Payday lenders have donated about $2.5 million to Florida politicians and both political parties in recent years, according to a new analysis by a liberal group.
The group gave the Miami Herald an advanced copy of its new report, “A Florida Plan: How payday lenders bought Florida’s political establishment.” The report lists donations given to federal and state candidates as well as the state’s Republican and Democratic parties since 2009.
Overall, Republicans received $1.6 million and Democrats received about $890,000, while $29,000 went to independents. But the top individual recipients were South Florida Democrats:
▪ U.S. Rep. Alcee Hastings of Delray Beach: $110,700;
▪ Former U.S. Rep Kendrick Meek, who ran for the U.S. Senate in 2010: $72,800;
▪ U.S. Rep. Patrick Murphy of Jupiter, who is running for the Senate: $51,000;
▪ Wasserman Schultz of Weston: $50,600.
The Republican Party of Florida received $1,083,447, and the Florida Democratic Party received about $366,500.
