The efforts of Dolphins owner Stephen Ross to retaliate against politicians who blocked efforts to finagle public funds for renovations to Sun Life Stadium may be backfiring.
According to Anthony Mann of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel, Florida Senate President Don Gaetz has complained about the methods Ross is using to target certain members of the House of Representatives. Ross has formed a Political Action Committee that already has begun to campaign against multiple members of the House.
“I believe that the tactics of Mr. Ross in threatening members of the Florida House of Representatives, and saying that Mr. Ross for his own personal reasons, is going to take down members of the Florida House of Representatives, gains him no friends in the Florida Senate,” Gaetz said. “That’s not the way to get things done. We work together to find solutions and solve problems. We don’t make public policy under threat. And we’re not going to do it in the next session either.”
Florida House Speaker Will Weatherford, who appeared with Gaetz at the same event that preceded Gaetz’s comments to the media, said Weatherford isn’t concerned that Ross will knock the Speaker out of office.
“I don’t worry about that,” Weatherford said. “I wish Mr. Ross all the luck in the world. I hope the Dolphins go 16-0 again, break the old record, and win the Super Bowl. But I can’t worry about what Mr. Ross thinks of me. All I can do is try to serve my membership and worry about the state of Florida.”
The Dolphins became infuriated with Weatherford because the team believes he reneged on multiple promises to put a stadium renovation bill that would have partially funded the renovations on the floor of the House of Representatives. The Dolphins also believe that Weatherford torpedoed the bill to bolster Weatherford’s political aspirations by currying favor with Miami billionaire Norman Braman, who previously owned the Eagles and who currently enjoys twisting the tail of Stephen Ross.
And so the Dolphins seem to be no closer to obtaining partial public funding for the stadium renovations. If anything, the goal could be getting farther away.