Nothing suspicious here, move along

[The Straight Story]

Adam Putnam's daughter turns down $10,000 fertilizer check, takes iPods instead

TALLAHASSEE — Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam's 9-year-old daughter, Abigail, caused a stir when fertilizer giant Mosaic paid $10,000 this week for a chocolate hazelnut cake she entered into a Youth Fair Auction in Polk County. Fair officials said it was an unprecedented sum for an auction cake.

Speaking Friday at a Capital Tiger Bay Club meeting, Putnam said the incident created two crises.

First, his 8-year-old daughter, Libby, who also entered the contest, lost to her older sister.

Then came news of the $10,000 award. Abigail wanted to give the county fair $9,000, her 4-H Club $500 and keep $500 for herself, the usual going rate for auction cakes.

But the award would have violated Florida's gift ban, which prohibits companies that employ or hire lobbyists from giving gifts to elected officials or their family members.

http://www.tampabay.com/news/politics/stateroundup/adam-putnams-daughter-turns-down-10000-fertilizer-check-takes-ipods-instead/1148255

[Zephie]

1. I feel very bad for that little girl

How could she understand that this was an attempt to buy her father rather than an award for her cake? I wonder what she'll think of it when she's old enough to understand what really happened.

[lpbk2713]

2. "We're not supposed to be that obvious."

LOL. I'm sure the Mosaic employee who bought the cake has gotten that message by now.

Just for clarification, most of Mosaic's Florida operations are centered in Polk County
and Putnam is a Polk County native and until last election represented Polk in the US
House of Reresentatives. So the cozy relationship had been ongoing for some time.