Posted on 04/15/2005 5:55:42 AM PDT by JesseHousman
TALLAHASSEE - State Sen. Mandy Dawson, who personally asked lobbyists to help pay for her trip to South Africa, was reprimanded today and stripped of one of her committee assignments by the Florida Senate.
The Senate agreed that Dawson, a Fort Lauderdale Democrat, broke state law when she sent out letters on official Senate stationery requesting lobbyists to send money to the state's Legislative Black Caucus. The caucus wound up paying $5,000 for both Dawson and for a male traveling companion to take a 10-day trip to South Africa in late January and early February.
Dawson broke two state laws and one of the Senate rules, the Senate said in its findings. The Senate concluded Dawson solicited a gift from a lobbyist and she accepted a gift in excess of $100, both of which are against state law. Dawson also broke a Senate rule which requires a senator to maintain the integrity of the office.
Senate President Tom Lee ordered an internal investigation into the trip after The Herald first reported that Dawson had sent out a letter to lobbyists asking for them to pay for her trip.
An internal investigation ordered by Lee showed that two lobbyists and a major fundraiser gave $5,000 to the state's Legislative Black Caucus to pay for Dawson's trip.
Dawson, who first held her head down as the charges were read against her today, agreed to waive her right to a hearing. Dawson then got up on the floor and apologized for embarrassing the Senate.
''Please know I hold sacred and respect the integrity of the Senate and its rules,'' she said.
Dawson's reprimand will be placed in the official Senate journal. She was also immediately removed from the Senate Ethics and Election Committee until November 2006.
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© 2005 Herald.com and wire service sources. All Rights Reserved. http://www.miami.com
Due to the district she "represents" there will be no cry for her ouster nor will there be any recall petitions circulated.
And 'who' was her male traveling companion? Could this have been offensive to her South Africa hosts?
Sticks and stones may break her bones but reprimands will never hurt her.
Great post......BUMP
Ping
She will be removed from the Ethics Committee until 2006!
I would appreciate your comments on this thread:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1384195/posts
Also please ping your FR friends to it.
Ooopsie.
Oh. Wait. This was a democrat. (No harm, no foul.)
And also on this thread:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1383873/posts
Congressman Billybob
Latest column, "Billybob's Speech for FR's March for Justice II"
Corrupted, no doubt, by Tom DeLay's bad example. /s
So, Mandy, we understand you have rocks in your head? Is that right?
So, if I want to go to Italy, what? I solicit the Sons of Italy for the dough? Va biene!
Hummmmmmmmmmmmmm I wonder what Rush will start his show with today??
It would have either been a human being or an electric appliance.
Dear Activist,
As many of you know, I'm going to take a little trip with my boyfriend to South Africa. Could I count on you to funnel your tax deductable donations through the black caccus to help me pay for this trip?
Thanks so much for your support and I'll be sure and vote for whatever you want in the future.
Love always,
Senator Mandy Dawson
I don't know about y'all, but I see a future Democrat US Congresswoman or US Senator from Florida [See Alcee Hastings].
I believe the appointments were, by and large, based on preference in the hope of attracting the minorities' votes---which stand a snowball's chance of ever delivering.
This staffing represents pandering in its purest form.
For English press one.
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