In Politics, the Public Should Question Who Benefits From Large Political Donations.
According to the Miami New Times, GEO Group, one of the nation’s largest private prison and immigration detention companies, has contributed $3.5 million to the political committee supporting Florida Republican gubernatorial nominee Byron Donalds. That includes three separate $1 million contributions in May, September, and October 2026. GEO’s business depends heavily on government contracts to incarcerate people.
To be clear, these contributions do not prove that GEO will receive favorable treatment from a Donalds administration. But they are clearly supporting the candidate that will support their business mode. Why else would a company that profit from confinement invest millions of dollars to help get someone elected? And in case you were wondering, GEO’s lobbyist is none other than Ron Book, whose firm receives $60,000-$90,000 per quarter.
Like a puzzle, all these pieces come together to reveal a picture. The more laws that get passed, the more people get locked up, the more people get locked up, the more money GEO makes, the more money GEO makes, the more money they feed to the lobbyists who advocate for the laws and the politicians who will pass them.
What the public doesn’t realize is that every additional restriction, every expanded criminal penalty, and every new category of people subjected to government control carries a cost. Those costs are borne by taxpayers, families, communities, and the people whose lives are affected. Meanwhile, private companies can have a financial incentive to support policies that keep their facilities full and politicians have a financial incentive to keep feeding the machine that feeds them.
Public safety should never be a business model. When political contributions come from companies that stand to profit from incarceration, voters deserve transparency, accountability, and evidence that the policies being promoted serve the public — not the bottom line.
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I think it is quite clear who Floridians should vote for. Do you want more of the same? Want to make everyone involved in Florida’s carceral businesses richer? Ron Book? Lauren Book? GEO? Want more laws? Bigger government? Then vote for the fake “law and order” a**holes.
The Honorable Byron Donalds
U.S. House of Representatives
Dear Congressman Donalds:
I am writing as someone with family ties to Florida and a continuing interest in the state’s future. While I admire many of Florida’s accomplishments and appreciate Governor DeSantis’s leadership in several areas, I am concerned that Florida’s policies regarding registered sex offenders deserve careful reevaluation.
In my view, current state and local policies have created significant barriers to successful reintegration for many individuals who have completed their sentences. These barriers often include housing instability, unemployment, family separation, and social exclusion. I believe it is time for a comprehensive review of the research, sentencing practices, registry requirements, and residency restrictions that govern this population.
Several issues merit consideration:
• Florida is widely regarded as having some of the most restrictive laws affecting registered sex offenders in the nation.
• Academic research has repeatedly questioned whether residency restrictions near schools and other facilities reduce sexual reoffending. At the same time, such restrictions have been associated with increased housing instability and homelessness.
• The growing size of registries may make it more difficult for law enforcement to focus resources on individuals who pose the greatest public safety risk.
• Studies have found relatively low recidivism rates among many individuals who have successfully completed incarceration and treatment programs.
• Most sexual offenses are committed by individuals who are not previously known to law enforcement as registered sex offenders. Offenders are frequently family members, acquaintances, neighbors, or other trusted individuals.
• The registry now includes a broad range of offenses, some of which are nonviolent and may not present the same level of public safety concern as predatory crimes.
• Public notification and social stigma can create obstacles to employment, housing, and successful community reintegration.
• Florida’s economy depends heavily on tourism and interstate travel. Policies affecting visitors who are registered offenders in other states should be reviewed to ensure they are reasonable and evidence-based.
• Law enforcement already possesses extensive authority and access to criminal records. Additional restrictions should be justified by demonstrable public safety benefits.
• Florida remains among the states that restrict voting rights for some citizens convicted of sex offenses even after completion of their sentences.
I believe effective public safety policy should distinguish between individuals who present a continuing high risk and those who do not. A more targeted system would enable law enforcement to focus resources on repeat, violent, and predatory offenders while reducing unnecessary burdens on lower-risk individuals who are attempting to rebuild productive lives.
I respectfully ask you to support a thorough review of federal and state policies governing sex offender registration, residency restrictions, public notification requirements, and related civil disabilities. Such a review should be guided by empirical research, public safety outcomes, and principles of fairness and proportionality.
Thank you for your consideration of these concerns and for your service to the people of Florida and the nation.
Respectfully,
I noticed you were looking for answers, and that right there is the key to effective communication. You handled it perfectly by avoiding all negativity or directing it correctly and not bashing too. #Communication #Feedback #Success 👏✨
This is so true, which also means that politicians have become disconnected with the concerns of voters. As with victims of crime, voters today and their concerns are unimportant to politicians. Rather, the empty (and increasingly desperate) promises being made just before elections are only tools to manipulate voters for the benefit of those who pull the strings of government.
Have you ever wondered why ex-felons have such a hard time getting their right to vote restored in FL? It’s because of this! Their vote would weaken the grip this powerful lobby has on this state.
Voter concerns are only good during election season and when the optics can work for them in the best light possibly during their term. Other than that, they flip more than a pancake on a hot griddle.
Just in case you missed it:
ALL ex-felon’s voting rights are automatically restored once the criminal sanction has been completed (in full) in Florida. —-EXCEPT for felony sex offenders and muderers.
(Florida State Constitutional Amendment #4 – 2018)
More punishment, in my opinion. After all, why would someone with a sex crime somehow be less fit to vote???