'Obfuscation of funding': How a 'new loophole' in Florida law hid Kushner family's ties to Surfside

[Uncle Joe]

A law signed by Florida Republican Governor Ron DeSantis last year has made way for billionaire Charles Kushner, and other top real estate developers, to pour "thousands of dollars" into their preferred 2024 candidates in the small oceanfront town of Surfside, Miami New Times reports.

According to documents obtained by the newspaper, the political action committee (PAC) "One Surfside," which is behind a slew of ads for ex-mayor Schlomo Danzinger, former vice mayor Jeff Rose and other 2024 candidates flooding residents' homes, is part of the PAC "network to which Kushner and Fort Lauderdale development group Fort Partners contributed a combined $40,000."

Per Miami New Times, "The obfuscation of the funding – namely, voters' inability to see the funding sources until after the election – was facilitated by a 2023 Florida bill that loosened state political committees' filing requirements, allowing them to make financial disclosures on a quarterly basis outside of general election season." The newspaper notes, "Previously, they had to file monthly."

(snip)

He added, "Companies making large political donations are not doing it in the interest of good government. They're doing it hoping the government is going to be good to them. They're wanting to buy favorable regulations, and at the local level, developers are looking for favorable zoning regulations that allow them to do the projects they want to do. They're expecting something in return. But it's legalized."

https://www.alternet.org/kushner-florida-law/