State of Florida Archives: on Government Reform

Aaron Bean: Allow transferring surplus campaign funds to other campaigns

State government synopsis: Allows unopposed legislative candidates to transfer surplus campaign funds to or retain such funds in a campaign account for reelection to the same office; establishes limits on the transferable amount of such funds; provides a prohibition from fundraising under certain conditions; deletes certain filing requirements for candidates for other than statewide office.

Aaron Bean: Enact restrictions on vote-by-mail

Summary by Brennan Center (4/30/21): The 48-page law makes a slew of changes to Florida elections, including making voter registration more difficult, modifying rules for observers in ways that could disrupt election administration, and restricting the ability to provide snacks and water to voters waiting in line.

Legislative Outcome: Passed Senate 23-17-0 on Apr/26/21; State Sen. Aaron Bean voted YES; Passed House 77-40-3 on Apr/29/21; Signed by Governor Ron DeSantis May/6/21

Andrew Gillum: Limit corporate money in campaigns

Andrew Gillum: Make voter registration easier

A: Support--Andrew believes that we need to tear down the barriers that prevent citizens from exercising their right to vote.

Andrew Gillum: Campaign funded by many small donors plus two billionaires

ANDREW GILLUM: Well, I'll tell you, I'm obviously deeply appreciative of Mr. Soros & Mr. Steyer, both men whom I've known for some time. But the truth is, our campaign was really propped up by a lot of small contributions, including my mother, who was on auto-deduct of $20 a month into our campaign. In the first two days of this general election, our campaign has been buoyed this first week, raising over $2 million--not by big contributions--but by everyday folks sowing a seed into our race. And I honestly think that that is what is going to help us win on November 6th is these everyday folks deciding to sow a seed into this race.

Andrew Gillum: Bring it Home Florida: voter registration drive for 2020

Meanwhile, the Florida Democratic Party says it will spend $2 million in the next year to register 200,000 voters ahead of next year's presidential primary. There are currently 4.96 million registered Democrats in the state compared to 4.7 million Republicans and nearly 3.6 million voters with no party affiliation.

Trump's campaign is heavily focused on Florida, the biggest swing state in the nation, with 29 of the 270 electoral college votes needed to win. Without the Sunshine State, Trump's path to victory narrows significantly.

Andy Martin: State campaign funding for complying with spending limits

Martin indicates support of the following principles regarding campaign finance issues.
• Support public taxpayer funding for Congressional candidates who comply with campaign spending limits.
• Prohibit Political Action Committee (PAC) contributions to candidates for federal office.
• Provide free or low-cost television advertising to candidates who agree to voluntary campaign spending limits.
• Ban unregulated soft money campaign contributions to political parties or committees.
• Prohibit non-U.S. citizens from making soft money contributions to national parties or party committees.
• Require full disclosure of funding sources of issue advocacy commercials which appear within 60 days of an election.
• Make campaign spending limits mandatory for all federal candidates.
• Require Congressional candidates to raise over half of their campaign money from their home state.

Annette Taddeo: Republican legislature has suppressed voters' rights

Annette Taddeo: Don't make vote-by-mail more difficult

Summary by Brennan Center (4/30/21): The 48-page law makes a slew of changes to Florida elections, including making voter registration more difficult, modifying rules for observers in ways that could disrupt election administration, and restricting the ability to provide snacks and water to voters waiting in line.

Legislative outcome: Passed Senate 23-17-0 on Apr/26/21; State Sen. Annette Taddeo voted NO; Passed House 77-40-3 on Apr/29/21; Signed by Governor Ron DeSantis May/6/21

Bill Nelson: Russians penetrating our elections, but details classified

Nelson's comments drew national attention. He said Russians had "penetrated certain counties in the state," emphasized he was talking about the current election cycle. He will not say how many counties, citing classified information.

"We were requested by the chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee to let the supervisors of election in Florida know that the Russians are in their records," Nelson said, referring to a July letter he and fellow Florida Sen. Marco Rubio sent to Florida's 67 county election supervisors. The letter is strongly worded but does not describe known hacking.

Bill Nelson: Require ads to disclose funders

Nelson: Yes. Backed 2017 DISCLOSE ACT requiring ads to disclose funders & major funders to reveal donations.

Scott: No position found.

Support Citizens United decision, allowing unlimited political donations from corporations & unions?

Nelson: No. The decision "opened the floodgates to dark money in campaigns."

Scott: Probable yes. Considers political donations part of exercising the right to free speech.

Brian Mast: Regulate "dark money" indirect campaign contributions

A: Yes

Brian Moore: Make voter registration easier

A: I strongly support.˙ We ˙should foster same day registration on election day, lower the age to vote, dedicate a week to have polls open, declare a national day or two to encourage voting amongst all citizens.˙ We should remove the private sector from all campaigns, and the public sector should administer a more equitable and fairer system for candidate access, public funding, fair and open debates, and a shorter time for campaigning itself.

Carlos Lopez-Cantera: More disclosure of campaign contributions & fundraising

Highlights:
• Requires any electioneering communications organization receiving or making expenditures greater than $5,000 in a calendar year to file a statement of organization with the Division of Elections
• Requires all electioneering communications organizations to file regular reports of all contributions received and all expenditures made by or on the behalf of the organization
• Fines any electioneering communications organization for failure to file a report $50-per-day for each of the first 3 days late, and $500-per-day for each day afterwards
• Requires the caller of any phone calls made for the purpose of electioneering to identify the persons or organization sponsoring the call.
• Defines an "electioneering communication organization" as any group, other than a political party or affiliated party committee, [communicating by phone, mail, email, or other similar method].

Carlos Lopez-Cantera: Reduce early voting; stricter third party registration

Analysis by Greenberg Traurig LLP: Proponents say the measure generally is meant to crack down on voter fraud. Opponents say it simply makes it harder to vote. HB 1355:

• reduces the time for early voting from two weeks to 8 days;
• Cuts the "life" of petition drive signatures for citizen petitions to place constitutional amendments on the ballot from four to two years; and
• Requires third-party voter registration groups to submit voter-registration cards within 48 hours.

Legislative Outcome: Passed House 79-37-0 on Apr/21/11; State Rep. Carlos Lopez-Cantera voted YES; Passed Senate 25-13-2 on May/5/11; Signed by Governor Rick Scott on May/19/11

Charlie Crist: Extend voting hours across the state for all

Charlie Crist: Criticized restrictive elections bill & anti-riot bill

Darren Soto: Keep early voting and easy third party registration

Analysis by Greenberg Traurig LLP: Proponents say the measure generally is meant to crack down on voter fraud. Opponents say it simply makes it harder to vote. HB 1355:

• reduces the time for early voting from two weeks to 8 days;
• Cuts the "life" of petition drive signatures for citizen petitions to place constitutional amendments on the ballot from four to two years; and
• Requires third-party voter registration groups to submit voter-registration cards within 48 hours.

Legislative Outcome: Passed House 79-37-0 on Apr/21/11; Passed Senate 25-13-2 on May/5/11; State Senator Darren Soto voted NO; Signed by Governor Rick Scott on May/19/11

David Jolly: OpEd AdWatch: Worked for lobbyists associated with Pakistan

The dictator in the ad was former Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf, and experts we talked to agreed with describing him as a dictator. The ad used guilt by association, but was careful not to claim Jolly himself lobbied for the country, which he never did.

The commercial veered close to the line, implying that Jolly's firm did something unethical when, so far as we know, it acted lawfully and as other lobbying firms regularly do. We rated the claim Half True.

Democratic Party: $2M to register 200,000 Florida non-voters

Trump's campaign is heavily focused on Florida, the biggest swing state in the nation, with 29 of the 270 electoral college votes needed to win. Without the Sunshine State, Trump's path to victory narrows significantly. If a Democrat can carry Florida in 2020, he or she could win the White House by capturing just one other swing state--WI, MI, OH, or PA--if the remaining states voted the way they did in 2016.

Democrats say they have identified as many as four million Floridians eligible to vote who are not registered. Florida party officials say they plan to partner with data science firms and hire dozens of full-time organizers as part of the new $2 million effort.

Doris Haddock: We need fair voting, good candidates, and good citizens

1. We need fair and accurate voting systems that we can trust beyond a shadow of doubt
2. We need worthy candidates who represent our interests and values and who are free from entangling financial obligations to special interests
3. We need a free press that takes as a sacred trust its duty to inform the citizenry on the great and small issues of the day, regardless of the popular appeal of those stories and regardless of the profitability of providing that coverage
4. We must be an unhurried society, with each of us given the time and resources to be active citizens, not mere mice on corporate treadmills
5. We must be an educated people, forever students of the vital issues before us, so that, as a self-governing people, we might govern ourselves well. Our schools must produce citizens.

Edward Janowski: Voter ID system to end election fraud

A: Voter registration isn't all that difficult as it is. However, I think we should have a voter ID system to try and bring an end to the voter/election fraud problems that have been happening more and more frequently. We also need to end the gerrymandering that's become a regular practice.

Francis Rooney: Pledges to serve no more than eight years in Congress

Working For Southwest Florida:
• Rooney will go to Washington solely dedicating himself to the people's interests and tell the lobbyists that he's not interested in what they are selling.
• He will tackle challenges head on and outwork opponents each and every day to turn our country around.
• Rooney pledges to serve no more than eight years in Congress. He will make term limits the very first piece of legislation he authors.

Fred Thompson: Tort reform ok for liability lawsuits; leave rest to states

THOMPSON: I supported tort reform with regard to securities legislation. I supported tort reform with regard to product liability legislation, things that have to do with interstate commerce. I think it appropriately passed. I supported and worked for those things. Local issues belong at the state level. Most states have passed tort reform. That's our system. It's not all federalized.

George LeMieux: Opposed thousands of earmarks during time in Senate

Greg Steube: Reduce early voting; stricter third party registration

Analysis by Greenberg Traurig LLP: Proponents say the measure generally is meant to crack down on voter fraud. Opponents say it simply makes it harder to vote. HB 1355:

• reduces the time for early voting from two weeks to 8 days;
• Cuts the "life" of petition drive signatures for citizen petitions to place constitutional amendments on the ballot from four to two years; and
• Requires third-party voter registration groups to submit voter-registration cards within 48 hours.

Legislative Outcome: Passed House 79-37-0 on Apr/21/11; State Rep. Greg Steube voted YES; Passed Senate 25-13-2 on May/5/11; Signed by Governor Rick Scott on May/19/11

Jeb Bush: Privatize & outsource govt; fee holidays for contractors

Among these priorities, Senate Bill 1016 provides a "fee holiday" for 14 professions, ranging from electrical contractors to veterinarians to surveyors. Over the course of the next two years, the fee holidays will provide over $18 million in savings to these professions.

Senate Bill 1016 also encourages the privatization and outsourcing of certain governmental activities. It calls for the privatization of elevator inspections and contains provisions known collectively as the Management Privatization Act. These provisions will allow for the outsourcing of licensing and investigative functions of regulated professions. All told, these changes should lead to less government and more efficiency.

Jeb Bush: Keep legislation small and focused: no mammoth "train" bills

As would be expected, a bill of this size and complexity brings forth concerns. For one, the sheer range of issues addressed in House Bill 1053 provides a textbook example of logrolling, the kind that makes it difficult to provide Floridians with good, sound public policy.

In closing, I would encourage the sponsors of this bill to repackage the good ideas and create new legislation for next year.

Jeb Bush: No campaign spending limits; no public financing

A: Yes

Q: Do you support imposing spending limits on state level political campaigns?

A: No.

Q: Do you support partial funding from state taxes for state level political campaigns?

A: No.

Jeb Bush: Legislative term limits strengthened Bush's executive power

Throughout history, the state legislature has been viewed as the dominant political institution in Florida and in the 1980s was described as one of the strongest legislatures in the nation. Within a few years of Bush taking office, this dominance was reversed. The transformation was aided by term limits. Lobbyists and the executive office were the real winners in this environment and term limits gave Bush additional influence over the legislature.

Jeb Bush: OpEd: Foundation for Florida's Future hides campaign donors

The FFF raised more than $1.7 million in 1995 & 1996, primarily in $5,000 amounts. While the foundation released the names of its donors, it did so only in general categories related to the size of their donation. Thus in 1995 FFF released the names of 131 donors of $5,000 or more, but would not connect name to specific amounts. [That left] reporters to ask, "Who gave $50,000, a sum 100 times greater than the $500 limit for the Bush re-election campaign?"

Jeb's foundation was also criticized for devoting far less of its resources to programmatic concerns than to administration.

Jeb Bush: Refused to fund state agency requests for specific services

Jeb Bush: Mature society can empty government buildings of workers

With this philosophy guiding his actions, Bush worked to diminish the credibility of government in Florida, to reduce its size and scope, and to make it more accountable to political overseers.

Jeb Bush: Judges should respect primacy of Legislature & Executive

Bush personally distanced himself from the position held by generations of constitutional authorities that the three branches of government were co-equals. Bush pushed his position so intensely that the president of the Florida Bar questioned whether he believed in the separation of powers doctrine. Pursuing his own version of this doctrine, Bush promised to appoint judges who would respect "the primacy of the legislative and the executive as policymakers."

Jeb Bush: Asked judicial candidates: Are you a God-fearing churchgoer?

Several judicial candidates complained to a Miami newspaper that they had been subjected to a series of inappropriate questions by one of these commissions, including whether they were active in their church, whether they thought they were "God-fearing people," how they felt about the US Supreme Court `s 2003 ruling to strike down a Texas law criminalizing homosexual activity, and how they would feel about having the Ten Commandments posted in their courtrooms. One candidate, an assistant county attorney, was also asked whether she "would be able to balance her duties as a single mother of twins with her duties as a judge."

Jeb Bush: 2004: Purged felons list from eligible voters

In reviewing the list, news organizations discovered that only 61 Hispanic voters were listed, but over 20,000 African American names were present. Hispanics in Florida, particularly Cubans, are more likely to vote Republican than Democratic and Africa Americas are heavily Democratic. Critics argued that this was proof that the governor & his allies had intentionally used the list for partisan purposes. The governor and his secretary of state claimed that the small number of Hispanic voters on the list was a function of a computer problem that they had been unaware of.

Jeb Bush: 2005: Achieved goal of restraining growth in spending

Over the 8 years of the Bush administration, state expenditures for all government activities increased by an average of 3.8% per year in 2000 dollars. Further, there was virtually no change in the level of state spending as a percentage of Florida's gross state product, or GSP, between 1998 and 2006. In addition, the governor was able (barely) to redeem his pledge to keep spending growth below growth in the personal income of the state's residents. In June 2006, the state had 43.6% more spending than when Bush took office and 46.5% more personal income. In absolute terms, then, the governor's spending growth goals were realized.

John McCain: FactCheck: $35B in pork meant $484 per child, not $1000

It's not clear where McCain is getting the $35 billion figure. But that's more pork than the watchdog group Citizens Against Government Waste has diagnosed in the budget for any one year of the Bush presidency: The highest amount the group has calculated is $29 billion in 2006. Perhaps McCain meant $35 billion in two years: the smallest two-year sum was $38.6 billion in 2001 and 2002.

Even if we assume $35 billion in pork, however, McCain mus be defining "child" rather narrowly. According to the 2000 Census, there are about 72 million people under the age of 18, which would come to about $484 each. To apportion $35 billion in $1000 chunks, you'd have to leave out some elementary-schoolers.

John McCain: More sunshine on the Working Group on Financial Markets

A: Obviously we'd like to see more sunshine. But I as president, rely primarily on my secretary of the Treasury, on my Council of Economic Advisers, on the head of that. I would rely on the circle that I have developed over many years. I have a process of leadership that is sort of an inclusive one that I have developed.

Kendrick Meek: Drafted 70 bills in Congress; some got merged into law

Meek offered a detailed parliamentary response about how bills merge in the committee process, saying many of his legislative ideas were incorporated into committee bills that didn't bear his name.

Kendrick Meek: Sought earmarks for blighted area which benefited a donor

"Do you intend, if you're a US Senator, to continue to have your family members get cars, money, other kinds of benefits and then go ask for earmarks for the people providing these benefits?" Greene asked Meek. Meek unsuccessfully sought $4 million in federal money for the project and said he didn't know the developer had hired his mother.

Greene called on Meek to follow the lead of embattled NY Rep. Charlie Rangel: "If nothing's wrong, why wouldn't you ask for a House Ethics Commission to clear your name," Greene asked. Responded Meek: "If they felt anything was wrong I would have been before the ethics committee long ago."

Lois Frankel: Limit campaign contributions and campaign spending

A: Yes.

Q: Limiting PAC contributions?

A: No.

Q: Corporate?

A: No.

Q: Do you support requiring full and timely disclosure of campaign finance information?

A: Yes.

Q: Do you support imposing spending limits on state level political campaigns?

A: Yes.

Q: Do you support partial funding from state taxes for state level political campaigns?

A: Yes.

Marco Rubio: Allow transferring surplus campaign funds to other campaigns

State government synopsis: Allows unopposed legislative candidates to transfer surplus campaign funds to or retain such funds in a campaign account for reelection to the same office; establishes limits on the transferable amount of such funds; provides a prohibition from fundraising under certain conditions; deletes certain filing requirements for candidates for other than statewide office.

Marco Rubio: Reduce paid petition business in citizen initiative process

Securing Florida's Place on the National Stage
• Move up the timing of Florida's presidential primary
• Protecting the Citizen Initiative Process from Special Interests
• Enact legislation to reduce the growth of the paid petition business and the influence of moneyed special interests in the citizen initiative process

Matt Gaetz: Reduce early voting; stricter third party registration

Analysis by Greenberg Traurig LLP: Proponents say the measure generally is meant to crack down on voter fraud. Opponents say it simply makes it harder to vote. HB 1355:

• reduces the time for early voting from two weeks to 8 days;
• Cuts the "life" of petition drive signatures for citizen petitions to place constitutional amendments on the ballot from four to two years; and
• Requires third-party voter registration groups to submit voter-registration cards within 48 hours.

Legislative Outcome: Passed House 79-37-0 on Apr/21/11; State Rep. Matt Gaetz voted YES; Passed Senate 25-13-2 on May/5/11; Signed by Governor Rick Scott on May/19/11

Mike Bloomberg: Fund voter registration in FL, WI, OH, MI, and PA

"Whoever the nominee is likely won't be decided until late into 2020, and whoever that nominee is will face a very large and well-funded campaign in waiting," a Bloomberg adviser, who led Obama's battleground effort in 2012, told POLITICO last month.

"As we looked at the gaps in the current ecosystem, we said, 'Could we set something up right now that could provide the infrastructure, provide the data and technology to whomever the eventually nominee is so they're not at such a disadvantage once the primary is over?'" the adviser said. "We can."

Mike Haridopolos: Reduce early voting; stricter third party registration

Analysis by Greenberg Traurig LLP: Proponents say the measure generally is meant to crack down on voter fraud. Opponents say it simply makes it harder to vote. HB 1355:

• reduces the time for early voting from two weeks to 8 days;
• Cuts the "life" of petition drive signatures for citizen petitions to place constitutional amendments on the ballot from four to two years; and
• Requires third-party voter registration groups to submit voter-registration cards within 48 hours.

Legislative Outcome: Passed House 79-37-0 on Apr/21/11; Passed Senate 25-13-2 on May/5/11; State Senator Mike Haridopolos voted YES; Signed by Governor Rick Scott on May/19/11

Mitt Romney: Use my own money in a campaign to try and change the US

Mitt Romney: Not concerned about voters on his campaign self-contribution

A: I'm not concerned about the voters. I'm much more concerned about the other guys on this stage. It's competitive information we make sure that we use for our own benefit. I made a substantial contribution. I can't imagine having gone to my friends and asked them to do what they've done, going out and raising money in my behalf, without saying I'm going to put some of my contributions behind this effort as well, because frankly, it's important. Given the contributions I made in this race, I know I owe no one anything. I don't have some group there that I have a special obligation to that raised money for me. I'm by far the biggest contributor to my own campaign. People can count on the fact that there's no nobody that can call me and say, "Hey, look, you owe me," because they don't.

Nikki Fried: Been transparent on finances including past filing mistakes

In a statement, Fried called the complaint a "witch hunt" and said "Republican leaders are terrified of me because they know I will beat Ron DeSantis."

"I've disclosed and have been transparent about all of my finances, including past mistakes when filing forms before announcing for office," she added. "Humility and transparency just aren't in (Republicans') vocabulary."

Nikki Fried: Would reverse restrictions on voting rights

Nikki Fried: Republicans engage in voter suppression

Rick Scott: Free speech includes financially supporting candidates

• Q: Do you support limits on the number of terms for Florida governors?
  A: Yes.
• Q: Do you support limits on the number of terms for Florida state legislators?
  A: Yes.
• Scott adds, "I believe that individuals should be able to exercise their right to free speech by financially supporting the candidates they believe in."

Rick Scott: Political donations exercise the right to free speech

Nelson: Yes. Backed 2017 DISCLOSE ACT requiring ads to disclose funders & major funders to reveal donations.

Scott: No position found.

Support Citizens United decision, allowing unlimited political donations from corporations & unions?

Nelson: No. The decision "opened the floodgates to dark money in campaigns."

Scott: Probable yes. Considers political donations part of exercising the right to free speech.

Rick Scott: Reduce early voting; stricter third party registration

Analysis by Greenberg Traurig LLP: Proponents say the measure generally is meant to crack down on voter fraud. Opponents say it simply makes it harder to vote. HB 1355:

• reduces the time for early voting from two weeks to 8 days;
• Cuts the "life" of petition drive signatures for citizen petitions to place constitutional amendments on the ballot from four to two years; and
• Requires third-party voter registration groups to submit voter-registration cards within 48 hours.

Legislative Outcome: Passed House 79-37-0 on Apr/21/11; Passed Senate 25-13-2 on May/5/11; Signed by Governor Rick Scott on May/19/11

Ron DeSantis: No to ballot harvesting and private groups spending money

Ron DeSantis: Enact restrictions on vote-by-mail

Summary by Brennan Center (4/30/21): The 48-page law makes a slew of changes to Florida elections, including making voter registration more difficult, modifying rules for observers in ways that could disrupt election administration, and restricting the ability to provide snacks and water to voters waiting in line.

Legislative outcome: Passed Senate 23-17-0 on Apr/26/21; Passed House 77-40-3 on Apr/29/21; Signed by Governor Ron DeSantis May/6/21

Rudy Giuliani: Supports tort reform like "loser pays" rule

THOMPSON: I supported tort reform with regard to securities legislation. I supported tort reform with regard to product liability legislation, things that have to do with interstate commerce. I think it appropriately passed. I supported and worked for those things. Local issues belong at the state level. Most states have passed tort reform. That's our system. It's not all federalized.

Ted Yoho: Regulate campaign contributions

A: Yes.

Val Demings: Members of extremist groups shouldn't be in police, military

I remember at the police department we had a policy that said you could not be a member of nor associate with extremist groups. If you were found out it was grounds for immediate termination. I think it is very important for those who protect us, whether that's the military, whether that's law enforcement, whether that's elected officials, I think that there should be major steps taken to hold them accountable and get them removed from the powerful, influential position that they may hold.

Marco Rubio: Vice President doesn't have power to overturn election

RUBIO: If President Trump runs for reelection, I believe he would defeat Joe Biden, and I don't want Kamala Harris to have the power as vice president to overturn that election. That's the same thing that I concluded back in January of 2021.

Q: So Donald Trump was wrong?

RUBIO: If a vice president has that power, Donald Trump would defeat Joe Biden in two years, and then Kamala Harris can decide to overturn the election. I don't want to wind up there.

Q: What about the Congressional January 6th investigation?

RUBIO: I think that commission is a scam. I think it's a complete partisan scam. And I think anyone who committed a crime on January 6 should be prosecuted and, if convicted, put in jail. I do not believe that we need a congressional committee to harass Americans that weren't even in Washington on January 6, that were not in favor of what happened on that day, have condemned what happened on that day, but they want to smear them anyway.

Ron DeSantis: State legislatures decide presidential electors

DeSantis continued into early December 2020 to say he was encouraging Trump to "fight on." In mid-December 2020, after the Electoral College ratified Biden's victory, he said: "The College voted. What's going to happen is going to happen."