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In It to Win It

(9,607 posts)
Mon Oct 30, 2023, 10:03 AM Oct 2023

DeSantis turns to companies that deal with the state to help boost campaign funds

Sun Sentinel - Gift Link


As Ron DeSantis’ presidential campaign dealt with widely publicized financial strains and some prominent mega donors signaled they were closing their checkbooks, the Florida governor turned to people with an incentive to stay on his good side: businesspeople, lawyers, lobbyists and others whose employers or clients have financial interests before state government.

Many obliged.

Campaign finance reports filed this month show dozens of contributions from executives with Florida Power & Light Co. and Juno Beach-based parent company; leaders of gambling operations owned by the Seminole Tribe of Florida; officials with the GEO Group, a private prison company headquartered in Boca Raton; and officers of AshBritt, the disaster recovery company based in Deerfield Beach.

The latest contributions from people who own or work at businesses whose fortunes rise and fall based on state actions were first reported by Seeking Rents, an investigative newsletter that focuses on the way business influences public policy in Florida.

The issue: DeSantis “wields enormous leverage over people and businesses in Florida who want favors from his administration,” Seeking Rents said.

Spokespersons for the DeSantis campaign did not respond to questions about money raised from the businesses with interests before state government from the fundraising, including whether people would be justified in thinking the contributions were made to curry favor with the governor.
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