George LeMieux Backers in Legislature Demand Connie Mack Release Travel Records

Former U.S. Sen. George LeMieux has done well in getting the support of Republican members of the Florida Legislature -- more than 30 so far have endorsed him -- in his bid for the GOP nomination to challenge Democrat incumbent U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson in November, and now he is bringing some of them into his primary fight with U.S. Rep. Connie Mack.

On Monday, LeMieux supporters in the Legislature, including two state senators who face term limits -- Paula Dockery, R-Lakeland, and Steve Wise, R-Jacksonville -- and five Republicans in the Florida House: Dennis Baxley of Ocala, Rachel Burgin of Riverview, Larry Metz of Yalaha, Jimmie Smith of Lecanto and Ritch Workman of Melbourne, sent a letter to Mack demanding he release his travel records.

Since you are asking the citizens of Florida for a promotion to the U.S. Senate, you owe We The People an accounting of your time, the legislators insist in the letter. "On several occasions you've declared that you only spent 11 days in California last year. If you can pinpoint the number of days you spent on the West Coast, you are certainly able to document the amount of time you spent in Florida over the years.

You've often declared yourself the strongest candidate to face Bill Nelson in the general election, the legislators continue. The question surrounding the amount of time you spend in Florida is an area of inquiry that Nelson will surely exploit should you win the primary. That is why, for the good of the Republican Party, we ask you to please release your travel vouchers and official calendar for 2010 and 2011 and put this issue to rest.