This just came out on the local news here (CBS4) yesterday: http://miami.cbslocal.com/2018/06/12/rick-scott-rookie-mistake-cost-millions/
You should really read the entire thing, because it’s darn well worth it. But if you’re looking for a quick overview, there are quite a few very damning passages in there, such as this:
For example, MCM charged taxpayers $913 a mile for every curb and gutter they swept. Ceres would have charged $123 a mile, AshBritt $32, and Bergeron just $12.
To haul rock, sand, soil and sediment MCM charged the state $77.50 a cubic yard. AshBritt would have charged $11, while Ceres and Bergeron would have charged between $6.50 and $15.95.
So-called “White Goods” is another costly area. To remove a washing machine, a dryer or a stove, MCM charged the state $969 for each and every appliance. AshBritt would have charged $75 per item, Ceres $48.15 and Bergeron $60.
and this:
The Florida Department of Transportation seemed ready, as well. They had six companies on standby, under their own pre-storm contracts, ready to go into the Keys to clear US1. Three of those companies – Ceres Environmental, Bergeron Emergency Services, and AshBritt – had crews pre-positioned on the border between Monroe and Miami-Dade expecting to be called in to help.
Rather than using Ceres, Bergeron or AshBritt – state officials quietly sent notices to a handful of companies, inviting them to bid on a new emergency contract. The emails went out late in the afternoon of September 12 and the responses were due by 11 the next morning.
By the afternoon of the September 13, the state decided on two firms: MCM and Community Asphalt.
"Rookie mistake"? It smells awfully like intentionally overcharging taxpayers at least $28 million by circumventing existing contracts for debris cleanup services that cost much less.
(Incidentally, as the article notes, both MCM and Community Asphalt "are major campaign contributors to the Republican Party of Florida, as well as Governor Scott". On the other hand, you may recall (not mentioned in the article) that AshBritt's CEO Randy Perkins ran as a Democrat in Florida's 18th congressional district (St. Lucie, Martin, and (part of) Palm Beach counties), in 2016. So one can wonder if there was a political motivation behind this...)
So yeah. These are the kind of greasy shenanigans Rick Scott has been up to as my state’s governor. And now he’s running for U.S. Senate...so here’s a handy link to his opponent Bill Nelson’s campaign website.