Florida Lawmakers’ Mission to Legalize Foreclosure Fraud & What You Can Do About it

It’s election season.  Every single Florida lawmaker is up for reelection this year because this is a redistricting year.  The Florida House, Florida Senate, and US Congressional district lines were redrawn after the release of the population and demographic data from the 2010 census.   Redistricting happens every ten years after the census is done.  Then each lawmaker has to run for office to represent the newly drawn district.

This presents a unique opportunity for Floridians. For three years in a row now, the Florida legislature has attempted to pass laws that will erode the rights of homeowners and tenants by legalizing a fast, sneaky way for banks to declare homes “vacant” or “abandoned”, change locks, remove possessions, and evict the residents.

Bank friendly elected officials in the Florida House and Florida Senate introduce these bills with names that hide the true intent of the legislation.  In the 2010 legislative session, the bill, introduced by Tom Grady (R-Naples) was called the “Homeowner Relief and Housing Recovery Act.”  Representative Kathleen Passidomo (R-Naples), who replaced Grady as Naples’ Florida House representative, carried on Grady’s legislative legacy by introducing similar non-judicial foreclosure legislation in 2011 and 2012. Those bills also failed, but only after statewide citizen engagement, demonstrations, and protests.  Look out Florida.  Passidomo is running in hopes of being re-elected against a challenger, Peter Richter.  Another Florida House lawmaker who supports legalization of foreclosure fraud is George Moraitis, JR., (R-Ft. Lauderdale).

Similar bills are introduced and/or supported every year in the Florida Senate by state Senator Mke Bennett (R-Bradenton), Jack Latvala (R-Clearwater), Dan Goetz (R-Niceville), and Joe Negron (R-Stuart).  Senator Negron even went to far as to criticize the law enforcers’ investigations into foreclosure fraud.

The 2012 bills that aimed to make foreclosures go easier, smoother, faster, and would have eliminated citizen protections were HR 213 in the Florida House and SB 1890 in the Florida Senate.  The lawmakers who introduced these bills tried to fool people by calling it the “Fair Foreclosure Act.”  Foreclosure fraud affects all of us and our communities.  Thoughtful voting can make a difference.  It’s important that you are registered to vote.   Do a quick search for your Florida state house and senate candidates.  Then check to see how they voted last spring on these bills.  The house bill passed 94-17!  Ninety-four elected state officials voted to allow banks to kick Floridians out of their home faster!  Contact your candidates and let them know how you feel about their vote on the foreclosure fraud bills.

Florida lawmakers will be back in Tallahassee in a few months and rest assured that there will be yet another attempt to legalize foreclosure fraud.

Let your elected representatives know your opposition to legalizing foreclosure fraud!  Let them know you are closely watching their votes on this issue.

See how your candidates voted on HR 213 (passed 94-17) when it went to the Florida House floor for a vote last February.  If your candidate voted for this bill, and it’s very likely he/she did, pick up the phone and call his/her campaign office and voice your concerns.   Vote history here HR 213.

– Abruzzo Y Corcoran Y Holder Y Oliva – Schwartz
Y Adkins Y Costello Y Hooper N Pafford N Slosberg
Y Ahern Y Crisafulli Y Horner Y Passidomo Y Smith
Y Albritton N Cruz Y Hudson Y Patronis Y Snyder
Y Artiles Y Davis Y Hukill N Perman N Soto
Y Aubuchon Y Diaz Y Ingram Y Perry N Stafford
Y Baxley Y Dorworth N Jenne Y Pilon Y Stargel
Y Bembry Y Drake N Jones Y Plakon Y Steube
N Berman Y Eisnaugle Y Julien Y Porter – Taylor
– Bernard Y Ford N Kiar Y Porth Y Thompson, G.
Y Bileca Y Fresen Y Kreegel Y Precourt N Thurston
Y Boyd Y Frishe N Kriseman Y Proctor Y Tobia
Y Brandes Y Fullwood Y Legg – Randolph Y Trujillo
Y Brodeur Y Gaetz Y Logan Y Ray Y Van Zant
Y Broxson Y Garcia Y Lopez-Cantera Y Reed – Waldman
N Bullard Y Gibbons Y Mayfield Y Rehwinkel Vasilinda N Watson
Y Burgin Y Glorioso Y McBurney Y Renuart Y Weatherford
Y Caldwell Y Gonzalez Y McKeel Y Roberson, K. Y Weinstein
Y Campbell Y Goodson Y Metz Y Rogers Y Williams, A.
Y Cannon Y Grant Y Moraitis Y Rooney Y Williams, T.
Y Chestnut – Grimsley Y Nehr – Rouson Y Wood
Y Clarke-Reed Y Hager Y Nelson N Sands Y Workman
N Clemens Y Harrell Y Nuñez N Saunders Y Young
Y Coley Y Harrison Y O’Toole Y Schenck

Vote After Roll Call:

Yeas
Grimsley 02/29/2012 08:12:47 PM
Randolph 03/30/2012 10:44:20 AM
Waldman 03/08/2012 03:12:57 PM
Nays
Abruzzo 03/19/2012 11:03:54 AM
Bernard 02/29/2012 12:49:02 PM
Taylor 02/29/2012 12:48:59 PM
Yeas To Nays
Campbell 02/29/2012 12:20:19 PM
Rehwinkel Vasilinda 02/29/2012 12:07:00 PM

When elected officials are running for office, they are more willing to listen to the concerns of voters.  Now is your chance to make sure that your opposition to legalizing foreclosure fraud is known.  Remember, tell your candidates that you will be watching!

Time is running out to register to vote!  If you are not registered to vote or if your address changed or if your signature changed, please call your county supervisor of elections immediately to find out how to update your voter registration card.  While you are at it, sign up for an absentee ballot so you can vote by mail.  A few weeks before the election, your ballot will be mailed to you.  You can fill it out in your own home, and then drop it off at the supervisor of elections office or put a few dollars in postage on the envelope and mail it back.

Miami-Dade Supervisor of Elections here 
305-499-VOTE (8683)

Broward Supervisor of Elections here.
954-357-7050

Palm Beach Supervisor of Elections here.
(561) 656-6200

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