Senator Graham Accused of Ethics Violation

The St. Petersburg Times ^ | June 27, 2002 | Alisa Ulferts

[floriduh voter]

Ethics complaint to Senate names Graham

Bob Graham is accused of using Senate staff and offices to work on a state university ballot initiative.

By ALISA ULFERTS, Times Staff Writer © St. Petersburg Times

TALLAHASSEE -- U.S. Sen. Bob Graham used government staff and property to kick-start a drive to resurrect a statewide university board, according to a complaint filed by a California businessman whose consulting firm was fired by the campaign.

Robert Kaplan, whose company Zonetal helped raise money for the ballot initiative, also filed complaints this week with Florida's attorney general, elections commission and two state attorneys accusing Graham's organization of mishandling financial disclosure forms.

Kaplan also has sued Graham's Education Excellence for Florida committee for breach of contract, saying the group didn't have cause to terminate him.

Kaplan said he uncovered the errors in preparing his arbitration case against the group. "I felt I had an obligation to disclose what I knew," Kaplan said. "It's hard to believe these were simple, sloppy mistakes."

In his complaint to the Senate Select Committee on Ethics, Kaplan said several Senate employees worked on the initiative on government time and even held meetings in Senate offices. He offered as proof memos about the initiative faxed to him from the senator's office, not the campaign headquarters.

Graham spokesman Paul Anderson said the senator expects the complaint to be rejected. "We fully expect our response will satisfy any questions and lead to a quick dismissal," Anderson said.

In the complaint to the Florida Elections Commission, Kaplan said people who had not filed the proper forms were submitting the committee's financial reports to the state. Deputy Attorney General George Sheldon, who is running for attorney general, is the official treasurer for the committee. Kaplan also complained that different versions of the committee's name appeared on different forms, which he said could confuse voters.

One name that doesn't appear on official paperwork is Graham's, Kaplan said.

That was intentional, said committee attorney Robin Gibson. "He didn't want to be the organizer. We were the organizers," Gibson said.

Gibson characterized Kaplan's complaints as the work of a disgruntled ex-employee.

"He erupted" when he was told the committee no longer needed his fundraising services, Gibson said. Kaplan's management style was inconsistent with how Graham wanted to operate, Gibson said, but he declined to give further details.

"We rue the day we ever got tangled up with him," Gibson said.

Kaplan said Gibson is trying to divert attention from the complaints.

Graham wants voters on Nov. 5 to amend the state constitution to create a 17-member Board of Governors to oversee the Florida universities, while retaining individual trustee boards Republican Gov. Jeb Bush appointed.

If the constitutional amendment passes, it would be a defeat for Bush, who led the effort to create the statewide Board of Education to oversee kindergarten through graduate school. Last week he signed a massive revision of the state education code that includes the new education governing system. It takes effect in January.

Graham, a former governor and the state's most prominent Democrat, says the state's new system will lead to greater political fighting among the universities and duplication of programs. He is critical of Bush, who is running for re-election as an education governor, and he says the state fosters a poor education system that threatens Florida's economic future

[floriduh voter]

Is the state's "most prominent democrat" slipping? Is he Florida's Martha Stewart? I cut and paste, you decide.

Whether the accusations are true or not, we do NOT need a 17 member board of governors to oversee Florida's universities in addition to the trustee boards appointed by Governor Bush. It sure sounds like Graham was seeking positions for his friends back here in the state.

Further, instead of representing our interests in D.C., Graham was trying to undermine Governor Bush. Graham WAS Florida's governor but that's history.

Is Senator Graham just another Daschle Democrat obstructing judicial appointments from the POTUS by getting involved in state projects that do not need his attention?

Combined with The Pledge Flap and these accusations against Sen. Graham, it's another way to convince undecided voters that democrats continue to obstruct in D.C. and fail to represent our national interests. I don't know if he's guilty of anything or not, but it's good timing for the November elections and to think that Graham's on the Intelligence Committee. Hopefully, he's been found out; just another dem fundraiser after all and "that's a good thing" for conservatives. FV

[TruthShallSetYouFree]

Interesting how Graham was not identified as a democrat until the last paragraph, as opposed to "Republican Senator Joe Blow has been accused of having an affair with an underage male gorilla..."

[alloysteel]

And the effect of this accusation on Sen. Bob G? About the same as the effect that an even more serious accusation had on New Jersey's own "Torch". Somewhere between zip and nothing at all.

You can't nail Jell-o to the wall.

[Bigg Red]

Even if I did not already know that Graham is a 'Rat, I could have figured it out by reading the first few paragraphs; his party affiliation is not mentioned until the last paragraph. OTOH, it this had been a Republican, his party would have been mentioned up front.

[Freee-dame]

Interesting how Graham was not identified as a democrat until the last paragraph....

and isn't Sen. Phil Graham, R-Tex, more well known outside of Florida? The writer wouldn't want anyone to get the two confused, would he? </sarcasm>

[TheCPA]

The Senator from Texas spells his last name "Gramm."

[Bandolier]

You forgot:

"Republican, and staunch conservative, Senator Joe Blow has been accused of having an affair with an underage male gorilla..."

[floriduh voter]

You are right. Ultimately, this won't stick but the timing is good with the upcoming elections in November. If will be interesting to see if the ex-consultant Kaplan does all the cable shows and talk radio. The point is, we probably can't convict but we can tarnish. Regards.

[floriduh voter]

Freeper Typo Correction: "It will be interesting to see".. I need new glasses for real.

[floriduh voter]

In any event, maybe more folks will click on this thread if they want to find out which Senator Graham this is about. Texas and Florida have lots of similarities but definitely not Phil Gramm and Bob Graham.

[floriduh voter]

Well, this is after all the St. Pete Times; their founders were libs in the early years. I read their ads, okay? LOL

[Joe Brower]

I cut and paste, you decide.

LOL! That's a good one!

You know, I've asked Republicans here in the sunshine state about how we ended up with two neo-socialists like Graham and Nelson as US Senators, and boy do they get defensive. Well, I don't want to hear it. The GOP blew it in regards to these two dingleberries. Now we're stuck with them for a while.

Senator Bob, say it isn't so! I'm going to print this and snail-mail it to his Washington office. Nyuk nyuk nyuk.

For anyone else interested, the address is:

Senator Bob Graham
U.S. Senate
524 Hart Senate Office Bldg.
Washington, DC 20510

[HoustonCurmudgeon]

While I know the spelling is a bit different, I do wish you would have put "of Florida" in the title.

[Joe Brower]

Hey! That URL for the St. Pete Times resolves to some kooky page titled "RUSSELL BOUGHT A MANGROVE SWAMP".

The correct URL is HERE.

[floriduh voter]

Here we go again, Joe, back to alligators... Thanks for the correct url.

[Liz]

Grampadave's bailiwick....has stories to tell on this type scam by the conniving pols......

[Liz]

.............bump and ping...........

[floriduh voter]

Well, sometimes I mess with the title and sometimes, I don't. I'll keep that in mind next time around but IMO, FR will never be 100% letter perfect because we're only human -or are we? LOL

[Grampa Dave]

This scam used by this Rat from Floriduh has been used for at least 3 decades by rats from Kennedy to current rats.

They use people paid with our tax $'s to run critical parts of their campaigns behind closed doors.

Often you will find offices and people donated by companies who fund the rats in this clandestine manner. The offices are often filled with loaned computers and loaned corporate personnel to develop and maintain data bases for raising money and getting out their illegal voters in the up coming elections. When the elections are over, the clandestine offices disappear or revert to some other use and the loaned technies go back to the corporation.

The rat running for senator or governor hasn't spent a nickel of its campaign money on these clandestine offices and yet they played a huge role in electing him or re electing him.

[summer]

Thanks very much for this ping here, Liz. Interesting news!