A Florida Plan: How The Payday Lending Industry Bought Florida’s Political Establishment
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According to an Allied Progress analysis of state and federal campaign finance data, the payday, title, and short-term lending industry has contributed at least $2,556,457 to Florida candidates and political parties since 2009. This figure includes both challengers and incumbents running for U.S. House of Representatives, U.S. Senate, Florida State House of Representatives, Florida State Senate, Governor, Attorney General, Chief Financial Officer, and Agriculture Commissioner, as well as contributions to the Republican and Democratic state parties.
As the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) prepares to announce new rules designed to rein in the worst abuses of predatory payday lenders, members of the Florida congressional delegation have come under increasing scrutiny in recent weeks for pushing the CFPB and their colleagues to expand the problematic “Florida model” of payday loan regulation, which has been a disaster for consumers and a dream for lenders. Riddled with loopholes, the “Florida model” has led to the average borrower being saddled with nearly nine loans each year bearing 300%+ interest rates, and one-in-three borrowers being burdened with a dozen or more of these crippling loans.
Nearly the entire Florida U.S. congressional delegation signed a letter last year encouraging CFPB director, Richard Cordray, to adopt the disastrous “Florida model.” Many of them also sponsored or cosponsored H.R. 4018, which would gut the CFPB’s upcoming payday loan regulations by delaying those new rules for years, while instead encouraging other states to adopt Florida-style laws. This massive outpouring of support from Florida politicians for such an unpopular industry has left many scratching their heads.
Of the $2,556,457 given to Florida politicians and political parties by payday lenders since 2009, more than one-third of the money ($970,050) came from members of the Florida-based MacKechnie family and their payday lending company, Amscot Financial. In 1998 Amscot Financial plead guilty to civil racketeering charges and as part of the plea agreement stemming from these charges, the company’s founder, Ian MacKechnie, Sr., was banned for life from selling auto insurance in Florida.
At every level, Florida’s political establishment is awash in payday lender campaign cash. It is no wonder the state’s political class is pulling out all of the stops to keep the CFPB from cracking down on this predatory industry.
Total Campaign Contributions, Broken Down by Office
U.S. House and U.S. Senate | BREAK | $671,600 |
Florida State House and State Senate | $358,520 | |
Statewide Office | $76,390 | |
State Political Parties | $1,449,947 | |
Total: | $2,556,457 |
Candidates for U.S. House and U.S. Senate (2009-2016)
Candidate | BREAK | Party | BREAK | Contributions | BREAK | Office |
Adams, Sandy | R | $1,000 | House | |||
Bilirakis, Gus | R | $14,800 | House | |||
Brown, Corrine | D | $12,000 | House | |||
Boyd, Allen | D | $14,000 | House | |||
Buchanan, Vernon | R | $1,000 | House | |||
Castor, Kathy | D | $17,000 | House | |||
Crenshaw, Ander | R | $25,500 | House | |||
Crist, Charlie | I | $29,200 | Senate | |||
Curbelo, Carlos | R | $1,000 | House | |||
DeSantis, Ron | R | $5,000 | House | |||
Deutch, Ted | D | $14,500 | House | |||
Diaz-Balart, Mario | R | $3,000 | House | |||
Edwards, Lori | D | $1,000 | House | |||
Frankel, Lois | D | $10,000 | House | |||
Garcia, Joe | D | $12,000 | House | |||
Grabelle, Justin | R | $1,000 | House | |||
Graham, Gwen | D | $7,700 | House | |||
Grayson, Alan | D | $10,300 | House/Senate | |||
Haridopolos, Mike | R | $7,000 | Senate | |||
Hasner, Adam | R | $1,000 | House | |||
Hastings, Alcee | D | $110,700 | House | |||
Jolly, David | R | $3,000 | House | |||
Klein, Ron | D | $27,400 | House | |||
Kosmas, Suzanne | D | $14,000 | House | |||
Meek, Kendrick | D | $72,800 | Senate | |||
Lemieux, George | R | $2,500 | House | |||
Miller, Jeff | R | $3,000 | House | |||
Murphy, Patrick | D | $51,000 | House/Senate | |||
Nelson, Bill | D | $5,000 | Senate | |||
Nugent, Richard | R | $12,200 | House | |||
Posey, Bill | R | $26,500 | House | |||
Rivera, David | R | $1,000 | House | |||
Rooney, Tom | R | $4,000 | House | |||
Ross, Dennis | R | $31,850 | House | |||
Rubio, Marco | R | $15,000 | Senate | |||
Schultz, Debbie Wasserman | D | $50,600 | House | |||
Sink, Alex | D | $9,750 | House | |||
Soto, Darren | D | $2,000 | House | |||
Thompson, Geraldine | D | $2,700 | House | |||
Southerland, Steve | R | $13,000 | House | |||
Webster, Daniel | R | $21,100 | House | |||
West, Allen | R | $1,000 | House | |||
Young, C.W. Bill | R | $3,500 | House | |||
Total: | $671,600 |
Candidates for Florida State House and State Senate (2009-2014)
Candidate | BREAK | Party | Break | Contributions | Break | Office |
Abruzzo, Joseph | D | $2,000 | House District 085 | |||
Adkins, Janet | R | $400 | House District 011 | |||
Ahern, Larry | R | $1,500 | House District 066 | |||
Albritton, Ben | R | $2,500 | House District 066 | |||
Altman, Thad | R | $4,000 | Senate District 024 | |||
Artiles, Frank | R | $1,500 | House District 118 | |||
Aubuchon, Gary | R | $500 | House District 074 | |||
Avila, Bryan | R | $1,000 | House District 111 | |||
Barreiro, Gustavo | R | $500 | House District 112 | |||
Baxley, Dennis | R | $1,000 | House District 023 | |||
Bean, Aaron Paul | R | $3,000 | Senate District 004 | |||
Benacquisto, Lizbeth | R | $3,500 | Senate District 027 | |||
Bernard, Mack | D | $1,000 | House District 084 | |||
Beshears, Halsey | R | $500 | House District 007 | |||
Bileca, Michael | R | $1,500 | House District 115 | |||
Bogdanoff, Ellyn | R | $8,250 | Senate District 034 | |||
Bovo Jr, Esteban | R | $1,000 | House District 110 | |||
Boyd, Debbie | D | $500 | House District 011 | |||
Boyd, Jim | R | $1,500 | House District 071 | |||
Bradley, Rob | R | $1,500 | Senate District 007 | |||
Brandes, Jeffrey | R | $5,500 | Senate District 022 | |||
Braynon II, Oscar | D | $2,500 | Senate District 033 | |||
Brodeur, Jason | R | $4,000 | House District 028 | |||
Brooks, Robert | R | $1,000 | House District 047 | |||
Broxson, Douglas | R | $1,000 | House District 003 | |||
Burgin, Rachel | R | $2,100 | House District 056 | |||
Caldwell, Matt | R | $2,500 | House District 079 | |||
Cannon Jr., R. Dean | R | $3,000 | House District 035 | |||
Carroll, Jennifer | R | $500 | House District 013 | |||
Clarke-Reed, Gwyndolen | D | $500 | House District 092 | |||
Clemens, Jeff | D | $1,750 | House District 089 | |||
Coley, Marti | R | $2,500 | House District 005 | |||
Combee, Neil | R | $1,000 | House District 039 | |||
Corcoran, Richard | R | $4,000 | House District 045 | |||
Costello, Fred | R | $1,000 | House District 025 | |||
Couriel, John Daniel | R | $500 | Senate District 035 | |||
Crisafulli, Steve | R | $3,750 | House District 032 | |||
Cruz, Janet | D | $2,000 | House District 062 | |||
Cummings, William Travis | R | $1,000 | House District 018 | |||
Danish, Mark Alan | R | $500 | House District 063 | |||
Davis, Daniel | R | $3,120 | House District 015 | |||
Davis, Joshua | I | $100 | House District 065 | |||
Dean Sr., Charlie | R | $1,000 | Senate District 005 | |||
Dentel, Karen Castor | D | $2,000 | House District 030 | |||
Detert, Nancy | R | $1,500 | Senate District 028 | |||
Diaz De La Portilla, Miguel | R | $2,150 | Senate District 036 | |||
Diaz De La Portilla, Renier | R | $500 | House District 103 | |||
Diaz, Leyva, Daniel | R | $2,000 | House District 112 | |||
Diaz, Jose | R | $500 | House District 116 | |||
Domino, Carl | R | $500 | House District 082 | |||
Dorworth, Christopher | R | $5,250 | House District 029 | |||
Drake, Brad | R | $1,500 | House District 005 | |||
Dudley, Dwight | D | $500 | House District 068 | |||
Eagle, Dane | R | $2,000 | House District 077 | |||
Edwards, Katie | D | $500 | House District 098 | |||
Eisnaugle, Eric | R | $4,500 | House District 044 | |||
Evers, Greg | R | $7,100 | Senate District 002 | |||
Fant, Jay | R | $1,000 | House District 015 | |||
Farias, Johnny | D | $100 | House District 112 | |||
Farkas, Frank | R | $2,000 | House District 068 | |||
Fasano, Mike | R | $2,000 | House District 036 | |||
Fetterman, Adam | D | $500 | House District 084 | |||
Fitzenhagen, Heather Dawes | R | $500 | House District 078 | |||
Fitzgerald, Keith | D | $1,000 | House District 069 | |||
Flores, Anitere | R | $2,000 | Senate District 038 | |||
Ford, Clay | R | $2,000 | House District 002 | |||
Frank, Stacy | D | $500 | House District 057 | |||
Fresen, Erik | R | $4,000 | House District 114 | |||
Frishe, Jim | R | $1,000 | Senate District 022 | |||
Fullwood, Reggie | D | $500 | House District 013 | |||
Gaetz, Don | R | $4,500 | Senate District 001 | |||
Gaetz, Matt | R | $500 | House District 004 | |||
Galvano, Bill | R | $1,500 | Senate District 026 | |||
Garcia, Rene | R | $1,500 | Senate District 038 | |||
Gardiner, Andy | R | $4,000 | Senate District 013 | |||
Gibbons, Joe | D | $1,500 | House District 100 | |||
Gibson, Audrey | D | $500 | Senate District 009 | |||
Glorioso, Richard | R | $500 | House District 062 | |||
Gonzalez, Eduardo | R | $500 | House District 111 | |||
Goodson, Tom | R | $2,700 | House District 050 | |||
Grant, James | R | $1,000 | House District 064 | |||
Grant, Michael | R | $500 | House District 076 | |||
Grimsley, Denise | R | $3,500 | Senate District 021 | |||
Hager, Bill | R | $1,000 | House District 089 | |||
Haridopolos, Mike | R | $2,500 | Senate District 026 | |||
Harrison, Shawn | R | $3,000 | House District 060 | |||
Hays, Alan | R | $3,000 | Senate District 020 | |||
Heinzelman, James | I | $200 | House District 045 | |||
Heller, Bill | D | $500 | House District 052 | |||
Hill, Mike | R | $1,000 | House District 002 | |||
Hill, Robert | D | $500 | House District 007 | |||
Holder, Doug | R | $3,000 | House District 070 | |||
Hooper, Ed | R | $5,000 | House District 067 | |||
Horner, Mike | R | $3,000 | House District 079 | |||
Hudson, Matt | R | $500 | House District 080 | |||
Hukill, Dorothy | R | $6,500 | Senate District 008 | |||
Ingram, Clay | R | $1,500 | House District 001 | |||
Jacobs, Kristin | D | $500 | House District 096 | |||
Joyner, Arthenia | D | $2,000 | Senate District 018 | |||
Julien, John Patrick | D | $1,500 | House District 107 | |||
Kiar, Martin David | D | $500 | House District 097 | |||
Kreegel, Paige | R | $1,500 | House District 072 | |||
Kriseman, Rick | D | $1,500 | House District 053 | |||
Latvala, Chris | R | $1,500 | House District 067 | |||
Latvala, Jack | R | $11,500 | Senate District 020 | |||
Lee Jr, Larry | D | $500 | House District 084 | |||
Lee, Tom | R | $5,000 | Senate District 024 | |||
Legg, John M | R | $2,000 | Senate District 017 | |||
Logan, Ana Rivas | R | $500 | House District 114 | |||
Long, Janet | D | $1,000 | House District 051 | |||
Lopez-Cantera, Carlos | R | $1,000 | House District 113 | |||
Mayfield, Debbie | R | $1,500 | House District 080 | |||
Maymon, David | R | $500 | House District 091 | |||
McBurney Jr., Charles | R | $1,000 | House District 016 | |||
McKeel, Seth | R | $2,000 | House District 040 | |||
Metz, Larry | R | $1,500 | House District 032 | |||
Molloy, Dan | R | $500 | House District 057 | |||
Montford, Bill | D | $2,500 | Senate District 006 | |||
Moraitis, George | R | $2,500 | House District 093 | |||
Negron, Joe | R | $8,000 | Senate District 032 | |||
Nehr, Peter | R | $3,650 | House District 048 | |||
Nelson, Bryan | R | $1,500 | House District 038 | |||
Norman, Jim | R | $1,000 | Senate District 012 | |||
Nunez, Jeanette | R | $3,000 | House District 119 | |||
Oelrich, Steve | R | $1,500 | Senate District 014 | |||
Oliva, Jose | R | $2,500 | House District 110 | |||
Pafford, Mark | D | $500 | House District 086 | |||
Passidomo, Kathleen | R | $1,000 | House District 106 | |||
Patronis Jr., Jimmy Theo | R | $1,500 | House District 006 | |||
Pena, Marco | R | $500 | House District 049 | |||
Perry, Keith | R | $200 | House District 022 | |||
Perry, Warren Keith | R | $1,000 | House District 021 | |||
Peters, Kathleen Mick | R | $3,000 | House District 069 | |||
Pigman, Edwin | R | $500 | House District 055 | |||
Pilon, Raymond | R | $500 | House District 072 | |||
Plakon, D. Scott | R | $2,000 | House District 029 | |||
Precourt, Stephen | R | $2,500 | House District 041 | |||
Raburn, Jacob William | R | $2,500 | House District 057 | |||
Rader, Kevin | D | $3,000 | Senate District 027 | |||
Randolph, Scott Allen | D | $1,000 | House District 036 | |||
Raschein, Holly Merrill | R | $500 | House District 120 | |||
Raulerson, Daniel | R | $2,500 | House District 058 | |||
Ray, Lake | R | $1,000 | House District 017 | |||
Reed, Betty | D | $500 | House District 061 | |||
Rich, Nan H | D | $1,000 | Senate District 034 | |||
Richter, Garrett | R | $1,500 | Senate District 023 | |||
Ring, Jeremy | D | $2,000 | Senate District 032 | |||
Rodrigues, Ray | R | $1,000 | House District 076 | |||
Rogers, Hazelle | D | $500 | House District 095 | |||
Rooney Jr, Patrick | R | $1,500 | House District 085 | |||
Rouson, Darryl Ervin | D | $2,000 | House District 055 | |||
Sachs, Maria | D | $1,000 | Senate District 034 | |||
Samarrai, Remzey Paul | R | $50 | House District 022 | |||
Sands, Franklin | D | $1,000 | House District 098 | |||
Santiago, David | R | $1,000 | House District 027 | |||
Saunders, Ron | D | $1,000 | Senate District 039 | |||
Schenck, Robert | R | $4,000 | House District 044 | |||
Seefeldt, Terri | R | $500 | House District 031 | |||
Shaw, Sean | D | $1,000 | House District 061 | |||
Simmons, David | R | $5,500 | Senate District 010 | |||
Simpson, Wilton | R | $5,500 | Senate District 018 | |||
Siplin, Victoria | D | $500 | Senate District 012 | |||
Skidmore, Kelly | D | $500 | Senate District 025 | |||
Smith, Chris | D | $2,500 | Senate District 031 | |||
Snyder, William | R | $1,000 | House District 082 | |||
Sobel, Eleanor | D | $500 | Senate District 033 | |||
Soto, Darren Michael | D | $2,500 | Senate District 014 | |||
Spano, Ross | R | $2,500 | House District 059 | |||
Sprowls, Chris | R | $1,000 | House District 065 | |||
Stafford, Cynthia | D | $1,000 | House District 109 | |||
Stargel, Kelli | R | $2,500 | Senate District 015 | |||
Steube, Greg | R | $500 | House District 073 | |||
Storms, Ronda | R | $2,500 | Senate District 010 | |||
Taylor, Dwayne | D | $1,000 | House District 027 | |||
Thompson, Geraldine | D | $1,500 | Senate District 012 | |||
Thrasher, John | R | $6,500 | Senate District 008 | |||
Thurston Jr, Perry | D | $500 | House District 094 | |||
Tobia, John Joseph | R | $2,750 | House District 031 | |||
Trujillo, Carlos | R | $2,500 | House District 105 | |||
Trumbull, Jay | R | $500 | House District 006 | |||
Van Zant, Charles | R | $500 | House District 019 | |||
Waldman, James | D | $2,500 | House District 095 | |||
Watson Jr, Clovis | D | $550 | House District 020 | |||
Weatherford, Will | R | $4,500 | House District 061 | |||
Weinstein, Mike | R | $500 | House District 019 | |||
Williams, Alan | D | $2,000 | House District 008 | |||
Williams, Mike | R | $250 | House District 007 | |||
Wood, John | R | $2,500 | House District 041 | |||
Workman, Ritch | R | $5,000 | House District 030 | |||
Young, Bill | R | $1,500 | House District 068 | |||
Young, Dana | R | $4,100 | House District 060 | |||
Zimmermann, Carl | D | $500 | House District 065 | |||
Total: | $358,520 |
Candidates for Florida Statewide Office (2009-2014)
Candidate | BREAK | Party | BREAK | Contributions | BREAK | Office |
Aronberg, Dave | D | $4,750 | Attorney General | |||
Atwater, Jeff | R | $22,600 | Chief Financial Officer | |||
Ausley, Loranne | D | $2,000 | Chief Financial Officer | |||
Benson, Anna Holliday | R | $400 | Attorney General | |||
Bondi, Pamela | R | $18,500 | Attorney General | |||
Crist, Charlie | D | $3,500 | Governor | |||
Maddox, Scott | D | $500 | Agriculture Commissioner | |||
McCollum, Bill | R | $2,500 | Governor | |||
Putnam, Adam | R | $8,140 | Agriculture Commissioner | |||
Rich, Nan | D | $500 | Governor | |||
Scott, Rick | R | $8,500 | Governor | |||
Sink, Alex | D | $4,500 | Governor | |||
Total: | $76,390 |
Florida Political Parties (2009-2014)
Party | BREAK | Contributions |
Florida Republican Party | $1,083,447 | |
Florida Democratic Party | $366,500 | |
Total: | $1,449,947 |