More tales of lavish spending by the so-called party of fiscal responsibility. The Orlando Sentinel reports:
As Winter Park Rep. Dean Cannon‘s power and prestige grew, so did his travel and spending on the state Republican Party dime.
During a two-year period ending in late 2008, the lawyer slated to become House speaker charged $175,000 to his Republican Party of Florida-issued American Express card, according to credit-card statements obtained by the Orlando Sentinel.
Expenses ranged from a $19,151 charter flight to New York so fellow House GOP leaders could raise cash and see the lights at Rockefeller Center, to $24.94 for a baby toy for a major donor. Cannon’s AmEx card paid $4,291 for a professional photographer to shoot photos for his campaign Web site, for Disney World fundraisers and for dinner checks that sometimes reached $1,000 or more to woo big donors and entertain fellow GOP leaders.
Cannon also reimbursed the party for $2,994.95 for meals that he says were accidentally charged to the party card instead of a personal one — including $2,530 for a 2008 birthday party at Hot Olives restaurant in Winter Park.