Timing of donations to (Gov. Jeb) Bush raises eyebrows

[seafan]

Timing of donations to Bush raises eyebrows

Jason Garcia | Tallahassee Bureau
Posted March 25, 2006

TALLAHASSEE -- Four months ago, Gov. Jeb Bush turned down an invitation to attend a fundraiser for U.S. Rep. Katherine Harris' struggling U.S. Senate campaign, telling people it would not be appropriate to raise money while the Legislature was in special session debating changes to Medicaid and rules for slot machines.
It wasn't the first time Bush has objected to fundraising during legislative sessions. Three years ago, the Republican governor chastised GOP lawmakers for raising money while crafting new medical-malpractice laws.

But in the three weeks since the Legislature convened for its 2006 session, the Foundation for Florida's Future -- an organization created by Bush and some of his closest allies to promote his educational policies -- has collected more than $600,000.
In an e-mail, Bush defended the fundraising. He pointed out that he has not solicited money for it since the legislative session opened -- though he did send potential contributors a letter asking them to give "$2,000, $3,000 or more" about a month before the session began.

snip

The vast majority of the money collected since the session began March 7 came in three donations: $500,000 from Cast-Crete Corp., a Tampa-area company that makes pre-cast concrete materials used in construction; $50,000 from The Villages, the sprawling Central Florida retirement development headed by GOP fund-raiser H. Gary Morse; and $50,000 from The Geo Group, a Boca Raton-based company that runs private prisons.

snip

The Villages benefited from a controversial bill Bush signed into law three years ago that gave the development's hospital the ability to sidestep state regulations in order to triple its size. Last year, the governor helped The Villages secure a U.S. Customs office at tiny Leesburg Regional Airport, which makes it easier for the developer to fly potential international customers directly into Lake County.

snip

Bush and his allies launched the Foundation for Florida's Future last year, with an eye toward maintaining his educational policies after he leaves office in January. It's a reincarnation of the organization Bush formed after losing a bid for governor in 1994. The group helped him maintain a high profile before his successful run in 1998.

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/state/orl-bush2506mar25,0,4447349.story?coll=orl-news-headlines-state

[acmavm]

1. He's a liar, shyster, theif, phony, and crook. These are traits that run

through the family. Take a look at every transaction of deal that man has ever made, as governor of Florida or whatever. You won't see one decent, honest act. Not one. It's not in the bush** blood.