it comes to transparency, public spending and the misuse of campaign dollars.

If you are looking for a leader who will watch every penny – and every dollar – and tell it to you straight, look no further. If you are fed up with the games being played in the Capitol and are ready for a candidate who understands that transparency starts with our own accounts, you have found the right campaign. My record of standing up for Florida taxpayers is strong – and it is consistent.

When I say “transparent,” I mean it. When I say “responsible and accountable,” I mean it. And, when I say I will fight to protect every one of your dollars, I mean that too!

Please join us today and help put an end to two-faced politicians, join our team today by making even a small donation of $10, $25, or $100 dollars.

Thank you,

Loranne Ausley

Link

Rep. Grayson Has Huge Lead in Republican Primary

No, that's not a typo. According to a poll of registered Republicans last week, Congressman Alan Grayson has an enormous lead in the Republican primary for Florida Congressional District 8 (FL-8).

Of course, Grayson is a Democrat. Yet Grayson is far and away the leading choice among registered Republicans in FL-8. In fact, he has almost twice as much support among Republicans as all his Republican opponents combined.

In the poll, Grayson won the support of 27.8% of registered Republicans. None of Grayson's 13 opponents scored higher than 3.7%. Their combined performance was only 14.5%. The remaining 57.7% of registered Republicans were undecided.

30.1% of registered Republican women support Grayson. And Grayson has the support of 25.5% of registered Republican men.

Grayson also has an enormous lead in name recognition. 76.9% of Republicans know Grayson; none of his opponents scored higher than 15.1%. 81.4% of Republican men know Grayson, and 72.4% of Republican women know him.

Grayson received high marks from Republicans for his Constitution initiative. Over half of all Republicans said that they were more likely to vote for Grayson because he passed a resolution urging high schools to teach the Constitution, and he had distributed tens of thousands of copies of the Constitution throughout the district.

Interestingly, Grayson is more popular among Republicans than Republican Governor Charlie Crist is. 42% of Republicans have an unfavorable opinion of Crist, far more than those who have an unfavorable opinion of Grayson.

Asked to comment, Congressman Grayson said, "it's like I've been saying: People like a Congressman with guts. They want someone who works hard, pays attention, and gets things done. For goodness sake, we increased federal competitive grants in this district by 98% in our first year. That extra $100 million benefits Republicans, Independents and Democrats equally. People of every political persuasion want to see action to help solve their problems, and that's what they're seeing from us."

When asked if he might run in the Republican primary, Grayson said, "as this poll shows, if I did, then I would win."

The poll was conducted on Feb. 26th. There were 324 respondents, all registered Republicans in FL-8. The margin of error was 5%. The poll was conducted by Middleton Market Research.

Link

Statement Concerning Initial Budget Allocations -- House Democratic Leader Franklin Sands

House Democratic Leader Franklin Sands today offered the following statement concerning House Speaker Larry Cretul’s “Initial Budget Allocations” memorandum to members of the Florida House of Representatives:

“Speaker Cretul is to be commended for outlining allocation strategies and guiding principles that House budget committees can follow as they draft a new state spending plan for Florida.

“I am hopeful that his No. 1 guiding principle of `no new or increased fees or taxes’ will result in what Florida House Democrats’ support: real and immediate relief to the people who drive Florida’s economy. Protecting small businesses and the middle class during these tough economic times is a high priority for Florida House Democratic Caucus members.

“Today, I urge House Republican leaders to address Speaker Cretul’s goal by giving full consideration to proposed legislation that would close unnecessary tax loopholes, as well as bills that would clamp down on fraud and abuse in state spending.

“Florida House Democrats are proud to have introduced several bills that will promote a better, brighter financial future for Florida, and which deserve full consideration during the 2010 legislative session. Florida House Democrats stand ready to work with willing Republican partners to advance legislation to improve the lives of Floridians.”

Civil Rights Hall of Fame -- Legislation Sponsored by Rep. Alan Williams & Sen. Tony Hill, Sr.

Representative Alan B. Williams (D-Tallahassee) and Senator Anthony C. “Tony” Hill Sr. (D-Jacksonville) are sponsoring House Bill 523 and Senate Bill 1354, respectively, during the 2010 session to establish a Florida Civil Rights Hall of Fame.

“The Florida Civil Rights Hall of Fame is long overdue for those nameless and faceless individuals who have made it possible for many to enjoy the quality of life that we do today,” said Senator Hill. “This legislation is one way of saluting them for their courageous spirit.”

The bill will require the Florida Commission on Human Relations to make recommendations to the governor for members to be inducted into the Hall of Fame. HB 523 would pay tribute to Florida’s citizens who fought for progress in acquiring equal rights for all our state’s citizens.

“We should honor the contributions of Florida’s leaders in the field of civil rights,” said Representative Williams. “I hope that my colleagues in the Legislature will join me in passing this important legislation to ensure that the hard work of these visionaries is given the recognition that it deserves. Our state will benefit tremendously as we remember those who lead the way for us to be where we are today.”