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Politics

AmEx Charges Only 15% of All $51.6 Million in RPOF Payouts

May 9, 2010 - 6:00pm

Though 31 RepublicanParty of Floridacredit card holders -- staff members, legislative leaders and political aides-- racked up$7.3 million in American Express charges between 2007 and 2010, those fat AmEx expenditures actuallyrepresented less than 15 percent of party expenses during that period.

It's a fact, said RPOF spokeswoman Katie Gordon Betta. The RPOF raised more than $50.9 million during the sameperiod --and spent more than it took in: $51.6 million.

Nevertheless, said Gordon, most of the expenses on the cards were used on legitimate political and fundraising purposes, such as travel, meals and lodging for staff members raising funds and recruiting candidates.

The vast majority of the people who had the cards used them appropriately," she said.

Betta said some of the charged expenses served as deposits for hotel rooms and dinners, sometimes months ahead of the actual event. Were in a political environment, she said. Things are constantly changing.

Betta estimated that 40 percent of the charges came before the 2008 election. That would mirror the RPOFs expenses in general.

Of the $51.6 million the RPOF spent from 2007 through 2009, more than $20 million of that was spent over the course of seven months -- the crucial months before the 2008 presidential election when Florida was a key battleground state targeted by both Barack Obama and John McCain presidential campaigns.

Betta said that these expenses included providing lodging for Republican volunteers who flocked into Florida in the final weeks of a close presidential election.

The expenses charged by some Republican staffers bear out Betta's contention.

Kristen Seidel, who served as a major donor coordinator for the RPOF, saw her expenses rise considerably in 2008. While she charged around $6,000 for the last four months of 2007, Seidels expenses rose to more than $25,000 in the first half of 2008 and almost $18,000 in the second half.

More than $217,000 was charged in late October and early November 2008 on a card possessed by James Rimes, who served as RPOF executive director. The charges included hotel lodging for volunteers and activists across the state, cell phone expenses, transportation, food and office supplies as the Republicans went all out to carry the crucial battleground state of Florida in a tight presidential election.

Betta made no attempt to defend former RPOF officials, including former chairman Jim Greer and former executive director Delmar Johnson, who resigned under fire as critics accused them of spending lavishly, unconscionably and often in their own interest.

There were some people who used the cards inappropriately, said Betta. Thats why we are conducting the audit.

Deborah Cox-Roush, who was elected to serve as vice-chairwoman of the RPOF under John Thrasher earlier this year, agreed. While saying that most of the charges were used for legitimate political purposes, she noted there were some expenditures that were too high

"We met and put new safeguards in place," said Cox-Roush, noting that the RPOF now has only one credit card.

Reach Kevin Derby at kderby@sunshinestatenews.com or (850) 727-0859.

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