Galvano, Lee committees top $200K in January

BY THE NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA

With money pouring in before the start of the legislative session, political committees led by Senate Majority Leader Bill Galvano and Senate Appropriations Chairman Tom Lee each collected more than $200,000 in January, according to newly filed finance reports.

Galvano's committee, known as "Innovate Florida," received $216,000 in contributions last month and had about $1.23 million in available cash as of Jan. 31. Among the committee's large donors were a Florida Medical Association PAC and Costa Farms, which each contributed $25,000, the report shows.

Lee's committee, known as "The Conservative," collected $212,700 during the month and had nearly $2 million in available cash as of Jan. 31. Lee's committee also received $25,000 from a Florida Medical Association PAC, with other large contributors including MCNA Health Care Holdings, which chipped in $25,000. Lawmakers are barred from raising money during the session, which started Jan. 12.