We know being a Democrat in Florida is tough. Sixteen years of complete Republican rule of State Government which has included maintaining over 70 House seats (out of 120) and 25 Senate seats (our of 40) during the entire period from 1998 to the present will hurt any political party’s efforts at fundraising. However, it is even more worrying that the Florida Democratic Party has grown more reliant than ever on special interests lobbying the (Republican dominated) legislature for its survival financially.
Developing an independent fundraising base has long been a necessary component of moving the Democrats in Florida forward. This state is after all about to become the nation’s third most populated and the national party as well as many activist organizations on the left are very good at fundraising in this state. Yet, the Florida Democratic Party’s financial base continues to be largely special interest groups with a lot at stake in the state legislature. The majority of these groups gives even more money to the Republicans. Many of these groups have an agenda which are contrary to values of many if not most activists who work hard to elect Democrats.
Interests that are contributing heavily to the Democratic Party include organized labor and trial attorneys. No surprise or problem there. These groups line up in alliance with Democratic values. It’s when you go further into the numbers and recent finance reports that you see a real problem.
Disney, Universal Studios, various gaming interests, big sugar and multiple utilities companies have all been among the biggest donors to the FDP in the last year. We’ll explore each of these themes throughout the week.
This reliance on special interests creates potential conflicts with many Democrats long-standing views on issues that impact our state. Disney for example has pushed anti-worker legislation such as scaling back earned leave and sick time.
Gaming interests continue to push large scale, Las Vegas type casinos in the state, something which was long opposed by most leaders of the Democratic Party (For me personally this is a big issue. I am strongly opposed to any expansion of legalized gambling in the state.) Florida has always resisted the implementation of large scale gambling and I continue to believe Casinos would be a major detriment to our state for reasons we can discuss later this week.
Sugar has advocated a slowdown in the clean up of the Everglades and measures that potentially see a rise in taxes for individuals. This may help explain the Democrats growing indifference on environmental and water management issues.
Utilities companies have pushed all sorts “reforms” that in fact do more to hurt consumers in the state than anything else.
In the final quarter of 2013, Florida’s Democrats took in a little over a $1,000,000 in fundraising, with much of that pass through money for State Legislative and Governor/Cabinet races. Included in this was $157,000 from Disney, $70,000 from gaming interests, $110,000 from utilities and $20,000 from sugar. The 3rd quarter saw a similar amount from Disney and Utilities and even more from gaming and sugar. Again in that quarter Florida Democrats raised slightly over $1,000,000.
This week on TFS, we will explore all of these issues related to the party’s agenda and fundraising. In preparing for this series, our staff has conducted multiple interviews (both on and off the record) with people throughout the state. Each individual expressed a concern about the growing dependence of Florida Democrats on the interests we have listed above. While I will admit many we spoke to were not concerned about the sugar issue (which is a very personal one to me) and did not make the connection to Disney’s money and sick leave, most we have spoken to are alarmed by the amount of gaming and utilities money flowing into the party.
We will also continue our #itsnotworking series related to Governor Scott this week.
The Florida Squeeze 
But in reality are we really surprised? Allison Tant said she would do fundraising, but with a lack of connection to unions (except the Teachers), were did we expect this money to come from? If Alan was chair, he would have solidified FDP’s union support.
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What’s your evidence for this claim?
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It’s not Tant’s fault at all … The sugar and casino money come from Christian Ulvert whose role with the party predates Tant. He was hired by Thurman.
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Seriously? Do you not remember the Chair’s race and where the support was coming from as well as what each candidate was saying?
And where is my “evidence”? Well, the reports on the DoE site, that is easy to figure out. Look at where the money is coming from.
But I know, it’s gotta be the “man’s fault”.
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No one is saying male or female Dave.
Honestly, most of these problems pre-dated Tant.
To the extent a female is responsible it is Karen Thurman…she was cozy with the wrong types of people. Rod Smith made it worse, and I think Tant simply inherited a problem. Could she do better at rebuilding the party’s infrastructure and independence??? YES. Would Clendenin have done better? Maybe. But to pretend this is Tant’s fault is silly. The dependence on the wrong kind of money started two chairs ago. As much I disliked Scott Maddox’s personal ambition and use of the FDP for his own means he totally understood this stuff and was determined to get the party off the gravy train of corporate, sugar and utilities money. But Thurman and Smith, from the “pragmatic” wing of our party took us backwards.
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Because a person did not achieve the title of chair, are you insinuating that he did not work to have Tant succeed??? Perhaps that’s why our efforts are so poor…everyone is looking for “THEIR” reward, instead of looking at what will benefit ALL Floridians.
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No, I did not say that at all. Don’t put words in my mouth. If Alan were chair, I think the focus of attention regarding fundraising would have been different. They even stated so in the chair’s race.
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Larry, you are really saying that Tant had nothing to do with Ulvert being there? Under Smith he was running House Victory. Now he is running the entire party (including House and Senate Victory)! Tant had everything to do with that!
Also, you don’t see Tant firing Ulvert any time soon, do you? Exactly!
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I’m not talking about Kartik’s post, I’m replying to yours.
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Exactly, and I am responding to yours 🙂 I am kind of surprised that it was that confusing 🙂
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On the other hand, I think that the FDP has done a great job in increasing monthly contributions under Tant. She has done some good.
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Good one. Look forward to this series.
Don’t forget the sizable donation from Sea World in the middle of the Blackfish controversy. It is in Q4.
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Absolutely disgusting and embarrassing. Does the party have an ombudsman who would widely say ah Sea World, aren’t they in some trouble now???!!!
More shocking than a Richard Sherman tirade on Super Sunday or for you Kartik a Jose Mourinho postgame interview!
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At a time when corrupt money flows like polluted water in our lakes and rivers, this topic is extremely important. Please continue to keep us up to date on where all candidates get their money from.
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Yes Joe we will be all over this going forward.
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Sickening I agree.
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The gambling money is disgusting. I am confident anything that brings full scale casinos to Florida will be rejected by BOTH parties. Thanks for bringing attention to it.
Utilities $$$ = legal bribes.
As for sugar I think you are over reacting as usual. Science shows developers are as responsible for Everglades pollution as sugar. And sugar plays more with the Ds. I’m not concerned about it at all.
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I know the developers are guilty as well but I don’t buy the idea that sugar is blameless, an idea floated by many.
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Floridian, I’m not sure that I agree with you. Individuals in both parties will probably put forth gambling amendments to line their own pockets. Sugar & utilities are the same. They are paying some folks to allow them to do what they do: utilities; develop everything on the backs of the taxpayers, not their profits or shareholders: sugar; look at the human trafficking going on up there, the conditions of the migrant work force…in addition to the pollution of Lake Okeechobee!!! Both entities only do the least that they can, by law, to improve the environment, the state, and the well being of Florida’s residents.
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Regarding the gambling I think that is the most distasteful thing I’ve seen. Perhaps it’s because our Executive Director of the party is from Louisiana and the combination of sugar and gambling will make Florida look more like Louisiana? Many of us living Florida because of the quality of life and don’t want it to look like Louisiana or Mississippi!
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Here we go again beating up on our own. Why not put this is perspective of how much the R’s have received from these and other special interests.
How many of the people berating the D’s give and raise money for the party?
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So you are satisfied with a party that constantly loses?
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Honestly the FDP was supposed to raise $50 million under Tant. We are raising less and more reliant on special interest. $$$ than ever.
Tant = fail
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