NEWS FROM THE FLORIDA DEMOCRATIC PARTY
For Immediate Release: Aug. 10, 2010
Republican Party Chair Thrasher Should Return Rick Scott’s $120,000 in RPOF “Ill-Gotten” Contributions, As Thrasher Campaigns with Bill McCollum
It’s no secret that Bill McCollum enjoys the backing of the Republican Party leadership after his attempts to sweep the multiple Republican Party scandals under the rug as Florida’s Attorney General.  However, the RPOF is still sitting on $120,000 that McCollum’s opponent, disgraced executive and frontrunner Rick Scott contributed.  As RPOF Chairman John Thrasher continues to campaign with career politician Bill McCollum, will the Republican Party of Florida return Rick Scott’s “ill-gotten gains?”
“While we expect two of arrested Party Chair Jim Greer’s four horsemen to stand together, such an open display of support for McCollum after Rick Scott’s generous donations to the RPOF raises serious questions about John Thrasher’s character,” said Eric Jotkoff, spokesperson for the Florida Democratic Party.  “As Chairman Thrasher continues to give lip-service to cleaning up the corruption at the RPOF, he should immediately return Scott’s contributions.  After all, even McCollum called them ‘ill-gotten gains.'”
Background:
Rick Scott Contributed $120,000 To The Republican Party Of Florida Between 2004 And 2008.  According to records from the FEC and the Florida Division of Elections, Rick Scott contributed $90,000 to the RPOF state fund on October 13, 2006 and $10,000 on October 21, 2008.  Scott also contributed $10,000 to the federal fund on October 13, 2006 and another $10,000 on March 3, 2008. [Florida DoS DoE, accessed 8/9/10; Center for Responsive Politics, accessed 8/9/10]
McCollum Complained Scott Was Spending “Ill-Gotten Gains” To Run Attacks Ads.  “McCollum has said he doesn’t have the resources to adequately respond to the ‘barrage’ of ads Scott has run.  ‘I’m a bit angry at the fact that he’s doing this with the kind of ill-gotten gains that he is and he’s being ruthless,’ McCollum said.” [Fla. Gov candidate McCollum says opponent Rick Scott is ruthless, AP, 6/7/10]
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