Feeney aide mixed state, campaign work [FL's very conservative House Speaker under FL media fire]

The Palm Beach Post ^ | March 1, 2002 | SV Date

[summer]

Feeney aide mixed state, campaign work

By S.V. Date, Palm Beach Post Capital Bureau

TALLAHASSEE -- A top legislative aide to House Speaker Tom Feeney has been working on his congressional campaign from his Capitol office, a possible criminal violation of state election laws.

Bridgette Gregory, a 27-year-old former waitress and more recently a fund-raiser for the state Republican Party, is paid $55,644 a year even though she has neither the bachelor's degree nor the technical experience that the state's job description for her position requires.

Feeney's congressional campaign also has paid Gregory $11,000 to persuade lobbyists to give him the maximum $1,000 per person and $5,000 per political action committee to aid his bid for a congressional seat he hopes to carve for himself in east-central Florida.

According to a Palm Beach Post review of thousands of pages of e-mails, Gregory has mixed this work, arranging campaign fund-raisers in January and February for Feeney's bid for Congress and fielding queries from contributors and consultants from her office in Feeney's suite.

Feeney, R-Oviedo, had a news conference Wednesday to denounce The Post as it was printing this report. Gregory declined to answer questions at the news conference.

"The only fund-raising that has occurred in the speaker's office, that any of us are aware of, is the president-speaker" charity ball, he said before telling The Post that he would not answer any detailed questions.

The Post review, however, found instances of Gregory's conducting campaign and state Republican Party business using her state computer:

• On Dec. 3 and Dec. 6, Gregory exchanged e-mail messages with party operative Eric Eikenberg regarding a proposal to handle accounting work for Feeney's campaign.

• From Dec. 18 to Dec. 22, Gregory traded e-mails with a lobbyist for the Southern Co., an Atlanta-based energy company, about how its political action committee could donate to Feeney's campaign.

• From Dec. 28 to Jan. 9, Gregory exchanged e-mail messages with lobbyists and other staff members regarding a fund-raising trip to South Florida. Feeney had two congressional fund-raisers in Fort Lauderdale on Jan. 10 and a luncheon to raise money for state House candidates on Jan. 11 in West Palm Beach.

• On Jan. 14 and 15, Gregory traded e-mails regarding a fund-raising trip to Chicago; the trip did not materialize.

• On Feb. 14 -- a week after The Post filed public-record requests regarding Gregory's work -- she sent and received e-mails regarding arrangements for a fund-raiser Feeney had at the Orlando Airport Hyatt hotel on Feb. 15.

• State election law mandates that "no candidate shall, in the furtherance of his or her candidacy . . . use the services of any officer or employee of the state during working hours," a misdemeanor punishable by a year in jail.

Both the Leon County state attorney and the Florida Elections Commission would have jurisdiction for such violations, said state Division of Elections Director Clay Roberts. A separate law prohibits the use of state property for "personal gain,"which courts have interpreted as including political activity, according to an opinion issued last year by Charles Canady, general counsel to Gov. Jeb Bush.

Campaign calls on state phone Gregory also used her state-paid cell phone in the days before Feeney established his "exploratory" campaign committee to call lobbyists who have since pledged their support for Feeney, records show.

"She's worth her weight in gold," said Pat Gartlan, the southeastern regional director for the United States Chamber of Commerce, a Washington-based business lobbying group. "In fund-raising, no one can touch her."

Gregory called Gartlan on Aug. 30. Gartlan said he does not remember the specifics -- he said he has known her for years from previous political campaigns -- but that he will support Feeney in his bid for Congress. "We get very involved for guys and gals who support the business community."

St. Joe Co. lobbyist Chris Corr, who has helped Feeney on numerous campaigns, shows up once on Gregory's phone log, on Aug. 29. "She is a friend of mine, the speaker is a friend of mine," Corr said this week. "We talk regularly, mostly about campaign issues." Later that day, Corr told The Post that Gregory probably called him that day about a going-away party for a mutual friend in the speaker's office.

On Dec. 14, Corr and other St. Joe lobbyists gave Feeney $4,000 for his congressional committee.

House records show that Gregory took an unpaid leave of absence from the speaker's office from Sept. 4 to Oct. 15, with taxpayers continuing to pay for her health insurance. Feeney's congressional campaign paid her $11,000, according to Federal Election Commission records. The campaign also paid Gregory's 20-year-old sister, Meridy, $3,730 from July 24 to Dec. 12.

Bridgette Gregory lives and works in Tallahassee; Meridy Gregory lives in Orlando and works out of Feeney's Orlando law office there.

Feeney reported no other employees of his congressional committee to the Federal Elections Commission on the report he filed in January, the most recent filing date. He confirmed Wednesday that Bridgette Gregory is essentially his entire campaign apparatus.

"She's coordinating most aspects of the campaign," he said.

Feeney, 43, is finishing his second year as House speaker and his 10th year in the House, a tenure sandwiched around a stint as Bush's running mate during the failed 1994 campaign.

Feeney hopes to draw a new congressional district centered on his Seminole County home and toward that end collected $402,303 last year -- 19 percent of the total coming in during Gregory's leave, 81 percent after her return to her state job.

The FEC filing detailing expenses and contributions for the first three months of this year is not due until April.

Feeney said Wednesday that Gregory had repaid $336 worth of personal phone calls she made to family and friends before her leave of absence.

He added that none of the calls had involved political fund-raising.

Gregory's cell phone records after her return from leave are not available.

Feeney's office said itemized call lists cannot be obtained for the cellular service plan the office switched to in September -- just before Gregory began her six-week leave.

The Post asked for copies of Gregory's daily calendar but was told she keeps neither an appointment book nor any schedule on her computer.

Gregory holds the third-highest paid job in Feeney's office despite her lack of a bachelor's degree, which along with three years of experience in "research, analysis, program planning and evaluation-- is a prerequisite for her position.

Her salary exceeds that of nine of the 23 House staffers who need law degrees for their positions.

She came to Feeney's attention while she helped organize fund-raisers for the state Republican Party from June 1997 to December 1999. She came to the attention of Republican Party operatives while she waited tables at the Tallahassee Hooters restaurant from 1994 to 1996.

Feeney said her lack of a bachelor's did not concern him and that she is "within a couple classes" of her degree.

"She also struck me as extremely bright and capable," he said.

Her November 2000 application to Feeney's office states that she received an associate's degree from Tallahassee Community College in 1996 and was four classes short of graduation at Florida State University. Gregory has not been enrolled as a student since 1998, according to the FSU registrar's office.

Although her job description has as its first task "analyzes legislation to determine its consistency with principles enunciated by the speaker," records that Feeney's office provided contained no analysis of legislation in 2001.

Feeney said Wednesday that Gregory's role is more "to keep an eye on policy and big picture" matters, and he praised her closeness to the various interest groups. "She is very familiar with the Tallahassee lobbying corps," he said. "Bridgette's ability to know the players is rather extraordinary."

Another of her tasks included writing letters notifying Feeney's appointees to various state boards and commissions. The Post review found that a majority of these letters contained at least one spelling, punctuation or grammar error -- including, in several cases, variant spellings of her own name.

A Jan. 8, 2001, letter under Feeney's letterhead to Seminole Tribe Chairman James Billie began: "Please except my sincerest congratulations."

Feeney awarded Gregory a 13 percent raise in June in "appreciation for your exemplary work performance." In September, Gregory got an additional 2.5 percent raise that all state workers received. The chore of writing appointment letters, meanwhile, was transferred to another employee.

The Post found similar errors and discrepancies in Gregory's employment application.

In her résumé, Gregory claimed having worked for the "Joint Underwriters Association" from May 1996 to May 1997, during which time she "implemented accounting practices to ensure budgets were balanced."

According to records at the state's Joint Underwriting Association for homeowner insurance, Gregory worked from late October 1996 to May 1997 as an $8-an-hour part-time clerk in the accounting department.

Feeney and his office initially wrote an alternative job description for Gregory -- one that did not mention the requirement of a four-year degree and three years of experience -- after The Post requested one.

Only after The Post questioned when it was written did Feeney's office produce the long-standing state job description with the actual educational and experience requirements.

Staff writer Jim Ash contributed to this story. s_v_date@pbpost.com

[summer]

And, BTW, only "twelve [current] governors have served in the military" -- according to the National Governors Association - Fast Facts, here.

Seems Gov. Bush is in the majority on this one. And, CA Dem Gov. Davis is a military hero. Are you saying we should we all vote for him?

[summer]

Let's face it, even Prince Edward (who is evidently more at home in a tutu than a field jacket) gave a go at the Royal Marines.

In this country -- the USA -- adding your Brit military tutu hero, as a governor, would now total: a baker's dozen of governors who have served in the military. A rather minor number, in comparison to the total number of US governors.

[summer]

BTW, if more facts come to light, and others start asking questions, it may well turn out that your friend, Mr. Feeney, is breaking the law -- but, since I am not a lawyer or a judge, I really don't know enough to make that accusation or dettermination.

However, based on (1) the actual stated government job duties for her position; (2) her lack of qualifications for said position; (3) Mr. Feeney's "new" description of her duties; and (4) allegations about what else she is doing -- campaign work for him -- I would conclude:

(a) she is a very high-paid receptionist, working for someone who is not authorized to pay $55,000 to a receptionist;

or

(b) a high-paid receptionist/campaign fundraiser, working in the guise as a "Legislative Policy Analyst" -- at taxpayer expense.

[summer]

not a lawyer or a judge = ...nor a judge...

[caltrop]

How many of the 38 are men and come from families like the Bush family which, when they look up from the public trough and finish swallowing, can always be counted on to talk about "public service". Just for the record, my idea of public servants are found in submarines, patrolling some frozen perimeter, parachuting into a pitch black night over places most people wouldn't walk through in broad daylight if their lives depended on it and so on. I suspect you get the idea but if you add in the fact these things are done 365 days a year half a world away from their families and homes it'll help form the image in your mind.

[summer]

LOL....so, those numbers really got to you, huh? Now, your attack on Gov. Bush changes from the emphasis on "Governor" to the emphasis on the name "Bush" - you must really have wanted some position in the GOP that you didn't get! LOL... :)

[summer]

BTW, here in FL, the military seems to like Gov. Bush just fine:


Gov. Jeb Bush at Elgin Airforce Base, FL.

[summer]

And, maybe two reasons they like Gov. Bush so much can be found on the following thread, concerning (1) a tax break to disabled vets; and (2) a FL memorial honoring WWII vets. Both measures were approved by Gov Jeb Bush, as explained here.

[caltrop]

No, the fact that 38 Governors have no military service doesn't "get to me". I recognize that some are women and thus, appropriately, exempt from the obligation; some are 4-F and can't serve and some, like Bill Clinton, self promoters who see time in uniform as strictly for chumps.

No, I haven't sought any appointments and have, in the past, turned down being considered. None of the Bush's have offered me anything and, since those in the Reagan Administration I know best and am most like were among the first fired by George H.W. Bush, I can't believe they ever would. Even less likely is the possibility I'd ever accept.

[summer]

Well, caltrop, whatever, I wish you the best. Sincerely. And, FYI, the Dem web sites are betting this woman currently employed by Feeney will be gone within a week. Frankly, they have more faith in your man Feeney than I do.

[summer]

Or, perhaps, they have more on this matter than has been reported so far...although I really don't know.

[summer]

BTW, Registered, since you seem so outraged that a teacher -- willing to give his life to his country in Afghanistan -- would earn the incredible sum of a salary in the $20's (OUTRAGEOUSLY HIGH, I KNOW), what do you think of Mr. Fiscal Conservative Feeney in this situation? Mr. Feeney says it seems fine to give a 15% pay raise, to $55,000, to a woman who does not meet one requirement of her state job, and is all of 27 years old. Do you agree with Mr. Feeney that someone who can not meet one requirement of a state job deserves a salary of $55,000 per year? I think this is what you should feel outrage over.

[summer]

See my post #72.

[summer]

BTW, they call it "Hootergate." Amazing to me that Mr. Feeney would do this during an election year for the GOP governor, and, during his own campaign to win a Congressional seat in a new CENTRAL FL district which is FULL of women and SWING voters. Amazingly STUPID, IMO.

[Bush2000]

Bridgette Gregory, a 27-year-old former waitress and more recently a fund-raiser for the state Republican Party, is paid $55,644 a year even though she has neither the bachelor's degree nor the technical experience that the state's job description for her position requires.

We can all probably guess what her qualifications are ...

[Registered]

Had you not changed the original title of the news piece concerning the death of the U.S. soldier to one that included a bit of teacher salary propaganda I would not be as "outraged" as you think I am. As far as Feeney goes, he's an idiot that doesn't deserve deserve the votes for him to serve in public office.

[summer]

Thank you for your honest comment about Mr. Feeney's conduct in this situation.

As for the title of the other thread -- did I NOT summarize EXACTLY what the article said as to why Marc left teaching? I did not invent that as a "spin" -- as much as the truth bothers you, what I wrote in the title is PART of his story. Sad as that fact may be -- and, it is sad. IMO,you and I agree, Registered.

[summer]

And, for anyone seeking to make to an assessment about my title of the other thread you mentioned, here is that thread.

[summer]

caltrop, From today's Daytona Beach News Journal, an editorial giving Mr. Feeney an "F." I must say that usually when editorials give Gov. Bush an "F" on education, I will write something here on FR, because I believe that grade is grossly unfair to Gov. Bush. But, someone in this Feeney matter certainly deserves an "F" -- in addition to Mr. Feeney. Is it Mr. Al Cardoza the one who needs a wake-up call? I don't know because I honestly have nothing to do with GOP politics in this state. But who is asleep at the wheel, allowing this to go on?

Wednesday, March 06, 2002

REPORT CARD: Feeney's problems lead the pack

News-Journal editorial

GRADE F: It reads like the plot of an old Marx Brothers comedy, but it's just another day in Tallahassee. A week ago, House Speaker Tom Feeney, whose district includes some of southwest Volusia County, held a press conference to denounce a press report -- even before its publication -- that questioned the credentials of 27-year-old former waitress Bridgette Gregory, his coordinator for legislative relations.

"She's one of the busiest state employees we have," Feeney declared in defense of Gregory, who is paid $55,644 a year.

Quite busy, judging from the investigative story by Palm Beach Post reporter Shirish V. Date. Turns out Gregory -- who lacked the bachelor's degree and three years' experience required for the state job -- left paper trails that suggest she's spent a good deal of time raising funds for Feeney's exploratory campaign for Congress. Only Feeney doesn't really have a campaign yet because the U.S. House district he's running for doesn't exist yet.

That's because redistricting -- and Feeney's hoped-for district -- is tied up in a battle among Republican leadership over state tax reform.

The potential improprieties, unfortunately, take the comedy out of the story. Feeney has refused to answer any detailed questions. But voters deserve answers. How, for example, does a woman with no related experience end up with the third-highest-paying job in Feeney's office? And how does he explain records from her office that suggest she may have been using it to further Feeney's congressional candidacy -- a violation of state law?.

[summer]

And on...and on...as looky here, caltrop. Why it's the Palm Beach Post, friend of the voter in THIS matter, as THEY are demanding ACTION! But, wait -- they want a DISTRICT ATTORNEY to investigate (or, the Attorney General). Do you think Mr. Feeney or Mr. Cardoza or whoever is in charge of the GOP in FL -- and who WOULD that be, caltrop -- could WAKE UP sometime soon? Because if Mr. Feeney IS investigated for this, at this point, since he did NOTHING to remedy the situation, he can blame his own inaction, in my opinion, speaking as a woman who is an independent FL voter watching Mr. Feeney's campaign with great interest, and wondering WHO will run against him.....

Wednesday, March 6

Investigate Feeney's use of a key campaign aide

Wednesday, March 6, 2002

Florida House Speaker Tom Feeney, R-Oviedo, runs the House by making up the rules as he needs them. But if he had a campaign operative on the state payroll working out of his state office, he broke rules that even a speaker can't change.

Bridgette Gregory's leap from waitress to $55,644-a-year legislative aide to Rep. Feeney would be something of a success story -- if she met the state's established qualifications for her job. She doesn't because she lacks the experience and educational requirements. She does meet the standards Rep. Feeney rewrote into a new job description after The Post began asking questions.

There were questions because Ms. Gregory is doing an extraordinary job of raising money for Rep. Feeney's campaign for Congress. He has no district from which to run, but he is using the power of the speaker's job to have the Legislature draw a district for him in east-central Florida, which is his turf. "In fund-raising, no one can touch her," says a lobbyist Ms. Gregory touched. During a leave of absence last fall, she raised 19 percent of the $402,303 Rep. Feeney has reported for the race. After she came back to the state payroll, the other 81 percent came in. Such campaign work is illegal if she did it on a state computer, as Ms. Gregory's e-mails suggest.

The ineffective Florida Elections Commission might look into that if it gets a complaint, but Leon County State Attorney Willie Meggs also can investigate, and with his subpoena power, he would be the bigger threat. Rep. Feeney, who has had his sanctimonious moments, should welcome an investigation.

Having intimidated the other 76 Republicans, Rep. Feeney runs the House as high-handedly as Democrats did decades ago when they had big majorities and small respect. After the presidential election in 2000, he had the novel idea to call a special session and have the House override the voters and state courts and make him a presidential elector. Instead, the Supreme Court did it for him.

The 43 Democrats can fight the speaker on procedural matters, but he freely changes procedures. Last year, he bypassed committees with 111 bills. When he brought them to a vote, the House computer conked out, so he set aside the rule that says members must know what they vote on.

Since his supine followers are content to win elections and not worry about what Rep. Feeney does to Florida, the House will dance to his music. He's playing for a seat in Congress, so the House is dancing around the state's problems. If he, in effect, billed the state for campaign costs, however, the speaker embarrassed any Republican with enough self-respect to be embarrassed. The only way to to find out is if the state attorney investigates.