Self-Serving Florida Governor Rick Scott is embroiled in scandal (again) because he was using his office to enrich himself (again).
This time it’s his sudden conversion from a high speed rail opponent to a high speed rail backer, all because of an investment he had made in a high speed rail company. And that’s after more than 300 bad news stories he’s faced since launching his campaign.
After the Miami Herald’s Mary Ellen Klas broke the news of Scott’s latest scheme, here’s what Floridians are reading and watching:
Miami Herald: Rick Scott killed a high-speed rail plan. Then All Aboard rolled up and he bought it.
As one of his first acts in office in 2011, Gov. Rick Scott canceled a $2.4 billion federally funded and shovel-ready bullet train from Orlando to Tampa because it carried “an extremely high risk of overspending taxpayer dollars with no guarantee of economic growth.’’
It was a political slap to then-President Barack Obama, who considered the high-speed rail project central to his infrastructure reinvestment initiative. Now, the idea has returned — revived by All Aboard Florida, a Coral Gables-based company that has heavily supported Scott — and the governor has reversed course.
Scott said in June he believes a high-speed rail line from Orlando to Tampa is a good idea, and he and his wife last year invested at least $3 million in a credit fund for All Aboard Florida’s parent company, Fortress Investment Group, according to recently disclosed financial documents.
Associated Press: Florida Gov. invested in company linked to high speed rail
The Miami Herald reported Thursday that new financial disclosures show Scott and his wife have invested in a credit fund run by the parent company of All Aboard Florida. All Aboard Florida is building the Brightline line from Miami to Orlando, but recently expressed interest in extending it to Tampa.
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The Herald pointed out that both Scott and his wife invested in a fund run by Fortress Investment Group, which is the parent company of the rail company that operates Brightline. Brightline is already running trains between West Palm Beach and Miami. The Scotts’ investment in Fortress Secured Lending Fund — the credit and lending division — produced at least $150,000 in income last year.
See More:
Politico: Scott’s wife gave loan to accountant at firm housing Scott’s blind trust; U.S. News & World: US Sen. Nelson Rails at Gov. Scott Over His Finances; FOX35: Scott’s family makes loan to “blind trust” accountant; WCTV: Loan given by Ann Scott raises questions about governor’s blind trust; Politico: Nelson, Scott spar over Ann Scott’s loan to blind trust accountant; WTSP: Scott invested in companies he impacts as governor; Tampa Bay Times: Rick Scott told Florida not to invest in companies linked to Venezuela, but he did; Capitol News Service: Case seeking to open Governor’s blind trust continues; Miami Herald: Has Gov. Scott disclosed all his personal finances or not? Court could decide; Miami Herald: In disclosure Q and A, Scott campaign provides its own questions, then avoids some answers; Miami Herald: Rick Scott and family made $550M in one transaction. How ‘blind’ is his blind trust?; Florida Bulldog: Rick Scott paid $200,000 in tax incentives to company in which he had financial interest; Tampa Bay Times: Rick and Ann Scott had stake in shipping giant linked to Putin; GateHouse Media: Gov. Rick Scott profits from Hep C drug tied to state prisons, opioid crisis; Florida Politics: Rick Scott’s blind trust connected to controversial Chinese company ZTE; Orlando Sentinel: Gov. Rick Scott’s net worth soars 56 percent to $232 million, report shows; Tampa Bay Times, Ruth: Is Rick Scott’s blind trust that blind?; News Service of Florida: Rick Scott fights lawsuit demanding he disclose financial assets; Esquire: How ‘Blind’ Is Governor Rick Scott’s Blind Trust, Really?; Florida Bulldog: What did Gov. Rick Scott do with mysterious $120 million in cash?
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