Republican Party of Florida chairman Jim Greer tried hard over the weekend to put an end to the ongoing uproar over the use of RPOF credit cards by cutting his own American Express card in front of the party faithful.
Greer then told reporters that he had no intention of making public other credit card statements now that Rep. Ray Sansom's own bills had become public due to the ongoing criminal investigation with the former House Speaker. Sansom racked up nearly $200,000 over a two year period. The party itself has spent $3.6 million on credit card bills from January 2007 to June 2009.
But just like the Rosetta Stone helped unlock several languages the Sansom bill can be used to finally separate some of the expenses. So now that the public knows what Sansom did use his card for over a two-year period, the question is who's responsible for the following RPOF expenses:
$20,019 - Sheraton Park Tower Hotel, Knightsbridge, London, England - August 2008.
$18,450 - Inn on the Biltmore Estate, Asheville, North Carolina - August 2008.
$8,709 - The Original Wharf, Tallahassee, Florida - February 2007.
$7,640 - Best Limousine, Toms River, New Jersey - September 2007.
$7,373 - Best Limos, New York City - October 2008.
$6,981- Awards4U - Tallahassee - April 2007.
$5,879 - Best Limousine, New York City - January 2008.
$5,222 - Food Glorious Food, Tallahasee - April 2007.
$4,357 - Fired Up (pottery), Santa Rosa Beach - January 2009.
$3,751 - Seminole Cigar, Gainesville - September 2008.
$1,461 - Evan Evans Tour, London, England - August 2008.
$865 - Mr. Chow, London, England - August 2008.
$722 - American Watch Company, Los Angeles, California - January 2009.
$77 - Historic Royal Palaces Tower of London, London, England - August 2008.
There are of course hundreds of other expenses, many of them meals, catering and hotel bills from across the state. They range all the way from an Arby's in Monticello to Bern's Steakhouse in Tampa. There are also expenses that appear to be associated with various fundraisers that have been held over the years.
Greer before the Sansom spending records emerged insisted that that with "few exceptions" that the spending on party credit cards were legitimate. That means these expenses could be connected to fundraisers or campaigning. But the uproar over the spending isn't just coming from the media. It's also coming from Republicans who don't like Greer. An ongoing story in the months to come is whether this divide will continue to hound the party.
Comments