Senate GOP leaders rake in cash for committees

As this year's elections near, political committees tied to Senate Republican leaders piled up hundreds of thousands of dollars in contributions from Aug. 13 through Thursday.

The "Florida Leadership Committee," which is affiliated with incoming Senate Appropriations Chairman Jack Latvala, R-Clearwater, reported raising $207,750 during the less-than-two-week period and had slightly more than $2 million on hand as of Thursday, according to finance information posted on the state Division of Elections website.

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Meanwhile, the "Jobs for Florida" committee, affiliated with potential future Senate President Wilton Simpson, R-Trilby, raised $185,500 during the latest period and had about $771,000 in cash on hand, a newly filed report shows.

Jobs for Florida's contributions during the period included receiving $130,000 from committees linked to the business lobby Associated Industries of Florida.

Also during the period, the committee "Innovate Florida," which is headed by Senate Majority Leader Bill Galvano, R-Bradenton, collected $132,500 in contributions, leaving it with about $885,000 on hand.

Its contributions during the period included $35,000 from Disney Worldwide Services, Inc., according to information on the state website.