Bloomberg pays fines for 32,000 felons in Florida so they can vote

[RandySF]

Billionaire Michael Bloomberg has reportedly raised more than $16 million in an effort to help convicted felons in Florida register to vote.

The Florida Rights Restoration Coalition estimated Bloomberg's fundraising push has already paid off monetary obligations for 32,000 felons, Axios reported.


"The right to vote is fundamental to our democracy and no American should be denied that right," a Bloomberg spokesperson told the news outlet. "Working together with the Florida Rights Restoration Coalition, we are determined to end disenfranchisement and the discrimination that has always driven it."

Florida passed a law in 2018 reinstating voting rights for felons that dictated they could register only if they pay all fines, fees and restitution — sometimes totaling more than $1,000 — owed to the government.

The 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, which covers Florida, last week ruled to uphold the law.



https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/517522-bloomberg-pays-fines-for-32000-felons-in-florida-so-they-can-vote

[roamer65]

1. That could give it to Biden.

[SharonClark]

24. Is there any evidence that felons would vote

for Dems? I can see white or male felons voting for trump.

[Cha]

2. WHOA! TY!

[Le Roi de Pot]

3. I know lots of people hate him here .. but I could myself getting behind him had

He won the Democratic Primary.

I am aware of his baggage ...

[Skittles]

19. he is inconsistent but ultimately, the man cares

yes indeed

[roamer65]

4. Bloomberg said he was gonna make FL hell for Dump.

[Hoyt]

5. Appreciate his help and commitment.

[brewens]

6. I heard an audible OOF! all the way out here in Idaho on that one! Oh boy is that gonna piss

Trump and his followers off!

[crickets]

7. Brilliant.

And the right thing to do, on so many levels.

:sings: donnie's gonna be ma-aad. Ha!

[sheshe2]

8. Well done.

[calguy]

9. Mike's putting his money where his mouth is.

He's making good on his promise to support the Democratic ticket. He may not be what a lot of people here consider the ideal Democrat, but we all have one thing in common, we hate trump and know that he must be defeated. He, and our Republican allies like those in The Lincoln Project, are every bit as patriotic as any of us. Once Trump is gone and our country returns to some form of normalcy we can go back to debating our legitimare differences with them. But right now we are joined in a common cause to fight for the country we all love.

[Doremus]

29. Very misleading headline.

Most of the money came from Florida Rights Restoration Coalition. Bloomberg donated $5M of the $16M collected so far.

[not_the_one]

10. Are the voters being notified that they can now vote?

I would assume so, but you about what happens when you assume anything...

[customerserviceguy]

11. Is there time for them to register to vote?

Also, there are questions regarding the taxability of the monies paid to satisfy their legal obligations. And a few on the right wing have said that it runs afoul of laws barring the selling of votes. I can imagine that a lot of people who had their fines and restitutions paid by Bloomie's organization might choose not to vote to avoid malicious prosecution on such charges.

[LisaL]

12. They are already registered.

"Bloomberg’s initiative—which was also financed by $5 million from the Florida Rights Restoration Coalition—will assist Black and Latino voters who were already registered to vote and have debts of less than $1,500."

https://www.forbes.com/sites/jackbrewster/2020/09/22/bloomberg-raises-millions-so-floridians-convicted-of-felonies-can-pay-off-fines-and-vote/

[customerserviceguy]

13. How can you

register to vote if you're considered ineligible to vote? I really don't know what's going on with this in Florida, perhaps you have some knowledge that I'm not familiar with.

[LisaL]

14. I posted a link.

He is paying fees for those who are registered and owe less than 1,500 in fees.

[customerserviceguy]

16. Thanks

I appreciate the clarification!

[sl8]

25. Sounds like they registered in the period between court orders:

From https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory/bloomberg-raises-millions-florida-felons-vote-73163026

[...]

The Florida Rights Restitution Coalition had raised about $5 million before Bloomberg made calls to raise almost $17 million more, according to Bloomberg staffers.

The money is targeted for felons who registered to vote while the law was in question and who owe $1,500 or less. That accounts for about 31,100 people, the staffers said. In a state that decided the 2000 presidential election by 537 votes, that could be critical in a year when polls show Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden in a dead heat.

Organizers for the group say they aren't targeting people registered with a particular political party.

[...]

[Blue Owl]

15. K&R

[LittleGirl]

17. See this is what

billionaires should be doing for our country! Making sure the little people are taken care of.
Thank you Mike!

[Vivienne235729]

18. damn, he is smart AF. That is a damn good investment.

[scarletwoman]

20. Bravo, Mayor Bloomberg, bravo!!!

[winstars]

21. FUCKING Bezos!!! He can/shoud skip lunch and pay ALL OF THE FINES OF FOR ALL FELONS!!!!

"Thats what the money is for" -----great person once said to me, who was really really really wealthy...and proceeded to do wonderful things with that wealth!!!!!!!!!!!


Jeff Bezos, step up.

These fucking rich guys are EXACTLY like the German elite in the late twenties and very early thirties. They ALL THOUGHT that they could control the "little corporal"...

They were quite wrong.

Anyone who ever read a fucking book knows this...


And you fucking undecided voters, in the words of Al Pacino "AND FUCK YOU TOO!!!"

[radius777]

22. Bloomberg has his flaws but he cares about the world

and is willing to put his money on the table and get it done. We need powerful people like this on our side who can effect major change on the issues confronting our time.

[Zing Zing Zingbah]

27. Yeah, I think this shows he has a good heart

and that is the most important thing.

[Squinch]

23. LOL! That is AWESOME! Genius!

[Zing Zing Zingbah]

26. That's awesome

and a very kind thing to do for those people. He has given them the right to vote. I am against ever taking away someone's right to vote.

[spanone]

28. K&R...

matt is not amused

Link to tweet

Rep. Matt Gaetz: Bloomberg may face criminal probe for paying felons' fines https://trib.al/ziZLTlE

[CatWoman]

30. WTF?

LOL!!!!

Gaetz is such an idiot

[Quixote1818]

31. K and R