The Miami Herald and St. Pete Times are reporting that U.S. Senate candidate Marco Rubio charged grocery bills, repairs to the family minivan and purchases from a wine store less than a mile from his West Miami home to the Republican Party of Florida while he was speaker of the Florida House (Read).
Records show Rubio sent payments to American Express totaling $13,900 for his personal expenses during his tenure as House speaker. But those payments were not made monthly. He made no contributions to the bill during a six-month stretch in 2007, records show.
Charges covered by the party as political expenses include:
• $765 at Apple’s online store for “computer supplies.”
• $25.76 from Everglades Lumber for “supplies.”
• $53.49 at Winn-Dixie in Miami for “food.”
• $68.33 at Happy Wine in Miami for “beverages” and “meal.”
• $78.10 for two purchases at Farm Stores in suburban Miami.
• $412 at All Fusion Electronics, a music equipment store in Miami, for “supplies.”
Rubio has fired back and said that Gov. Charlie Crist, his opponent in the US Senate race, is the one who leaked the AMEX bills to the media. Read more.