February 19, 2010
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News: FL Senator Releases Credit Card Records
A recent controversy over excessive credit card spending by some of Florida's Republican Party members has some party members coming forward to disclose their own use of the party's card. Senate President Jeff Atwater (R-North Palm Beach) says he has nothing to hide and has voluntarily released details of his use of the party's credit card. Atwater believes that all members who have access to the party's credit cards be required to release details of all spending.
The Senator said that he personally reviewed all of his credit card expenditures and says he has nothing to hide. In a recent statement, he said "I wouldn't care who saw them. I don't care who sees mine." He said that he had no reservations about letting anyone review his expenditures. Atwater said that he basically used the party's credit card to pay for gas and hotel accommodations while conducting business to recruit and support Republican candidates. During an interview with the BayNews9 and St. Petersburg Times, the Senator said he carried a party card for nearly two years upon his installation as party President. The recent controversy over questionable spending by certain members of the party, Atwater felt it best to render his card. Now the Senator said that when he gets gas, he submits the proper documentation for reimbursement.
The controversy began when the Orlando Sentinel began a probe into the credit card spending of the Florida Republican party's former Executive Director Delmar Johnson. In spite of a party deficit of $342,000, Johnson spent thousands on entertaining what he considered “VIP” prospective donors. The lavish spending included travel, fine dining, golf course fees, chartered jets, and flowers. Johnson defended his spending by saying on a scale with big business, it was nothing. Jim Greer, the Party Chairman said that Johnson's spending was merely a requirement of the job if they were to move in "big league political fundraising circles."