Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

SENATOR REPRIMANDED FOR ASKING LOBBYISTS TO PAY FOR HER TRIP (FLORIDA DEMOCRAT)
Miami Herald ^ | 4/15/2005 | Gary Fineout

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.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

© 2005 Herald.com and wire service sources. All Rights Reserved. http://www.miami.com


TOPICS: Breaking News; Crime/Corruption; Government; News/Current Events; US: Florida
KEYWORDS: democrat; mandydawson
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061 next last
To: gunnedah

We are supposed to believe that by 2006, she will have learned the meaning of 'ethical behavior'?

what a crock.


21 posted on 04/15/2005 6:34:33 AM PDT by SusaninOhio
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: SusaninOhio

''Please know I hold sacred and respect the integrity of the Senate and its rules,'' she said.

shameless and cynical crock!


22 posted on 04/15/2005 6:38:33 AM PDT by Vn_survivor_67-68
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 21 | View Replies]

To: Congressman Billybob

I immediately thought the same thing.....I haven't seen/heard any mention of this story in the media other than here. Will anyone pick up on this?


23 posted on 04/15/2005 6:39:46 AM PDT by ReformedTreeHugger
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 11 | View Replies]

To: Congressman Billybob
The article states that this greedy State Senator "broke two laws." Well, what about prosecuting this criminal for violating the laws? Helloooo.

Why bother? Federal Judge Alcee Hastings was impeached by the House of Representatives with only FOUR votes against impeachment. He was then tried by the Senate and removed from office. So what does he do next? Run for the House of Representatives himself, gets elected, then gets a leadership position in the Congressional Black Caucus!! It's hopeless.

24 posted on 04/15/2005 6:50:34 AM PDT by You Dirty Rats (Mindless BushBot and FristFan)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 11 | View Replies]

To: JesseHousman

Waiting for a quote from her saying this is a "political lynching".

You ought to try living in a town where the Mayor was once head of this areas NAACP. what fun.


25 posted on 04/15/2005 6:52:48 AM PDT by RedBloodedAmerican
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: JesseHousman

LOLOL....oh what a tangled web we weave when we open a can of worms!


26 posted on 04/15/2005 6:57:38 AM PDT by OldFriend (MAJOR TAMMY DUCKWORTH.....INSPIRATIONAL)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: JesseHousman
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.

How many days will this be in the press?

I'm counting 12 for DeLay.

27 posted on 04/15/2005 7:01:48 AM PDT by Lazamataz (Time Ebbs No Rankle)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: ReformedTreeHugger

It is news in Florida. I read about it yesterday in the Sun-Sentinel.


28 posted on 04/15/2005 7:18:45 AM PDT by mlc9852
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 23 | View Replies]

To: MudSlide

More and More - Everyday!

This place smells like a Banana Republic!!


29 posted on 04/15/2005 7:24:00 AM PDT by MudSlide
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 27 | View Replies]

To: All

How about Dingy Harry.....Peloshi, and a few others to name a few. They throw stones but libs don't like it coming back at them. What a childish thing to do. Tax payers deserve the best considering how hard they work to pay those taxes. Blowing it away with this type of name calling in the Beltway, must stop...and the dump machine is done at the Ballot box. Democrats..your War Room is WAY off base.


30 posted on 04/15/2005 7:31:11 AM PDT by cousair
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 28 | View Replies]

To: JesseHousman
...and for a male traveling companion....

So who is he and what was his purpose for going on this boondoggle?

31 posted on 04/15/2005 8:09:22 AM PDT by mewzilla
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: JesseHousman
Dawson broke two state laws and one of the Senate rules, the Senate said in its findings

I'm surprised the Florida Senate had the courage to vote these findings into the record. I expect a huge cry of racism and bigotry coming from the local poverty pimps.

32 posted on 04/15/2005 9:14:01 AM PDT by george wythe
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: JesseHousman

JH, why are you interrupting the Tom Delay bashing with this stuff?

I'm sure they are a lovely couple & it probably wasn't that much money anyhow....

/s


33 posted on 04/15/2005 9:14:33 AM PDT by citizen (Yo W! Read my lips: No Amnistia by any name!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: mewzilla
what was his purpose for going on this boondoggle?

Toy boy? (It could be worse. At least it was a male companion!)

34 posted on 04/15/2005 9:14:58 AM PDT by Redcloak (But what do I know? I'm just a right-wing nut in his PJs whackin' on a keyboard..)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 31 | View Replies]

To: kjam22

Ahhhh. That is great.


35 posted on 04/15/2005 9:18:13 AM PDT by Fishtalk (Pop Culture and Political Pundit-http://patfish.blogspot.com/)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 18 | View Replies]

To: Congressman Billybob
We need a thread dedicated to the accumulation of ALL the various cases of unethical conduct.

Rush has certainly been doing his part.

36 posted on 04/15/2005 9:20:17 AM PDT by evad
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 11 | View Replies]

To: JesseHousman
Badge of honor for another rat crook.Might even run for President of the USA.
37 posted on 04/15/2005 10:03:52 AM PDT by solo gringo (Liberal democrats And Flora-duh judges are parasites)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: JesseHousman
So, this will be the top story on the Today show with Katie Couric for the next 12 days as the non-story with Tom DeLay has been, right?


38 posted on 04/15/2005 10:17:56 AM PDT by SkyPilot
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: JesseHousman

We are struggling to get the Tennessee General Assembly to pass meaningful ethics legislation because the way it currently stands Tennessee legislators can accept "consulting fees" of ANY amount from companies doing buisness witht eh state. At least one 'Rat pol has taken at least $231,000 in the past two years alone.

The current solution being batted around is to make accepting "consulting fees" a Class C misdemeanor (right up there with speeding) and punishable by a $50 fine.


39 posted on 04/15/2005 12:29:56 PM PDT by Blood of Tyrants (G-d is not a Republican. But Satan is definitely a Democrat.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: JesseHousman
Dawson broke two state laws and one of the Senate rules

And lo and behold, she was reprimanded. That oughta teach her and all other lawbreakers who write laws.

40 posted on 04/15/2005 12:57:19 PM PDT by GretchenM
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson