Just when it looked like things couldn't possibly get any worse for the Republican Party of Florida, new revelations today of financial shenanigans from the St. Petersburg Times: various party bosses (including Marco Rubio) ran up credit card bills on the AmEx card issued to junior RPF staffer Melanie Phister -- amounting to $ 1.3 million over 2½ years, a rate of over $40,000 per month.
The credit card records, obtained by the St. Petersburg Times and Miami Herald, offer the latest behind-the-scenes look at extravagant and free-wheeling spending by the party touting fiscal restraint. Not only did certain elite legislative leaders have their own party credit cards to spend donors' money with little oversight, but Phister's records show these leaders also liberally used an underling's card — without her knowledge, she says.
Yet another brilliant move by the party of fiscal responsibility.
For those not up to speed with the implosion of the RPF, check out davidkc's recommended diary from a few weeks ago.
Phister reported directly to recently-indicted Florida GOP house speaker Ray Sansom, who was one of the principal free-spenders on Phister's card. Apparently Sansom used Phister's card to avoid scrutiny. Sansom was recently indicted for his role in a scheme to appropriate state funds to pay for his buddy's private airplane hangar.
The Party of No just keeps on giving ...
The big question is: will anyone continue to give to a political party that spends $40,000 for a luxury week in London for a minor party staffer and her mother?