NEWS FROM THE FLORIDA DEMOCRATIC PARTY
For Immediate Release: March 3, 2011 Contact: Eric Jotkoff, (850) 222-3411
Florida Democrats Call On Haridopolos To Return Taxpayers’ $152,000 From Sweetheart Book Deal
The Florida Democratic Party today called on Senate President Mike Haridopolos to return the $152,000 he bilked from Florida’s taxpayers through his sweetheart book deal, reacting to the Associated Press reporting that, “The book also doesn’t come close to meeting the original contract’s call for a publishable, textbook-quality look at the development of the Florida Legislature, state constitution, the governor’s office and judiciary from pre-statehood until present.”
The book, which was finished in 2007, was finally made available yesterday through Amazon.com by Brevard Community College after controversy erupted on the issue. Florida Democratic Party Communications Director Eric Jotkoff said:
“After reading Mike Haridopolos’ book from cover to cover, I am honestly less informed about the legislative process than when I started.
“Haridopolos’ book contains no sources or citations and reads more like a 5th grader’s report on what he did last campaign cycle rather than the textbook-quality, academic work his contract called for him to write.
“The fact that Haridopolos was paid $152,000 for writing that computers are important to run computer software,1 wooden nickels are a waste of money,2 and his praise of a candidate going ‘door to door on rollerblades’ as a photo op,3 should be viewed as the definitive example of Republican waste, fraud, and abuse in government.
“Because Florida’s college students seeking to learn how a bill becomes a law would be better served watching the School House Rock video rather than reading Haridopolos’ explanation, Haridopolos should be ashamed of himself for continuing to defend his book.
“Since this was a clearly a sweetheart deal to pay off a powerful politician, Haridopolos needs to not only apologize for his misconduct, he needs to pay back the $152,000 he bilked from Florida’s taxpayers.”
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Citations:

1. Haridopolos, Michael J. Florida Legislative History and Processes. Kindle Location 781.
2. Haridopolos, Michael J. Florida Legislative History and Processes. Kindle Location 795.
3. Haridopolos, Michael J. Florida Legislative History and Processes. Kindle Location 1053.

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