Adam Putnam

Despite support from food-industry allies such as Rep Jim Costa and Rep. Adam Putnam, the Food Safety Enhancement Act of 2009 failed to reach the supermajority needed for passage in the House of Representatives today.

The yeas were 280 and the nays were 150, but the two-thirds supermajority (287) was not reached to pass the bill under a suspension of the rules that limited debate to 40 minutes.

Patrick Delaney, communications manager for the United Fresh Produce Association,Washington, D.C. said United Fresh was exploring the reasons why the bill failed and what the next steps might be for the House food safety legislation.

Opposition from the American Farm Bureau Federation and other agriculture organizations that were wary of Food and Drug Administration encroachment may have cost the bill some votes, though House Agriculture Chairman Collin Peterson, D-Minn., worked with House Energy and Commerce leaders to smooth over worries that the FDA would seek to regulate grain and livestock producers.

While the bill drew some opposition from Republicans in House debate, members of both parties praised the bill as a bipartisan product.

Putnam, R-Fla., praised the effort of Costa, D-Calif., in helping to put together a bill that brings together America’s farmers ranchers and consumers. However, Putnam said a number of features of the bill — particularly language relating to the FDA’s power to quarantine food and mandate traceability — need further work.

Rep. Joe Barton, R-Texas, ranking member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, said the legislation deserves support.

“The process is fair, the product is fair, I strongly encourage a yes vote,” he said during the debate.

“This bill begins a long task of rectifying decades of neglect by updating FDA’s ancient tools outdated mandate,” said Rep. Rosa DeLauro, D-Conn.

DeLauro said the bill gives enhance the agency ability to prevent contamination of food by giving the agency the ability to inspect the highest risk facilities once every six months to a year rather than once a decade.

She also said it also enhances reporting requirements for companies and establishing performance standards for fighting food based pathogens.

“This bill is a strong solid first step in creating a food safety system that can protect American families from contaminated food,” DeLauro said.

Rep. Frank Lucas, R-Okla., ranking member of the House Agriculture Committee, said that he objected to the fact the House Agriculture Committee was not involved in putting together the bill and stated his opposition to it.

We did a piece on this so called “Food Safety Bill” not to long ago.  We received several messages from Congressman Putnam’s office regarding the story.  It seems that exemptions were added to the bill.  You can find our original post here

Carey Baker

Saying they are giving Floridians a chance to “fight back”, State Senator Carey Baker (R-Eustis) and State Representative Scott Plakon (R-Longwood) filed legislation yesterday to amend Florida’s Constitution to prohibit any law or rule from forcing people into a one size fits all, federally mandated health care system such as that being rushed through Congress. HJR 37 and the Senate companion legislation would preserve the freedom of our citizens to choose the kind of care they want or need.

“Today, we’re drawing the line in the sand. It is bad enough that our federal government wants to choose your doctor and ration your treatment,” Baker said. “But to do so virtually in secret and in such a rush proves that the goal is not to get better health care but to get socialized health care. Congress’ plan even penalizes people that want to pay for their own lawful health care services. That’s just wrong.”

“The federal government and its bureaucracies dictating who, when and what kind of treatment you receive is not reform at all,” said Representative Plakon. “Senator Baker and I feel it is our duty to step up and reassert the rights of Floridians, in this case protecting our citizens’ rights and freedoms to make appropriate decisions as it relates to their own health care. We believe this unprecedented power-grab by President Obama and Congress is clearly not in the best interests of the citizens of Florida.”

Plakon added historical context to this important legislation, pointing out that in 1787, Dr. Benjamin Rush, America’s foremost respected physician of his time, a signer of the Declaration of Independence, and a delegate to the Constitutional Convention, worked diligently to have the protection of “medical freedom” as a key addition to the US Constitution. Dr. Rush warned that medicine could become “an undercover dictatorship and force people who wish doctors and treatment of their own choice to submit to only what the dictating outfit offers.”

Baker and Plakon agreed that America’s health care system provides the most advanced health care opportunities in the world and that totally dismantling it is a dangerous step backwards. They went on to say that the fear of the federal government rationing care is a very real consequence of the legislation Congress is trying to ram through. Both said that efforts to improve health care access and affordability are important, but that the starting point in those efforts must start with protecting people’s freedom in choosing doctors, treatments and insurance options.

To amend Florida’s Constitution, the Florida House and Senate must pass the referendum language in next year’s legislative session with a super majority (3/5) voting in favor. Then the measure goes before the voters in the 2010 November general election and must pass with at least 60% voting in favor.
ABOUT CAREY BAKER: Senator Carey Baker has served in the Florida Army National Guard for over 28 years. Most recently, he was deployed for a year in Iraq’s Sunni Triangle during Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Carey is also the owner of the nation’s oldest continuously operating gun shop, the A.W. Peterson Gun Shop in Mount Dora, Florida.

Carey currently represents Florida’s 20th District in the State Senate, which includes parts of Lake, Marion, Volusia, Seminole and Sumter Counties. He has announced his candidacy for Florida Commissioner of Agriculture (www.careybaker.com), a position that oversees the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services and is one of four statewide elected members of the Florida Cabinet.

Bill McCollum

The Bill McCollum for Governor campaign just announced its campaign leadership structure — business, civic and community leaders campaign officials say will “help promote McCollum’s agenda of restoring Florida’s economy and improving the quality of life and standard of living for our children and grandchildren.”

Ag Commissioner Charles Bronson, who not so long ago pondered challenging McColum, will serve as a statewide chair. Keep reading for the rest, as described by the McCollum camp:

Statewide Chair
Charles H. Bronson Fifth-generation Floridian, serves as Florida’s 10th Agriculture Commissioner. Born into a ranching family in Kissimmee, Bronson comes from a family that traces its long agricultural roots to 1635. From 1994 to 2001, Bronson was in the Florida Senate.

Vern Buchanan Businessman and Congressman representing District 13; serving Charlotte, DeSoto, Hardee, Manatee, and Sarasota Counties. Member of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and Committee of Veterans’ Affairs.

Dean Cannon Serves in House of Representatives for the State of Florida, representing parts of Central Florida. Representative Cannon has been designated to the Speaker of the Florida House of Representatives in 2010 and currently serves as the Chairman of the House Select Policy Council on Strategic and Economic Planning.

Lincoln Diaz-Balart Cuban-American has represented Miami as an elected official since 1986. He has served in the Florida House of Representatives and in the Florida Senate. Lincoln was elected to US Congress in 1992, and serves on the powerful House Rules Committee.

Mike Haridopolos Member of Florida Senate from Brevard County. Currently the Chairman of the Reapportionment Committee, the Governmental Oversight and Accountability Committee, and the Policy and Steering Committee on Governmental Operations. He is in line to be Senate President following the 2010 elections.

Connie Mack IV U.S. Congressman representing Southwest Florida since 2005. His district includes Fort Myers, Cape Coral, Bonita Springs, Englewood, Naples, and Marco Island. Ranking Republican of the Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere on the House Foreign Affairs Committee; Member of the Budget and Transportation and Infrastructure Committees.

Honorary Chair Ginny Brown-Waite U.S. Congresswoman representing Florida’s 5th Congressional District since 2003; Served in the Florida Senate and as a County Commissioner in Hernando County.

Lou Frey Former congressman from Florida serving from 1969 – 1979. Served in the United States Navy. Founder of the nonpartisan Lou Frey Institute at the University of Central Florida.

Connie Mack III Served as a member of the United States House of Representatives from Florida from 1983 to 1989 and then as a United States Senator until 2001. He served as Chairman of the Senate Republican Conference, 1997–2001. In 2005, Connie Mack III was appointed by President George W. Bush as Chairman of the President’s Advisory Panel for Federal Tax Reform.

Bob Martinez 40th Governor of Florida and the grandson of Spanish immigrants. As governor, Martinez initiated America’s largest environmental land acquisition program, Preservation 2000. Former Mayor of Tampa and U.S. Drug Czar.

Mel Martinez U.S. Senator from Florida, first Cuban-American elected to the U.S. Senate; formerly Chairman of the Republican National Committee. Served as Secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Before becoming Secretary of HUD, Martinez was the elected Chairman/Mayor of Orange County, Florida, and served on the Governor’s Growth Management Study Commission. Before entering public service, Martinez practiced law in Florida for 25 years.

Ileana Ros-Lehtinen U.S. Congresswoman representing Florida’s 18th District comprising of Miami-Dade and Monroe counties; Served in the Florida State Senate; holds a Ed.D in higher education from the University of Miami.

Cliff Stearns U.S. Congressman representing Florida’s 6th District since 1989; Served in Air Force ROTC at George Washington University; Served in the United States Air Force during Vietnam.

Bill Young Statesmen and U.S. Congressman representing Pinellas County’s 10th District since 1971; prior to being elected Congressman Young served 10 years in the Florida Senate.

Statewide Co-Chair
Jeff Atwater President of the Florida Senate, representing Florida’s 25th Senate District since 2002. Prior to election to the Senate, President Atwater served in the Florida House of Representatives.

Allan Bense Panama City Businessman and Former Speaker of the Florida House of Representatives, he served in the Florida Legislature from 1998 through 2006. He is the Vice Chairman of Enterprise Florida and serves on the Board of the Florida Chamber of Commerce and the Florida Council of 100.

Gus Bilirakis Congressman representing Florida’s 9th Congressional District, serving portions of Hillsborough, Pasco, and Pinellas counties. Member of the House Committees on Homeland Security, Veterans’ Affairs and Foreign Affairs. Previously served four terms as a member of the Florida House of Representatives.

Bobby Brantley Former Lieutenant Governor from 1987 to 1991 serving with Governor Bob Martinez; Served in the Florida House of Representatives and as Secretary of the Florida Department of Commerce and as Secretary of the Florida Lottery.

Al Cardenas Al Cardenas is a former Chairman of the Republican Party of Florida; is a Partner in the law firm of Tew Cardenas and Chairman/Investor in business ventures in Florida. He served in a number of capacities in the Reagan and Bush Administrations and is a former Member of the Board of Florida A and M University.

Ander Crenshaw Member of the United States House of Representatives since 2001, representing North Florida’s 4th congressional district. Serves on three subcommittees within the Committee on Appropriations. Previously served in the Florida House of Representatives and Florida Senate. In 1992, he became the first Republican elected president of the Senate in 118 years in 1992.

Larry Cretul Speaker of the Florida House of Representatives. He has represented House District 21 since 2002. He served in the U.S. Navy from 1967 to 1971. He is a former County Commissioner for Marion County.

Rich Crotty Mayor of Orange County serving since 2001. Prior to serving as Mayor, Crotty served in the state legislature in both the House and Senate and as Orange County’s Property Appraiser.

Mario Diaz-Balart Since 2003 he has been a member of the United States House of Representatives, representing Florida’s 25th congressional district. Founding member of the Congressional Hispanic Conference and a member of the Committee on the Budget. Also a member of a subcommittee of the Committee on Science & Technology and three subcommittees of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.

Don Gaetz State Senator for Florida’s 4th Senate District. He is the Chairman of the Florida Senate Select Committee on Florida’s Economy. Previously he has served as the Chair of the Education Pre-k-12 committee in 2006-2008. Before being elected to the Senate he served as Superintendent of Schools and as a School Board Member in Okaloosa County. Co-Founder of Vitas Innovative hospice Care.

Jeff Miller Member of the United States House of Representatives from Northwest Florida/Panhandle, representing Florida’s 1st congressional district. Currently assigned to the Armed Services Committee, where he is ranking member of the Terrorism, Unconventional Threats, and Capabilities Subcommittee, as well as the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, and the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence.

Shannon Miller Olympian, broadcaster, health and wellness advocate and motivational speaker is a resident of Jacksonville. Shannon is the most decorated American Gymnast, in history, having won more Olympic and World Championship Medals than any other American Gymnast. Member of 6 Halls of Fame including the United States Olympic Hall of Fame, the only female to be inducted twice, and the Women’s International Sports Hall of Fame. Graduate of Boston College Law School. Currently serves as the Co-Chair of the Governor’s Council on Physical Fitness and on the board of the Florida Sports Foundation.

John Peyton Mayor of Jacksonville serving since 2003; Prior to serving as Mayor, Peyton was Vice President of Gate Petroleum Company, chairman of the Jacksonville Transportation Authority, Jacksonville Symphony Association and Greenscape of Jacksonville.

Bill Posey Representative for Florida’s 15th congressional district. Former member of the Florida Senate, having represented the 24th District and the Space Coast. Serves on two subcommittees of the Committee on Financial Services.

Tom Rooney Congressman representing Florida’s 16th Congressional District and serves on the House Armed Services Committee and Judiciary Committee. He is a former criminal prosecutor in the Office of Attorney General and Special Assistant US Attorney. He served as a Captain in the U.S. Army Jag Corps and taught constitutional law at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point.

Will Weatherford Representative for the 61st district of Florida’s House of Representatives. He is the Chair of the House Committee on State and Community Colleges and Workforce Appropriations.

Honorary Co-Chair
Ellyn Bogdanoff Elected to the Florida House of Representatives in 2004 was the Republican Majority Whip during the 2006-2008 Session and is currently serving as the Chair of the Finance and Tax Council. Ellyn is an attorney and business owner who has served on the Federal Judicial Nominating Commission. She has served on many state and local community service boards, which include Children’s Home Society and a charter member of the Women’s Chamber of Commerce of Broward County. She has received many awards for her community and legislative service and most recently was recognized by Gold Coast Magazine as one of 50 most influential people in Broward County.

Jennifer Carroll Elected to the House in 2003 and is the first Black Female Republican elected to the Florida Legislature. Served as Republican Majority Whip 2006-2008. Lifetime member of the NAACP, American Legion, and NRA.

Sharon Day Secretary of the RNC and RNC National Committeewoman for the State of Florida along with being Republican Party of Florida Broward State Committeewoman. Sharon is currently Chairman of the Broward County Housing Authority and serves on the Florida Commission on the Status of Women.

Nancy Detert Elected to the Florida Senate in 2008 and named Senate Republican Majority Whip, 2008-2010. She also served in the Florida House of Representatives from 1998 to 2006 and on the Sarasota County School Board from 1988 to 1996.

Mike Fasano Florida State Senator from Pasco County, Committee Memberships included: Communications and Public Utilities, Fiscal Policy and Calendar, Health Regulation, Judiciary, Regulated Industries, Rules, and the Joint Legislative Budget Commission. Serves as President Pro Tempore of the Florida Senate. Chairs the Transportation and Economic Development Committee.

Anitere Flores Elected to the House in 2004 from Miami. Currently serves as the Deputy Majority Leader and Chair of K-12 Education Appropriations. A member of The Florida Bar, she previously received the Legislative “Rising Star Award”. Currently serves as Director of Community Partnerships at Florida International University.

Adam Hasner State Representative from Palm Beach County and the first Jewish Republican Majority Leader of the Florida House of Representatives. Has sponsored legislation on a wide variety of issues including guaranteeing that more education dollars are spent in the classroom, protecting workers’ rights by guaranteeing the right to secret ballot elections in the workplace and promoting alternative energy sources including the expanded use of solar power, ocean energy and electric vehicles.

Marcelo Llorente Son of Cuban immigrants. Member of the Florida House of Representatives, 3rd youngest member ever elected to the House. Attended Tulane University where he played baseball and received his Bachelor’s Degree in Business Management. He then earned his law degree from the Florida State University College of Law. Resides in Miami-Dade County.

David Rivera Chairman of the Miami-Dade Republican Party. Elected to the Florida House of Representatives in 2002 and serves as Chairman of the House Full Appropriations Committee. Served as Director of National Political Affairs and Director of Hispanic Outreach for the Republican Party of Florida.

Paul Senft RNC National Committeeman for the State of Florida and Southeast Regional Representative on the executive board of the RNC. Appointed to the Governing Board of the Southwest Florida Water Management District. Paul has served in numerous appointed and elected government positions on the Polk County Commission and is President of the Haines City Economic Development Council.

Bill Posey

WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Bill Posey (R-Rockledge) was joined by 30 of his colleagues in introducing legislation to amend Rules of the House to  require a 72 hour period of availability before legislation can be brought up for consideration in the House of Representatives. The bill, H. Res. 689, also requires that a print comparing current law with the proposed law be made available to Members of Congress and the public for at least 72 hours before legislation can be considered.  This not only applies to the underlying bill to be considered but also to any manager’s amendment or other amendment that makes significant changes to the bill.

“The first rule of open government is transparency,” said Congressman Posey. “It’s disrespectful to the American people for Congress to ram through thousands of pages of legislation that no one has had the time to read or understand.  Members of Congress must be given the opportunity to read and digest the massive spending increases and complex statutory changes that are included in many of the bills we are asked to consider. This bill simply lets the sunshine in and encourages public debate and involvement in the issues before Congress.”

Specifically, Posey’s bill requires that legislation be made available to Members of Congress and the public for at least 72 hours before the House may begin debate on the legislation. It also requires that a comparative print showing specifically how the proposed legislation changes current law be made available at least 72 hours before consideration of the bill. The legislation is similar to rules put in place by the Florida legislature to ensure no last minute changes could be made to legislation before a vote.

Posey said that it is important that Members of Congress and the public be given sufficient time and information to understand more fully how the proposed legislation or amendments affect current law. “By requiring the comparative print, Members and the public are given a much better understanding of the overall impact of the bill.”

Pinellas County Republican Party of Florida official Tony DiMatteo has been appointed the chairman of the RPOF “grievance committee,” the body appointed by state party boss Jim Greer to “purge the party of the dissidents.” as Greer stated in a Palm Beach Post article (State GOP “impotent,” former chairman says) posted today.

The “party purge” began two weeks ago when Florida’s top African-American GOP leader, Winter Park attorney Deon Long, was abruptly removed from his position on the Orange County Republican Executive Committee and according to a letter from Greer “banned for life” from the Republican Party.

Long’s sin: challenging current Greer ally Lew Oliver for Chairman and then challenging the election result (Oliver ran the election, counted the ballots and declared himself the winner by one vote 122-121-2 after “disqualifying” 19 Long supporters the night of the vote.)

The purge continued yesterday with a “hearing” against Orange County GOP committeeman Nick Egoroff, a prominent Ron Paul meetup organizer and member of the Republican Liberty Caucus and Ax the Tax Chairman Doug Guetzloe, an elected member of the Orange county REC for 29 years.

The meeting began with DiMatteo literally “throwing out their own rules on evidence and witnesses,” stated Guetzloe.  “When we showed up we found out that Lew Oliver was allowed to bring 10 witnesses with him and reams of ‘evidence’ to be submitted at that moment without any prior disclosure as required by the RPOF rules.  The rules required that Oliver submit to us all evidence; witnesses and statements five (5) days prior to the hearing – not only did we not receive any of this in advance – but we were never told we could bring any evidence or witnesses with us.”

Egoroff and Guetzloe have retained First Amendment Attorney Fred O’Neal to represent them in this effort.  It was quickly shown to be an uneven playing field when Mr. O’Neal’s court reporter was thrown out of the room before the “hearing” got underway, with RPOF legal counsel stating that there would be “no recording or transcript of the meeting,” thus violating the Florida Rules of Evidence that allow transcripts of any quasi-legal proceeding to preserve the right to appeal with a complete record.  “Apparently RPOF wants no record of the meeting and RPOF also banned any of us from recording the meeting,” Guetzloe stated.

“Not being allowed to bring any evidence or witnesses was one thing, but then allowing Mr. Oliver to bring witnesses and present evidence instantly showed us that without a doubt, this is a party purge and it was a rigged operation,” Guetzloe stated.

Currently Greer has up to forty “grievances” against outspoken party leaders of which the common denominators are: Marco Rubio supporters; Draft Dockery for Governor supporters (Guetzloe and Egoroff are Co-Chairmen for that effort); open primary supporters; Republican Liberty Caucus members and Ron Paul supporters, thirty of these have not yet been submitted to the star chamber.

Brevard County REC Chairman Jason Steele was singled out for simply opposing Greer’s efforts to invoke RPOF Rule 11 that would have forced local REC’s to endorse his choices for the US Senate and Governor in advance of the 2010 GOP Primary.  The grievance committee will consider another seven (7) removals this weekend.

“The grievances against me included: using my radio show, The Guetzloe Report, to oppose the party purge; speaking out against Lew Oliver and supporting Deon Long for party positions – all clearly my rights under the First Amendment of the Bill of Rights,” Guetzloe stated.

“We have since learned that Mr. DiMatteo has a record of opposing party inclusion as shown by this video and statement where he threatened other party leaders with personal violence:”

Daily Paul reports

Tony DiMatteo threatens bodily harm to Ron Paul supporter

December 1, 2007

She called Tony DeMatteo on Thursday to take issue with the unethical way the straw poll was conducted and the fact that she purchased a block of tickets only because of the information the REC provided her, to learn that the information was false. Tony DiMatteo then told Sophie ” it is too bad for you and if you start any trouble you will be hurt”.

Sophie, shocked, upset and concerned from being threatened called Clearwater Meetup Organizer Paul Bourgeois. Paul had previously talked to Tony about all of the rule changes. Tony made it clear that Paul BETTER not take it any further or it would make us (Ron Paul Supporters) look real bad.

Physically intimidating and threatening people are completely unacceptable behaviors. Tony DeMatteo’s actions needs to be addressed by the Republican leadership and the Pinellas county REC members.

Tony DeMatteo is the Chairman of the Pinellas County Republican Party.

Video here.

UPDATE: More here.

“After the verbal presentations by Egoroff, Guetzloe and O’Neal, the committee went into “Executive Session” and removed everyone from the room and then voted to ban both of us from the Republican Party for allegedly supporting “special meetings” of the REC so that business could be conducted.  To date, Lew Oliver has not had one meeting since his election in that a quorum was present.  We used existing GOP party rules to have a special meeting by petition, a meeting that Lew Oliver called, wrote and threatened individuals to ‘not attend,’” Guetzloe stated.

“We understand from sources that were present during the closed meeting of the committee that the vote was unanimous to remove Mr. Egoroff and myself from the Republican Party, a move that will be challenged in court,” Guetzloe stated.  “This is just the beginning of this battle, the first shot.”

Lew Oliver is currently facing several criminal complaints filed against him by Orange County Republican Executive Committee member Keith Recine with various law enforcement entities for allegedly “co-mingling” contributions to the party and for writing $14,000 in checks to himself without any documentation.

Additionally, according to court filings, Oliver is pursuing the taking the “jewelry and antiques” from the wife’s of two fellow Republican leaders – State RPOF member Jim Stelling and State Representative Chris Dorworth, all three were involved in the collapse of a multi-million dollar land deal recently.

Charlie Crist

TALLAHASSEE – Gov. Charlie Crist has a lot of wealthy friends.

And many of them, from plaintiff lawyers and corporate executives to New York socialites and Tallahassee lobbyists, have cut checks to his U.S. Senate bid for the full $4,800 they’re allowed to give to a federal candidate, according to Crist’s fund-raising report.

More than one-fourth — 580 — of the 2,100 contributors who helped Crist raise a whopping $4.3 million have now maxed out for both the 2010 primary and general elections, meaning they can’t be asked to give again.

And the vast majority of Crist’s donors gave checks larger than $1,000 — many giving the full $2,400 allowed for the primary election — meaning the governor won’t have as many names to turn to in his fund-raising Rolodex over the next 16 months.

But Crist advisers say the campaign hasn’t tapped out its home state.

“There’s still plenty of money left in Florida,” said Crist adviser and lobbyist, Brian Ballard, who along with his wife Kathryn gave the maximum $9,600. “But he put a big dent in Florida.”

By comparison, Crist’s long-shot GOP primary opponent, Marco Rubio, reported 2,500 contributors during the three-month period ending June 30, with only about 100 of them giving the limit. Rubio totaled only $340,000, and this week started trimming his paid staff.

Crist’s Democratic opponent, U.S. Rep. Kendrick Meek of Miami, who’s raised about $2.6 million in the first six months of this year, has maxed out only 139 of his 4,300 contributors.

Many of Meek’s donors have signed up to pay $20.10 a month, said campaign strategist Ana Cruz, which lets the candidate keep returning to them through the general election.

“Charlie can’t go back to ask a lot of those people for help again,” Cruz said.

Federal election law allows individuals to give a maximum of $2,400 for a primary election, and $2,400 for a general election, or a maximum of $4,800. At least $1.4 million of Crist’s massive war chest can’t be spent during his primary campaign but must be held for the general election.

Crist’s campaign machine re-wrote the record books for a Florida U.S. Senate campaign in its first 50 days. He was the highest-grossing Senate candidate in the country for the fund-raising period that ran from April through June.

His urgency in asking donors to write the biggest checks now reflects the campaign’s strategy to “drain the swamp” — believing that campaign cash will be harder to come by later in the election season, several donors said.

“I think his ability to raise money will be less [going forward] than in the past,” said Miami-Dade lobbyist Ron Book, who gave Crist the maximum $4,800, as did his wife.

“Everybody that has gotten out early is smart.”

George LeMieux, Crist’s former campaign manager and chief of staff in the governor’s office, conceded the bad economy and Crist’s huge footprint early in the 2009-10 election cycle probably accounted for lower fund-raising totals for other Republicans and the state party.

“In large part,” he said, “people are competing for the same dollars.”

Crist’s fund-raising strategy has already shifted to target more out-of-state dollars in places like North Carolina, where wealthy Floridians spend their summers; and New York, where he raised funds at private dinners last weekend.

Earlier this year, billionaire developer Donald Trump and Yankees outfielder Johnny Damon showed up at ritzy dinners in the Hamptons for Crist, whose wife, Carole Rome, has helped him gain entrance into New York social circles.

This week, he was in Washington for back-to-back fund-raisers hosted by federal lobbyists.

Crist’s campaign has leaned on a handful of “bundlers” — lobbyists who collect multiple checks from friends, clients and relatives — to raise nearly $190,000 so far.

Ponta Vedra Beach-based lobbyist T. Martin Florentino, whose clients include CSX Transportation and AT&T, collected $139,250 for Crist. Tallahassee-based health care lobbyist James Eaton raised another $50,700.

The list of 580 contributors who maxed out includes U.S. Sugar Corp. CEO Robert Buker and chief company lobbyist Bob Coker. Both were at the center of Crist’s successful push for the state to buy U.S. Sugar’s land holdings to try and restore the natural water flow of the Everglades.

And a half-dozen attorneys with Orlando trial lawyer John Morgan’s Morgan & Morgan mega-law firm maxed out at a fund-raiser that netted $300,000 for Crist in June. Crist’s lieutenant governor, Jeff Kottkamp, is a former partner in the Morgan firm.

Morgan, a Democrat, is supporting Alex Sink in the governor’s race against Republican Bill McCollum. But he said Crist will be the top draw for those willing to open their checkbooks this political season.

“Charlie Crist is the blueprint for Republicans, if they are going to be a national party instead of a bunch of angry male rednecks in the South,” Morgan said.

Aaron Deslatte, who reported from Tallahassee, can be reached at 850-222-5564 or adeslatte@orlandosentinel.com.