Progress Florida Calls On Jim Greer To Return The More Than $1 Million Jay Odom Gave To The Republican Party Of Florida

TALLAHASSEE - Today Progress Florida delivered a letter to Republican Party of Florida Chairman Jim Greer urging him to reject pay-to-play politics and give back the more than $1 million in campaign contributions developer Jay Odom used as leverage to secure state funding for a proposed aircraft hangar on the Northwest Florida State College campus. Ray Sansom and the college's President, Bob Richburg, face felony indictments for their conduct surrounding the appropriation of $6 million in public funds to be used for the hangar.

Following, please find Progress Florida's open letter to Chairman Greer reprinted in full:

April 27, 2009

Dear Chairman Greer,

The trustees of Northwest Florida State College have called an emergency meeting for tomorrow in response to developments surrounding the $6 million of taxpayer funds appropriated for an aircraft hangar at Northwest Florida State College.

Gov. Crist, State Attorney Willie Meggs and others have stated publicly that these funds should be returned to taxpayers. Last week Sen. Don Gaetz indicated that the $6 million had become a "toxic issue" in the legislature, and that lawmakers would take steps seeking return of the funds if the board of trustees doesn't vote to do so themselves.

We're writing to find out if you agree with Gov. Crist and others that the aircraft hangar project should be abandoned and the funds returned by the school.

If so, we'd like to know why the money that the Republican Party of Florida received as part of this scandal shouldn't be given back to contributor Jay Odom, for whom the hangar was allegedly to be built.

Returning Mr. Odom's campaign contributions would help restore people's faith in the integrity of the political process, and make clear that the days of allowing political donors to dictate public policy and abuse taxpayers are over.

Progress Florida joins with Gov. Crist, State Attorney Meggs and others in urging the trustees of Northwest Florida State College to return the $6 million so it can be used for more critical needs by the citizens of Florida. In the spirit of good government, we also call on you to return the more than $1 million in tainted political contributions that Jay Odom leveraged through the Republican Party of Florida to help create this debacle.

Sincerely,

Mark Ferrulo, Executive Director

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

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