NEWS FROM THE FLORIDA DEMOCRATIC PARTY

For Immediate Release: June 2nd, 2011
Contact: Eric Jotkoff, (850) 222-3411

Florida Democratic Party Demands Rubio Resign From Latest Sweetheart Job At FIU

In response to the Miami Herald’s report that Sen. Marco Rubio is getting another sweetheart job from Florida International University, where Rubio will get paid $24,000 a year,  the Florida Democratic Party today demanded Rubio return the money to Florida’s taxpayers and resign from the job.

“Clearly, lessons in ethics and propriety didn’t come with Marco Rubio’s move to Washington. As Speaker of the Florida House, Rubio steered millions of dollars to FIU, then got a $69,000 per year sweetheart job. Now, Rubio is at it again receiving another job from his buddies at the same school,” said Eric Jotkoff, Florida Democratic Party spokesman. “Floridians didn’t stand by Rubio’s protégé, disgraced Speaker Ray Sansom, for his improper college job, and we won’t let Rubio get away with it either. Just like he had to turn in his RPOF AmEx card, Rubio needs to stop bilking Florida’s taxpayers by immediately resigning from this job and return any money he took to Florida’s taxpayers.”

Rubio Sent Money to Florida International University, Which Hired Him for Unadvertised Position

On Dec. 13, 2009, the St. Petersburg Times reported that Rubio had steered $35 million to Florida International University (FIU) in 2007. FIU then hired Rubio part-time for a $69,000 per year position. The Times wrote: “‘We had a great year,’ FIU’s lobbyist said of millions in new funding in 2007, crediting Rubio and the Miami-Dade delegation.” The paper added:

The following year, as term limits forced Rubio to exit the Legislature and contemplate his next political move, FIU offered him a $69,000, part-time job that was never publicly advertised. Critics questioned Rubio’s soft landing as FIU trustees grappled with a $32 million budget shortfall that led to tuition hikes and the loss of 23 degree programs and 200 jobs. [St. Petersburg Times, 12/13/2009, Link]

Miami Herald: Marco Rubio returns to the classroom, teaching “Florida politics” at FIU“The Florida senator — who previously taught political science at the Miami school — is returning to academia while holding down his senatorial duties… Rubio’s ties to FIU were questioned during his Senate run in 2010 when critics questioned how he in 2008 landed a $69,000 a year, part-time job as trustees grappled with a budget shortfall that led to tuition hikes and the loss of 23 degree programs and 200 jobs.” [Miami Herald, 6/2/2011, Link]

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