FL Rep Ginny Brown-Waite (R): Hoards cash, announces retirement, votes NO on unemployment extension

[seafan]

This is a prime example of the oozing greed of these people.


Yesterday, Republican US Rep. Ginny Brown-Waite of Florida voted against extending unemployment benefits to her own constituents.


Interestingly, also just yesterday, we learned that this same Republican, Representative Ginny Brown-Waite, was raising and spending campaign money in the months leading up to a surprise announcement of her retirement.

This, while she denied a 6-month unemployment benefit extension to her own constituents.



This is really rich:


Brown-Waite raised, spent campaign funds with retirement imminent

July 22, 2010


Photo credit David Kraut, Tampa Tribune

Rep. Ginny Brown-Waite announced her withdrawal from the race just 11 minutes after the April 30 qualifying deadline.

BROOKSVILLE - Congresswoman Ginny Brown-Waite raised more than $120,000 in the months before she made the surprise announcement that she wouldn't seek re-election because of health reasons.

Brown-Waite, R-Brooksville, had filed to run for re-election in the 5th District last November. She received more than 6,100 petition signatures to get her name on the ballot and had a $515,000 campaign war chest. Her announcement to withdraw just 11 minutes after the April 30 qualifying deadline has been widely criticized.

Hernando County Sheriff Richard Nugent said the four-term incumbent contacted him on March 31 – a month before the qualifying deadline -- to recruit him to run in her place.

The same day, she collected $17,250 in contributions, according to her campaign fundraising report. And in the month between telling Nugent she was looking for a replacement and announcing she was retiring, she raised another $19,310.

Brown-Waite's impending retirement didn't curb her campaign spending, either.

.....

"It seems to be a legitimate question to ask why someone would be spending time and resources fundraising when, in their mind, they're no longer a candidate," (Dave Levinthal, spokesman for the nonpartisan watchdog group Center for Responsive Politics) said. "It's definitely not typical to conduct a campaign that way."

.....

So, what did she spend some of this money on, while plotting her retirement in secret?

Campaign finance records show Brown-Waite used her campaign credit card liberally, paying for airline tickets, expensive dinners in Vail, Colo., and a night at the swanky Ritz Carlton hotel in Washington D.C. Since January, her campaign charged nearly $8,500.

Two weeks after she asked Nugent to run for her seat, she bought a new computer and laptop from the Apple Store, priced at $3,700.

Two days after she withdrew, she spent $265 at Best Buy for computer supplies. Over the six-month period, she bought $3,500 worth of campaign software – most of after March 31.

.....

Gosh, her spending habits sound like Marco Rubio's.

But, I digress.


So, what does she have to say for herself?

Brown-Waite would not discuss her campaign spending with the Tribune, but she did offer a written statement: "As has been widely reported, my decision not to seek re-election due to extenuating health concerns was made at the last minute," she wrote.

Still, Meredith McGehee, policy director for the non-partisan Campaign Legal Center, called Brown-Waite's behavior "disappointing" and said it's a perfect example of why Congress has such a low approval rating.

"Closed-door deals, money raised with no intention to run, subterfuge to limit competition – this kind of behavior feeds the cynicism people have for American politics," McGehee said. "It's what makes people turn off from the system."

This entire span of *elected service* since 2003 by this individual has been a cynical waste of time, money and citizen resources.



But, by all means, be sure to visit her web site, if you are in her district. You can even click on "How Can Ginny Help You?"



Ginny has surely helped herself.

[MineralMan]

1. Not included in the article:

Ms. Brown-Waite will be returning to her double-wide in the Polyester Pines Mobile Home Community for her retirement. She said, "They have just the nicest community building..."

[SomeGuyInEagan]

2. She's a pig ...

http://www.sptimes.com/News/71399/news_pf/TampaBay/A_switch_is_thrown__a.shtml

Just happy she's getting out.

[seafan]

4. Had not seen that piece. Wish I could pretend surprise.

By withholding her intent to retire from public knowledge until 11 minutes after the qualifying deadline, she effectively shut out competition for her seat.

The cynical opportunism by these people turns one's stomach. But they cling to their moral certainties.

[lpbk2713]

3. Adam (Opie) Putnam voted Nay also.

He represents (loosely speaking) a district that borders Brown-Waite's.


Link: http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2010/roll463.xml

[seafan]

5. There are three more, clinging to their moral certainties in your photo.

How we long for the day these people are scrubbed away from sucking Florida's lifeblood.

[Clyde39]

6. Will she have a good pension?

She doesn't have to worry so the hell with everyone else.

[Scurrilous]

7. Typically disgusting behavior from the FL GOP.

K & R :thumbsup: