Dems Tell Atwater to Stop Bilking Taxpayers & Use Campaign Funds to Pay for Unprecedented Political Hire

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 6, 2008

TALLAHASSEE - Should State Sen. Jeff Atwater use $7000 a month in taxpayer funds to pay someone to learn about the Legislature?

We don't think so.

In a letter today, Florida Democratic Party Chair Karen L. Thurman suggested that Atwater use his overflowing campaign coffers to pay the salary of Robert Kneip - an unprecedented temporary staff member that raised eyebrows when exposed by the Palm Beach Post several weeks ago.

The Party also requested office and staff correspondence involved in the controversial hiring of multimillionaire outsourcer Kneip at the rate of $7000 a month to learn about the Legislature.

The full text of Thurman's letter is below:

May 6, 2008

The Honorable Jeff Atwater
Senate Office Building, Room 406
404 South Monroe Street
Tallahassee, FL 32399-1100

Re: Request for Public Records

Dear Sen. Atwater:

Recently, the Palm Beach Post and the South Florida Sun-Sentinel reported that you hired a temporary employee, akin to an intern, to assist you and learn about the Legislature at the unusually high rate of $7000 a month, paid for by Florida taxpayers.

You explained that you hired this staff member, multimillionaire outsourcer Robert Kneip, in order to groom him to serve in 2009 as chief of staff for the next President of the Florida Senate, which you assume will be you.

However, you and I both know that this was simply a failed attempt to appear confident about your re-election. Justifiably, you are quite concerned about the re-election campaign you will face this fall, and the distinct possibility that instead of holding the title of "Senate President" in November, you will be relegated to the status of "Former Senator."

I see the conundrum you face: if you fail to win re-election, then there is no need for a chief of staff; if you waste taxpayer money on an unnecessary chief of staff now, it may cost you your re-election. Nevertheless, no one is entitled to the position of Senate President, or even Senator, and the desire to be reelected does not excuse this unprecedented wasting of taxpayer funds, the most public example of your behind-the-scenes brokering in recent months.

Floridians are hurting, Sen. Atwater, but your campaign coffers are not. According to the Department of State, you have raised more than $1.5 million from special interests for your re-election campaign. At this time, I do think it would be prudent for you to reimburse the State of Florida for Mr. Kneip's $7000 a month salary, especially considering that you, as a lead legislative negotiator, advocated for extreme budget cuts to education, healthcare, and other vital public services.

Additionally, pursuant to Article I, Section 24, of the Florida Constitution, please accept this correspondence as a formal request for copies (preferably electronic) of the following public records:

• Any and all correspondence between you, Senate President Ken Pruitt and Robert Kneip regarding Mr. Kneip's employment or the position for which he was hired. 
• Any detailed explanation of why Mr. Kneip, a reported multimillionaire, should be paid $7000 a month to do much what any intern does for free.
• Any and all communication between you (or your office) and contributors to your reelection campaign or contributors to the Republican Party.

A member of my staff will contact your office within 24 hours to discuss when I may expect fulfillment of my request and payment of any statutorily prescribed fees. If you choose to deny this request, please state in writing the basis for the denial, including the exact statutory citation authorizing the denial.

Should you have any questions or concerns, please call (850) 222-3411 or email chair@fladems.com.

Thank you for your attention to this request.

Sincerely,

Congresswoman Karen L. Thurman
Chair, Florida Democratic Party