Desmond Meade, president of the Florida Rights Restoration Coalition, arrives with family members at the Supervisor of Elections office in Orlando in January 2019 to register to vote. Meade's group works to restore voting rights to felons.Desmond Meade, president of the Florida Rights Restoration Coalition, arrives with family members at the Supervisor of Elections office in Orlando in January 2019 to register to vote. Meade's group works to restore voting rights to felons.
"I'm surprised to hear now that third parties who are generously willing to pay people's outstanding legal financial obligations, suddenly they're being accused of a crime for doing exactly what the state suggested was perfectly legitimate," Ebenstein says. "And there's something fundamentally wrong," Smith says,"about having to benefit from the largesse of an individual to have your voting rights restored."
"They were able to call the clerk directly and the clerk was able to say, 'Yes, sir you have a zero balance.' And once they heard that, both father and son started crying," Meade recalls.
These rich individuals that are always spending their own money to help the party is a load of shit. The money that George Soros spends around the world has been traced back to US stolen Tax Payer dollars funneled back to him through family members endless fake foundations.
Sounds like Bloomberg et al are giving out illegal financial incentives to vote
SenRickScott on one side you say we need high skilled legal immigrants in USA but on the other side you keep holding high skilled immigrants families and their kids lives at stake by holding Equality and Fairness Bill please remove your hold and pass S 386 ASAP
SenRickScott This Equality and Fairness Bipartisan Bill S 386 solves a terrible humanitarian crisis and saves millions of high skilled immigrants families and their kids from self deportation these GC are given on skills not on languages or country of Birth pass S 386 ASAP
The difference in this and Trumps $200 card is that Bloomberg is giving people the ability to vote for whichever party they choose whereas Trump is trying to buy their vote.
What a joke. He’s fighting to keep his poll tax protected.
GOP When you have to work this hard to suppress the vote you know people don’t like your policies or your politicians. GOP the anti-democracy party.
They will do anything to suppress the vote, always have and always will, to make sure they win elections
Sorry I am from Florida we also have our own idiots. But what does show is that it was never about payment of fines but about suppression of voting. That is why we should never take a person’s voting right away unless he loses his citizenship.
Florida including Babby Gaetz and the worst Governor in our Country, Desantis
This has to be illegal.
I imagine that criminals don’t want other criminals voting against them.
Why are people so mad that a billionaire is using his money to help people who paid their debt to society, pay fines that would allow them to vote, which is their right in a democracy. It’s almost like people are mad that more people will vote...I wonder why that is 🤔
MikeBloomberg a small man with a small mind! He has lost common sense! walkawayFromDemocratCommunists Trump2020NowMoreThanEver
Good thing, but what would he have done if it was not an election year? Would he have helped them?
That almost as dumb as him Running for President.
They move the goalpost, then get mad when someone looks like they can score from the new distance.
Typical Republican.....going after someone that helps Americans. The USA would be such a greater place to live if they would do something selfish and help others rather than themselves!
Want to play a new game now ?
Lock him up!
These GOP folks are real pitiful. The people enfranchised ex-felons. Then the GOP says they need to pay fines... Absurd but okay... So they pay the fines. Now they're mad the fines got paid. Y'all just don't want them to vote. Just say it. Call a spade a spade.
This man could buy and sell Florida!!!
Anyone notice bitcoin is doing great lately? And what are alt-coins? Someone should do a story on those
Being poor shouldn’t threaten your voting rights!
There is no law that states u can't pay someone's bills regardless of what bill it is sorry trumps party try again, I will no longer call Republicans by this name till they return back to sanity and respect as this is what they are not they are now Trump's party.
The issue isn’t the money. It’s the votes. You can’t make somebody vote a certain way just because you got a gift. Free thinking people.
FL AG, don’t piss away tax payer money. You’ll get your a$$ handed to you.
Investigate what,since when can’t a billionaire give away money,as long as he is not telling them who to vote for!
Republicans. What can you say about their hypocrisy. They have no shame.
So actively attempting to remove the right to vote and stand in the way of democracy is ok by GOP lore - but trying to help people who’ve served their debt to society vote is wrong? Got it.
The remedy is for Floridians to vote out the state attorney general.
_TheAncientOne_ Republicans do NOTHING except* trying to stop people from voting....that is their only strategy. *Also, lying, stealing, hurting people on multiple levels.
Oligarchs doing what oligarchs do
That damn state is hopeless.
ny'er bloomberg will kick flo grown butt from here to nova scotia.
What about the other states? Oooooooh this is a battleground state Nice optics ya got goin here
Good news guys buying votes is okay now.
Florida:”Pay your fines and then vote.” Citizen (gets assist from non-profit)”Done!” Florida:”No, not like that!”
Make the law that felons have to pay their fines before they can vote, find a way to pay their fines, and now it’s illegal? Hmmm.... sounds like they don’t want people to vote.
Imagine that, Rethuglikkkans supressing voter turn out.
100% wrong. If you influence someone as to WHO they should vote for, yes, but NOT to help them access their constitutional right to vote for whomever they want.
How DARE he remove a state-imposed barrier to voting that the people of the state voted to remove!
Was the US court of appeals wrong in their decision? Did they stipulate that Bloomberg cannot pay the fines? Or are they just not happy those felons vote? Their dem mother could pay them and no one would know, so it’s discrimination against a known billionaire.
Bribery. Vote buying. Third world stuff.
Go ahead. They are wrong and outmatched.
Any attempt to expand voting always equals rigging the the election 🤣
Lefties, imagine a Repub billionaire like Sheldon Aldeson paying peoples credit card bills to get them to vote GOP you would lose your empty heads.
So the non profit was legit and they had no problem until Bloomberg gets involved and they realize poor folks are gonna vote? What about the other donors?
Apparently, there's nothing that scares the GOP more than voters.
In other words, Florida Republicans will do everything they can to keep people who have served their sentences to have citizenship rights.
Trump is Chief of Staff Mark Meadows puppet. Meadows, a right wing radical Tea Partier stopped any extension of Unemployment pay to Trump supporters out of work and working on ending Social Security.
This is obviously illegal and obviously buying votes. It’s pathetic that somebody has explain that to people
It's called the felons for felons program.
Fraud fraud fraud
Me- that's awesome! People without means can pay fines and vote! Republicans- No!!! Ex-cons deserve nothing and are subhuman!
Ashley Moody is right-wing hack
Bravo Mr. Bloomberg!!!!
Non violent felons should be able to vote, no matter what.
Biden later can investigate this republican Florida AG
FL is not NY. Voter fraud is a crime there
The Florida Republicans would rather keep in place their unconstitutional poll tax rather than have free and fair elections. What a place.
Slumlord Mike is a horrible human being.
Hmm.. you got LeBron helping pay for Felons and NBA DetroitPistons owner largest and most expensive provider for prison telecom systems, who is exploiting who?.. and china JoeBiden realDonaldTrump TeamTrump
I love ❤️ him for this!
Republicans get pissed when citizens get the right to vote.
Can Trump go pay for people’s fees and debts out of the kindness of his heart as well?
If the average fine is $1000, this only equals potential 16,000 voters. There’s no guarantee they’ll vote or vote for any given party. Sounds like a wonderful thing.
I should think Florida would welcome this. Maybe another 16 million into their state or local coffers souring these tough times.
🤷🏼♀️
Republicans hate free money when it’s not going into their coffers.
GOPCorruptionOverCountry . This sums thing up well. Ted Cruz is a traitor
Politicians are playing with people’s lives
By the logic of this so-called investigation, driving someone to the polls would also be a felony.
I love the piece of crap hypocritical state I live in: Where if you say people can't vote until their debts are paid and then object to their debts being paid, then you’re confirming that your true purpose was to prevent voting rather than to collect debt.
And if you take it word for word. THEY, the felons, have to pay. It doesn't say that other people from different states can pay.
Why don’t they have a problem with Trump when he pays off porn star before election? VoteBlueToEndThisNightmare
The Florida republicans have an impotent case. Anyone can pay for someone else’s fees. The group is not asking for them to vote for any particular person or party but given that the republicans are suppressing their vote and the group is enabling their right to vote. Hmmm!
Interesting that he’s targeting BIPOC, because he’s a bigot and he thinks these folks are more likely to be more easily manipulated with money and more easily persuaded to vote Democrat. No offers to pay off white felons’ debts. How MAGNANIMOUS of Little Mike.
'Beware of Greeks bearing gifts'
Hold up, you mean republicans don't believe in democracy? I have to sit down.
Mike Bloomberg should be complimented as this is humanitarian efforts.
If fines and fees as part of the penalty for committing an offence are unconstitutional, then firearm permitting schemes and fees imposed on people who've never committed a crime are equally unconstitutional. More so. I like where this is going.
They never cared about the fines at all. They just don't want to restore their voting rights, going against the intent of the voters who told them to restore the voting rights of felons who have completed their sentences.
As they should. Leave it to liberal rich guys to set fellows free, pay their fines, all just to buy their votes. Messed up. FoxNews CNNPolitics
This dude has more money than he can ever spend. Why does he care so much?
So many dumb ass assumptions going on here. Buying votes. 1. Bloomberg is an independent. 2. Stop assuming the felons are all black & voting Dem. 3. There is no extrinsic value in being able to vote, so poll tax shouldn’t apply.
Same old story when it comes to republicans; to the lesser extent of voter turnout, the better for their party.
Sure, let’s deprive Florida of 16 Mil in revenue! So long as black people can’t vote, it’s 16 mil well squandered! Nice job, Florida.
Quid pro quo. You can’t lie your way out of the fact the people Bloomberg is returning to vote, reliably vote 90-95% Democrat. Vote buying scheme
If the gop is so sure they'll win, why do they keep trying to stop ppl from voting
Go Bloomberg!
Chicken shit GOP
Florida you’re the worst.
So their apparent poll taxes are ok, but someone paying it for them is a problem. That’s republican logic. Bloomberg isn’t telling them who to vote for while you would prevent them from voting at all.
Anything to suppress the vote, the Republicans will do it.
admission for voter suppression.
Pretty cynical. This is actually a poll tax, and should not prevent these ex-offenders from voting in the first place.
All Americans have one voice and should be allowed to use it.
That's right Mike. They've served their time. When they start working and paying taxes they deserve representation. Taxation without representation inspired America's independence.
grsweetie1 He liberated their right to vote. Pure and simple. He paid their bill.
Florida Republicans are super pissed Bloomberg is ruining their voter suppression plan. They are the caught villain at the end of every episode of Scooby Doo.
Are Rs this up in arms about whoever paid Kavanaugh’s debt so he could sit on the Supreme Court for life?
Their poll tax didn’t work, so they’re moving the goalpost.
Felons who served their time
The GOP is desperate.
Because republicans depend on suppression of votes.
I would call this charity. So the GOP has a problem with charity?
I am really beginning to believe that Republicans are evil. What is wrong with Bloomberg’s money? Money is money...Florida bastard republicans accept the money and let the folks vote. If you do not not then you are motivated by revenge not that they owed the state money. Bastards
Cash payments to assist people in voting. Sounds legit.
Nothing triggers Republicans more than people being allowed to vote.
Purchasing votes.. cheating by any means necessary.
Between the Governor of Florida and the former Mayor of New York I'll take the Mayor of New York for 20 bucks!
Fighting fire with fire. 🤷🏻
If Mike Bloomberg can’t pay off fines without Republicans saying that he is interfering with the election, that is an open admission that the fines are a poll tax which is in itself illegal. He’s not telling them who to vote for he’s just giving them back their right to vote.
The all lives matter crowd should love this! Everyone including ppl who pay their debt to society matters!
Florida Republicans have caused death and destruction across the state, but they look down on people busted for weed.
Of course the Florida Gop will find ways to obstruct these people's voting rights.
If Trump did this with taxpayer money, his supporters would praise him.
Love it! People always ask rich folks to put their money where their mouth is. Thank you!
they'll lose of course, but tying it up in court makes their feels better
Because everybody knows FL never intended to allow felons to vote....no matter WHAT their OWN people voted to do. Republicans are all about retaining control of power, not following our Constitution nor taking care of the people of America.
Nothing illegal about it. And for those who are crying about it being illegal, then what would you call the dismantling of mail sorting machines and removal of mail drop boxes in Dem held areas during an election that’s expected to have a record number of mail in ballots?
Voter suppression is a very ugly campaign strategy and it's about to get uglier in Florida!
This is blatant voter suppression, Trump & DeSantis know most of these votes are Democrats. They are using a poll tax to keep citizens from voting. It’s not a crime to pay someone’s fine, they know it.
Bloomberg messed up Florida’s plan
I hope everyone involved is arrested and charged with felonies. Marxist DemocRATS and their political shills like have to go. VoteRedToSaveAmerica2020
Should have just sent all of them “cash cards” and Republicans wouldn’t have had an issue with it.🙄
FL GOP Suing to suppress votes
As trump says he is handing out a whopping $200 to seniors on Medicare as a bribe. NPR get your act together.
Desperation takes many forms
Shame on Florida - they should have never lost their right to vote - good work MikeBloomberg and KingJames !!!
Funny, isn’t it, that Republicans are still trying to circumvent the will of the people?
Oh, so someone else can’t pay the fine now? If that’s the case, aren’t you left w the conclusion it is, in fact, a poll tax?
Why now? 🤡🤡🤡🤡
Restitution is part of the punishment for committing a crime. Someone else paying is is akin to someone being paid to do prison time for the person that actually committed it. Why wouldn't mini-mike instead give these people a job that they could then use to pay?
Pretty wild that a governing body doesn’t want people to pay their dues and be a contributing member of society.
*Florida's attorney general
“The share of felony offenders rearrested for any offense within two years.......66 percent over the four-year period.
🤬RepugnantCons
The poll tax didn’t work so now next up
😅😂🤣
Republicans got issues with how other people use their money. Ain’t this interesting.
We're going to pay off all your fines, consider our candidate with your vote - yeah, no problem with that at all...
Those who have a problem with this don't even see how blatantly they keep moving the goal post. It makes it painfully obvious they simply don't want these people to vote. That's pretty sad. What, exactly, are they afraid of?
cube drboycewatkins1 damn shame we can't count on you to speak out on this BS! 2020 is revealing af!
it is not just the fines, it is also the accruing interest on the fines
This is bunk! Legally, felons are not able to vote - for life.
From the party that loves a hidden clause to get what they want comes outrage over someone finding a clause to get what they want~ News at Eleven.
So are the fines a poll tax or not? If they are a poll tax, then they are illegal. If they are not, then the question of who pays the fines has nothing to do with the election.
If everybody actually got to vote, republicans could never win an election.
Seriously GOP this is who you are now? Only the 2A is important? The others are things to trample over and litigate against? VoteEarly VoteThemAllOut2020 MikeBloomberg
I wonder how many of these Republicans objecting to this consider themselves Christian and fail to see the deep irony here
He couldn't help the black community from becoming felons, or providing job training, business opportunities, adequate health and education but his pimping them again so his people can come back to power to further bury the minority community- shameless truly shameless
Personally, person who committed felony is still person. Many imprisoned unfairly. Are released because paid consequences. Many paid based on failed system which targeted for profit. Voting is right as American. It should not be taken because system we created screwed them.
Why is this only GOP that find issue with this effort to buy votes from criminals?
They’re buying votes and that’s illegal.
They just really really really hate that people are getting their constitutional right to vote.
Well he didn't tell them to vote who.. I thought a vote supposed to be secret in default. Idk about ur country guys, you supposed to be the oldest democratic country.. but I think you don't have to be hyperpartisans like now if most of you choose to keep the vote to yourselves..
Democrats and their felons
Republicans in Florida right now thinking about the law passed to allow felons to vote.
FL Republicans: 'Wull, if those felons want their right back, they're gonna have to pay for it.' FL Felons: *pays for it* FL Republicans: 'Wait that's cheating!'
It was never about the fines...this is voter suppression at its finest. Such a sad cult the GOP has become. MAGA
Its a poll tax, and Republicans are simply trying to suppress voting in a battleground state because they know they can't win when people vote.
charity is not for black exfelons
Sounds like these Republicans hate some kinds of people more than they love money. Interesting 🧐
Funny how a Democratic leaning man paid off debts. Didn't those Gop cowards sell themselves on the ability to... pay a debt. And then increase the national debt Typical republican BS claim they can but come up Short Ask any of their wives. VoteBlue2020
I hope they realize how ugly and mean they reveal themselves. Imagine taking a generous gesture and trying to make it illegal just to win the election. I believe Americans are kinder and more open-hearted than that and will reject GOP rancor in November.
They all will vote for Trump 2020..
If “It is a third degree felony for someone to either directly or indirectly provide something of value to impact whether or not someone votes,' Gaetz said. And they know it impacts democrats more. Then why isn’t it a second degree felony to setup a system to prevent the voting?
If it's not in fact a poll tax, then what he's doing has nothing to do with the election.
Bribery
Coming soon new law in FL that only contributions to groups approved by the party then in power, all others unlawful.
They thought those fees was going to stop them. Smh Republicans really are criminals
Why?
Of course they are. They hate voting rights.
Vote buying scheme, but probably legal
Sorry for your bad luck florida it is not illegal to pay debts
I suspect Bloomberg already had lawyers look into this long before he donated the first nickel.
Daily tantrum by the one in the White House.
They don't even tell them who its from or to vote just that they're eligible bouye that their fines are forgiven. GOP could care less about actually winning the majority as their model has been entirely placed on winning the EC and suppressing votes
Strong Jim Crow vibe in this one.
This could backfire, as many Florida ex-cons are dullard goobers who own Trump flags.
Oops! Did they just trap themselves into saying it IS a poll tax?
Their votes should never have been taken away.
TIL it's illegal to give people money.
You are so bad at this. “Bloomberg thwarts GOP Voter Suppression Scheme.”
Literally buying votes for democrats. cheating
Republicans are desperately fighting to stop as many Americans as possible from voting. THey're frightened and scared of democracy. Keep it up MikeBloomberg - we fight on for democracy.
Rich billionaires to the rescue!
Why should it matter who pays their fees? Why have the fees in the first place? It’s just another firm of poll tax. They paid their debt with their time and incarceration.
Vote buying scheme.
You’d think with all the felons realDonaldTrump surrounds himself with he’d be in favor of this.
Imagine rooting against voting rights 🤡
What legal standing does the Florida gop even have here? Like, if I’m Bloomberg, I ask for summary judgment in my favor based on no standing for the plaintiff. legaltwitter
Republicans have to suppress the vote
If their crime was nonviolent, why not let them vote?
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