By Trimmel Gomes
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/wfsu/local-wfsu-916759.mp3
Tallahassee, FL – The State of Florida will not appeal a federal court ruling blocking a portion of state matching funds for Attorney General Bill McCollum's gubernatorial campaign. As Trimmel Gomes reports, the state saw pursuing the case as a waste of time and money.
A federal appeals court halted implementation of a provision in Florida's campaign financing law that would have given McCollum's campaign an amount equal to what his opponent spends over the $24.9-million cap. Department of State spokeswoman Jennifer Krell Davis says they're looking to end the issue since it was a very strong opinion from the court, and since they are not getting any indication of changes moving forward even if the case makes it to the U-S Supreme Court.
"We certainly want to be very conscious of when we are involved in litigation, our likelihood of success and making sure that when we are spending the taxpayer dollars in litigation, that it has a likelihood of success."
This decision means that multimillionaire Rick Scott, who is self-financing most of his campaign, has little reason to worry about exceeding the cap. McCollum could still appeal the decision on his own.