UPDATED: Progress Florida and Florida Watch Action unveil DirtyHari.org

Update Regarding Line Item Vetoes: "Today, Governor Rick Scott showed that the thousands of jobs cut by the budget wasn't enough, he had to cut even more," said Susannah Randolph, Executive Director of Florida Watch Action.  "This 'Pink Slip Budget' is now bleeding pink due to the Governor's veto of construction projects and university funding among other things."

"Cutting tens of millions from university construction is proof positive that this governor isn't serious about creating jobs or investing in Florida's Future," said Progress Florida Executive Director Mark Ferrulo.

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ST. PETERSBURG - Today Progress Florida and Florida Watch Action launched a new website www.DirtyHari.org.  The site serves as an exposé "devoted to holding Senate President Mike Haridopolos accountable to the people of Florida, not just the banks, utilities, oil companies, HMO's, big developers, and other corporate special interests who bankrolled his state senate campaign and rise to leadership."

In conjunction with the site release, today at 11:00 AM members of Organize Now delivered hand sanitizer to attendees of a $10,000 a plate "private strategy meeting" in Orlando where Haridopolos was discussing his candidacy for the US Senate election in 2012 with wealthy supporters.  "Our message is simple: Sen. Haridopolos needs to clean up his act," said Mark Ferrulo, Executive Director of Progress Florida.

The website is a one-stop-shop for "what Floridians need to know about Senate President Mike Haridopolos", and covers topics including:

• Financial Disclosure Scandal: Violating state ethics laws, Sen. Haridopolos failed to disclose addresses of employers, bank accounts, stock ownership, car loans, an investment home and a secondary source of income from a consulting firm he owned for five straight years.
• Cushy UF Teaching Gig: Sen. Haridopolos is fond of saying Florida needs to "tighten its belt" while our state endures tough times, but he had no problem taking $75,000 a year for a teaching job at UF, which many say is abnormally high compared to similar positions.
• Extreme Positions: Sen. Haridopolos wants to tell your city council how to spend your money, stuff the public service commission full of utility lackeys, give health care for the young, poor, and elderly over to greedy HMOs and insurance companies, and much worse.
• Double Dipper Hypocrisy: Despite voting in favor of a law banning "double-dipping" among public employees, Sen. Haridopolos hired staff that would do just that. All of these new staff are making handsome six figure salaries.

The site also includes the "Haridopolos Twire", a live streaming ticker of Twitter posts related to the Senate President.  DirtyHari.org will continue to be updated as more of Haridopolos' dirty dealings come to light.

"Sen. Haridopolos has proven to be ethically challenged time and time again.  We launched this site to help ensure Floridians are aware of this powerful politician's lack of judgment and apparent absence of scruples," added Susannah Randolph, Executive Director of Florida Watch Action.

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Progress Florida is a non-profit, statewide organization supporting progressive solutions for Florida.  Visit us at www.ProgressFlorida.org.

Florida Watch Action is a statewide organization that works with progressive groups to provide a unified voice on the issues that matter most to Floridians.

Organize Now is a progressive, community-based organization engaged in and committed to building power to affect change in the state of Florida whenever and wherever injustices are being committed or civil rights are being infringed upon. www.OrganizeFlorida.org

pd. pol. adv. Progress Florida 1010 Central Ave. #209 St. Petersburg, FL 33705