TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) _ Gov. Rick Scott is working again when it comes to raising money. Scott's political organization, called Let's Get to Work, had been largely dormant in the months since he took office. But the group's own website shows that in late July a political committee associated with the Florida Optometric Association donated $100,000 to the group.
Scott on Tuesday made no apologies for raising money even though he won't be on the ballot again until 2014.
“I like this job, l enjoy being governor … So I plan on running for re-election,'' Scott said.
Scott last year used the organization, also known as a 527 committee, to help his maverick campaign for governor. Let's Get to Work raised more than $17 million, although nearly $13 million came from a Scott family trust. The group used the money primarily for television ads.
Scott, a millionaire businessman, spent more than $70 million of his own money on his campaign.
John French, the coordinator for Let's Get to Work, said the governor kept open the fundraising account in case he needs it before he runs for a second term.
“We saw no reason to shut it down,'' French said. “It's just sitting there for when we need it.''
French said right now there is no “concrete plan'' on how to spend to money.
Normally governors focus primarily on raising money for their political party early in their term. When asked about keeping open his campaign-related account, Scott said: “I think that's because everything I do is a little bit different.''
Top officials with the Florida Optometric Association declined to comment on why they gave such a large check to Let's Get to Work.
In the past decade, however, the group has been involved in legislative fights with the state's ophthalmologists. The association last year backed a bill that would have allowed optometrists to prescribe certain drugs to patients.
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