/PRNewswire/ -- The Small Business Jobs Act being pushed by President Obama contains a loophole that will legalize contracting fraud while protecting large fraudulent businesses from prosecution, and stands in stark contradiction to a campaign promise made by President Obama.
In February of 2008, President Obama stated, "It is time to end the diversion of federal small business contracts to corporate giants." (http://www.barackobama.com/2008/02/26/the_american_small_business_le.php) President Obama made this statement to address ongoing fraud and abuse in federal small business contracting programs that cost small businesses over $100 billion a year in missed contract opportunities. Federal law currently mandates that a minimum of 23 percent of all federal contract dollars go to small businesses.
Since 2003, there have been over a dozen federal investigations, which have found Fortune 500 firms and thousands of large companies around the world as the actual recipients of federal small business contracts. The Small Business Administration's (SBA) Inspector General has listed this problem as the number one management challenge facing the agency for the past five consecutive years and referred to this problem as, "One of the most important challenges facing the Small Business Administration and the entire Federal government today." (http://www.asbl.com/documentlibrary.html)
Section 1341 of H.R. 5297, the Small Business Jobs Act, contains specific language that will allow the SBA to develop policies and procedures to protect large businesses that have misrepresented themselves as small businesses from prosecution for felony contracting fraud. Section 16(d) of the Small Business Act prescribes a penalty of up to ten years in prison and a fine of not more than $500,000 per occurrence for firms that have misrepresented themselves as small businesses.
Some of the firms that have received government small business contracts include: Rolls-Royce, British Aerospace (BAE), Lockheed Martin, Boeing, Northrop Grumman, L-3 Communications, SAIC, Titan Industries, Raytheon, Dell Computer, Xerox, French firm Thales Communications, Italian firm Finmeccanica SpA, and Ssangyong Corporation headquartered in Seoul, South Korea. Textron, a Fortune 500 firm, received over $775 million in federal small business contracts in a single year.
"It is unbelievable that President Obama is going to create a loophole to benefit the corporate giants he promised to kick out of federal small business contracting programs," ASBL President Lloyd Chapman said. "When you see President Obama on television, I want every American to realize that his administration is giving over $1 million a minute in small business contracts to some of the largest companies in the world."
-----
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Showing posts with label campaign. Show all posts
Showing posts with label campaign. Show all posts
Monday, September 20, 2010
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius and U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder Send Letter to State Attorneys General On New Outreach and Education Efforts to Combat Medicare Fraud
U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius and Attorney General of the United States Eric Holder today sent a letter to state attorneys general urging them to work with HHS and federal, state, and local law enforcement officials to mount a substantial outreach campaign to educate seniors and other Medicare beneficiaries about how to prevent scams and fraud beginning this summer. The outreach campaign is another step in the ongoing work of the Health Care Fraud Prevention Enforcement Action Team (HEAT), a cabinet-level initiative launch by HHS and DOJ in May 2009.
“We are heading into the week when our first tax-free $250 donut hole rebate checks will be mailed out to Medicare beneficiaries who have fallen into the coverage gap. Accordingly, we are especially concerned about fraud and increased activity by criminals seeking to defraud seniors – and we are seeking your help to stop it,” said Secretary Sebelius and Attorney General Holder in the letter. “Building on our record of aggressive action, we will use the new tools and resources provided by the Affordable Care Act to further crack down on fraud.”
In the letter, the Secretary and Attorney General outline education and outreach efforts where state attorneys general could make a big difference. These include efforts to cut the improper payment rate, which tracks fraud, waste and abuse in the Medicare Fee for Service program, in half by 2012; a series of regional fraud prevention summits around the country over the next few months; regular health care fraud task force meetings to facilitate the exchange of information with partners in the public and private sector, and to help coordinate anti-fraud effort; HHS’s plans to double the size of the Senior Medicare Patrol and to put more boots on the ground in the fight against Medicare fraud; and a new educational media campaign this summer to educate Medicare beneficiaries about how to protect themselves against fraud.
The full letter follows.
June 8, 2010
Dear Attorney General:
It was a pleasure to have the opportunity to speak with you and your staff a few weeks ago. We wanted to send you a letter summarizing our discussions and following up with some suggestions of ways we can work together to protect the American people from health care fraud.
In the two months since the Affordable Care Act was signed into law, we have made substantial progress on providing better choices for consumers, tackling health care costs, and holding insurance companies accountable. But while we have been hard at work, scam artists and criminals continue to profit from misinformation about the Affordable Care Act.
Since early April, we have heard increasing reports about seniors being asked to provide their Social Security numbers in order to receive a “donut hole” check under the new law, raising concerns about potential identity theft scams. We have fielded consumer complaints about phony insurance policies, and our Senior Medicare Patrols have been receiving a growing number of calls from people across the country reporting potential fraud schemes.
We are heading into the week when our first tax-free $250 donut hole rebate checks will be mailed out to Medicare beneficiaries who have fallen into the coverage gap. Accordingly, we are especially concerned about fraud and increased activity by criminals seeking to defraud seniors – and we are seeking your help to stop it.
The President has asked us to reach out to you and to other federal, state, and local law enforcement officials across the country to mount a substantial outreach campaign to educate seniors and other Medicare beneficiaries about how to prevent scams and fraud. Some important components of these outreach and education efforts, where you and your staff could make a big difference, are described below.
First, the President has directed the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to cut the improper payment rate, which tracks fraud, waste and abuse in the Medicare Fee for Service program, in half by 2012.
Second, following on the National Health Care Fraud Summit we co-hosted in Washington earlier this year, the President has asked both our Departments to convene a series of regional fraud prevention summits around the country over the next few months. The first summit will take place in Miami on July 16. Other summits will follow in, for example, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Detroit, Boston, New York, and Philadelphia.
These summits will bring together top federal and state officials; representatives of federal, state, and local law enforcement; representatives of our agencies; the health care provider community, such as hospitals and doctors; local businesses; the Senior Medicare Patrol; caregivers; and seniors, for a day of panels and training sessions. Your expertise and experience will be instrumental to the success of these events.
Third, at the Attorney General’s request, the Acting Deputy Attorney General has sent a memo to every United States Attorney in the country asking them to convene regular health care fraud task force meetings to facilitate the exchange of information with partners in the public and private sector, and to help coordinate anti-fraud efforts. Most of these meetings will be held quarterly, with some exceptions for smaller districts. All 93 U.S. Attorneys have been asked to put a plan into place and schedule their first meeting by August 16, 2010. We hope that you and your office will take part in these regular exchanges on effective fraud fighting strategies.
Fourth, HHS will be doubling the size of the Senior Medicare Patrol and putting more boots on the ground in the fight against Medicare fraud. Since 1997, HHS and its Administration on Aging have funded Senior Medicare Patrol projects to recruit and train retired professionals and other senior citizens about how to recognize and report instances or patterns of health care fraud. Close to three million Medicare beneficiaries have been educated since the start of the program, and more than one million one-on-one counseling sessions have taken place with seniors or their caregivers. Currently, the Senior Medicare Patrol program funds projects in every state, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Fifth, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, in conjunction with the Administration on Aging, will be launching an educational media campaign this summer to educate Medicare beneficiaries about the importance of staying vigilant with their personal Medicare information and getting the facts out about the new law so that scam artists are not able to prey on seniors.
The more we can educate the American people about fraud prevention, the better chance we have to protect taxpayer dollars and the Medicare trust fund. The Affordable Care Act also contains some important new tools and resources that will directly help law enforcement officials crack down on fraud.
As you are well aware, fraud schemes have plagued public and private health care plans for decades. Fraudsters have been stealing billions of dollars a year from Medicare, Medicaid, and private health insurers. A year ago, our Departments joined forces to combat fraud in federal health programs. Through the establishment of the Health Care Fraud Prevention Enforcement Action Team (HEAT), we have expanded special anti-fraud Medicare Fraud Strike Forces into seven cities, developed sophisticated new techniques of fraud prevention data analysis, and redirected program integrity resources to fraud hot spots.
Building on our record of aggressive action, we will use the new tools and resources provided by the Affordable Care Act to further crack down on fraud. These include new criminal and civil penalties, enhanced information technology to track and prevent fraud in the first place, and new authorities to prevent bad actors from billing Medicare and Medicaid. HHS has already issued the first set of fraud prevention regulations required under the new health law. These regulations strengthen provider enrollment requirements to ensure we have the ability to better identify, screen, and audit providers and claims.
As we do our part in Washington, we want to work closely with you and other state officials to fight fraud. In that vein, the Affordable Care Act also strengthens state officials’ ability to detect and root out Medicaid fraud. For example, the law provides new access to Medicaid data for the Secretary of HHS that will help both states and the Administration to coordinate anti-fraud activities and gives states greater incentives and flexibility in identifying and collecting Medicaid overpayments. It also helps to promote enhanced information technology to track and prevent fraud, including predictive modeling techniques that can identify abusive or fraudulent billing patterns, audits, and a shared provider database for pre-enrollment screening and post-enrollment anomaly monitoring.
Securing health care coverage, affordability, and choices for Americans requires hard work and vigilance. We stand ready to serve as a resource and partner for you as we work together to fight fraud, implement the provisions of the new health reform law, and strengthen our health care system.
Sincerely,
Eric Holder
Attorney General
Kathleen Sebelius
Secretary of Health and Human Services
-----
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“We are heading into the week when our first tax-free $250 donut hole rebate checks will be mailed out to Medicare beneficiaries who have fallen into the coverage gap. Accordingly, we are especially concerned about fraud and increased activity by criminals seeking to defraud seniors – and we are seeking your help to stop it,” said Secretary Sebelius and Attorney General Holder in the letter. “Building on our record of aggressive action, we will use the new tools and resources provided by the Affordable Care Act to further crack down on fraud.”
In the letter, the Secretary and Attorney General outline education and outreach efforts where state attorneys general could make a big difference. These include efforts to cut the improper payment rate, which tracks fraud, waste and abuse in the Medicare Fee for Service program, in half by 2012; a series of regional fraud prevention summits around the country over the next few months; regular health care fraud task force meetings to facilitate the exchange of information with partners in the public and private sector, and to help coordinate anti-fraud effort; HHS’s plans to double the size of the Senior Medicare Patrol and to put more boots on the ground in the fight against Medicare fraud; and a new educational media campaign this summer to educate Medicare beneficiaries about how to protect themselves against fraud.
The full letter follows.
June 8, 2010
Dear Attorney General:
It was a pleasure to have the opportunity to speak with you and your staff a few weeks ago. We wanted to send you a letter summarizing our discussions and following up with some suggestions of ways we can work together to protect the American people from health care fraud.
In the two months since the Affordable Care Act was signed into law, we have made substantial progress on providing better choices for consumers, tackling health care costs, and holding insurance companies accountable. But while we have been hard at work, scam artists and criminals continue to profit from misinformation about the Affordable Care Act.
Since early April, we have heard increasing reports about seniors being asked to provide their Social Security numbers in order to receive a “donut hole” check under the new law, raising concerns about potential identity theft scams. We have fielded consumer complaints about phony insurance policies, and our Senior Medicare Patrols have been receiving a growing number of calls from people across the country reporting potential fraud schemes.
We are heading into the week when our first tax-free $250 donut hole rebate checks will be mailed out to Medicare beneficiaries who have fallen into the coverage gap. Accordingly, we are especially concerned about fraud and increased activity by criminals seeking to defraud seniors – and we are seeking your help to stop it.
The President has asked us to reach out to you and to other federal, state, and local law enforcement officials across the country to mount a substantial outreach campaign to educate seniors and other Medicare beneficiaries about how to prevent scams and fraud. Some important components of these outreach and education efforts, where you and your staff could make a big difference, are described below.
First, the President has directed the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to cut the improper payment rate, which tracks fraud, waste and abuse in the Medicare Fee for Service program, in half by 2012.
Second, following on the National Health Care Fraud Summit we co-hosted in Washington earlier this year, the President has asked both our Departments to convene a series of regional fraud prevention summits around the country over the next few months. The first summit will take place in Miami on July 16. Other summits will follow in, for example, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Detroit, Boston, New York, and Philadelphia.
These summits will bring together top federal and state officials; representatives of federal, state, and local law enforcement; representatives of our agencies; the health care provider community, such as hospitals and doctors; local businesses; the Senior Medicare Patrol; caregivers; and seniors, for a day of panels and training sessions. Your expertise and experience will be instrumental to the success of these events.
Third, at the Attorney General’s request, the Acting Deputy Attorney General has sent a memo to every United States Attorney in the country asking them to convene regular health care fraud task force meetings to facilitate the exchange of information with partners in the public and private sector, and to help coordinate anti-fraud efforts. Most of these meetings will be held quarterly, with some exceptions for smaller districts. All 93 U.S. Attorneys have been asked to put a plan into place and schedule their first meeting by August 16, 2010. We hope that you and your office will take part in these regular exchanges on effective fraud fighting strategies.
Fourth, HHS will be doubling the size of the Senior Medicare Patrol and putting more boots on the ground in the fight against Medicare fraud. Since 1997, HHS and its Administration on Aging have funded Senior Medicare Patrol projects to recruit and train retired professionals and other senior citizens about how to recognize and report instances or patterns of health care fraud. Close to three million Medicare beneficiaries have been educated since the start of the program, and more than one million one-on-one counseling sessions have taken place with seniors or their caregivers. Currently, the Senior Medicare Patrol program funds projects in every state, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Fifth, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, in conjunction with the Administration on Aging, will be launching an educational media campaign this summer to educate Medicare beneficiaries about the importance of staying vigilant with their personal Medicare information and getting the facts out about the new law so that scam artists are not able to prey on seniors.
The more we can educate the American people about fraud prevention, the better chance we have to protect taxpayer dollars and the Medicare trust fund. The Affordable Care Act also contains some important new tools and resources that will directly help law enforcement officials crack down on fraud.
As you are well aware, fraud schemes have plagued public and private health care plans for decades. Fraudsters have been stealing billions of dollars a year from Medicare, Medicaid, and private health insurers. A year ago, our Departments joined forces to combat fraud in federal health programs. Through the establishment of the Health Care Fraud Prevention Enforcement Action Team (HEAT), we have expanded special anti-fraud Medicare Fraud Strike Forces into seven cities, developed sophisticated new techniques of fraud prevention data analysis, and redirected program integrity resources to fraud hot spots.
Building on our record of aggressive action, we will use the new tools and resources provided by the Affordable Care Act to further crack down on fraud. These include new criminal and civil penalties, enhanced information technology to track and prevent fraud in the first place, and new authorities to prevent bad actors from billing Medicare and Medicaid. HHS has already issued the first set of fraud prevention regulations required under the new health law. These regulations strengthen provider enrollment requirements to ensure we have the ability to better identify, screen, and audit providers and claims.
As we do our part in Washington, we want to work closely with you and other state officials to fight fraud. In that vein, the Affordable Care Act also strengthens state officials’ ability to detect and root out Medicaid fraud. For example, the law provides new access to Medicaid data for the Secretary of HHS that will help both states and the Administration to coordinate anti-fraud activities and gives states greater incentives and flexibility in identifying and collecting Medicaid overpayments. It also helps to promote enhanced information technology to track and prevent fraud, including predictive modeling techniques that can identify abusive or fraudulent billing patterns, audits, and a shared provider database for pre-enrollment screening and post-enrollment anomaly monitoring.
Securing health care coverage, affordability, and choices for Americans requires hard work and vigilance. We stand ready to serve as a resource and partner for you as we work together to fight fraud, implement the provisions of the new health reform law, and strengthen our health care system.
Sincerely,
Eric Holder
Attorney General
Kathleen Sebelius
Secretary of Health and Human Services
-----
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Thursday, February 4, 2010
Bipartisan Fair Elections Now Act Reaches Majority of Majority in US House
/PRNewswire/ -- On Thursday, the House Fair Elections Now Act (H.R. 1826), championed by House Democratic Caucus Chairman John B. Larson (D-Conn.), gained its 134th co-sponsor, pushing the number of supporters to more than half of the Democratic Caucus. This high level of support is a sign of the growing momentum for changing the way campaigns are financed in this country, according to Public Campaign and Common Cause.
"The country needs both parties to work to solve the political crisis created by the Supreme Court's decision in Citizens United, and the bipartisan solution that has the broadest support within Congress is Fair Elections," said Nick Nyhart, president and CEO of Public Campaign. "Not only is it the best policy response to the escalating cost to run for office, it will take candidates off the fundraising treadmill and encourage them to seek support from voters back home. This bill is democracy-in-action."
"The Supreme Court has left no room for doubt that we need a campaign finance system that makes elected officials beholden to the people they're supposed to represent instead of the wealthy special interests," said Common Cause President Bob Edgar. "The Fair Elections Now Act would do that."
In the two weeks since the Citizens United decision was released, the groups have stormed the Hill, working with others to mount a significant campaign to:
-- Organize a letter of 41 top business executives to House Speaker Nancy
Pelosi (D-Calif.) and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.)
urging them to include Fair Elections in any legislative package.
-- Deliver 177,716 petition signatures to district and Capitol Hill
offices for both House members and Senators.
-- Place nearly 5,000 calls to targeted congressional offices.
-- Line up more than 200 faith leaders, including prominent individuals
within denominations, to sign a letter to Speaker Pelosi and Majority
Leader Reid to urge that the response to Citizens United include Fair
Elections.
-- Brief more than 100 congressional offices on Fair Elections.
-- Launched a "fax" day today, when thousands of faxes will be sent to
targeted congressional offices.
"Over the past two weeks, we have brought Americans' concerns about the big money-dominated system directly to Congress," said David Donnelly, campaign manager of the joint effort. "From business executives to faith leaders to ordinary Americans, everyone is sick of the time Congress spends courting Wall Street and other special interests. We will continue to direct the voices of concerned and angry Americans to urge our elected officials to act in the people's interest and pass Fair Elections."
The Fair Elections Now Act (H.R. 1826) would create a voluntary system that blends limited public funds with a 4 to 1 match on donations of $100 or less. Candidates would be freed from the eternal chase for big campaign checks, able to spend their time talking with voters and addressing our country's challenges. With Fair Elections, candidates would need to rely solely on their grassroots base of support and not Wall Street lobbyists or PACs. Assistant Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) is the sponsor of companion legislation in the Senate.
The 134 co-sponsors represent a broad, ideologically diverse array of the House, with strong support across caucuses and party lines. Supporters include 66 percent of new members, 62 percent of Democratic women, and half of all Congressional Black Caucus members.
To learn more about the Fair Elections Now Act and view the full list of House co-sponsors, visit http://www.fairelectionsnow.org/.
Common Cause is a nonpartisan, grassroots organization dedicated to restoring the core values of American democracy, reinventing an open, honest, and accountable government that works for the public interest, and empowering ordinary people to make their voices heard.
Public Campaign is a non-profit, non-partisan organization dedicated to sweeping campaign reform that aims to dramatically reduce the role of big special interest money in American politics.
-----
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"The country needs both parties to work to solve the political crisis created by the Supreme Court's decision in Citizens United, and the bipartisan solution that has the broadest support within Congress is Fair Elections," said Nick Nyhart, president and CEO of Public Campaign. "Not only is it the best policy response to the escalating cost to run for office, it will take candidates off the fundraising treadmill and encourage them to seek support from voters back home. This bill is democracy-in-action."
"The Supreme Court has left no room for doubt that we need a campaign finance system that makes elected officials beholden to the people they're supposed to represent instead of the wealthy special interests," said Common Cause President Bob Edgar. "The Fair Elections Now Act would do that."
In the two weeks since the Citizens United decision was released, the groups have stormed the Hill, working with others to mount a significant campaign to:
-- Organize a letter of 41 top business executives to House Speaker Nancy
Pelosi (D-Calif.) and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.)
urging them to include Fair Elections in any legislative package.
-- Deliver 177,716 petition signatures to district and Capitol Hill
offices for both House members and Senators.
-- Place nearly 5,000 calls to targeted congressional offices.
-- Line up more than 200 faith leaders, including prominent individuals
within denominations, to sign a letter to Speaker Pelosi and Majority
Leader Reid to urge that the response to Citizens United include Fair
Elections.
-- Brief more than 100 congressional offices on Fair Elections.
-- Launched a "fax" day today, when thousands of faxes will be sent to
targeted congressional offices.
"Over the past two weeks, we have brought Americans' concerns about the big money-dominated system directly to Congress," said David Donnelly, campaign manager of the joint effort. "From business executives to faith leaders to ordinary Americans, everyone is sick of the time Congress spends courting Wall Street and other special interests. We will continue to direct the voices of concerned and angry Americans to urge our elected officials to act in the people's interest and pass Fair Elections."
The Fair Elections Now Act (H.R. 1826) would create a voluntary system that blends limited public funds with a 4 to 1 match on donations of $100 or less. Candidates would be freed from the eternal chase for big campaign checks, able to spend their time talking with voters and addressing our country's challenges. With Fair Elections, candidates would need to rely solely on their grassroots base of support and not Wall Street lobbyists or PACs. Assistant Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) is the sponsor of companion legislation in the Senate.
The 134 co-sponsors represent a broad, ideologically diverse array of the House, with strong support across caucuses and party lines. Supporters include 66 percent of new members, 62 percent of Democratic women, and half of all Congressional Black Caucus members.
To learn more about the Fair Elections Now Act and view the full list of House co-sponsors, visit http://www.fairelectionsnow.org/.
Common Cause is a nonpartisan, grassroots organization dedicated to restoring the core values of American democracy, reinventing an open, honest, and accountable government that works for the public interest, and empowering ordinary people to make their voices heard.
Public Campaign is a non-profit, non-partisan organization dedicated to sweeping campaign reform that aims to dramatically reduce the role of big special interest money in American politics.
-----
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Thursday, January 7, 2010
Dodd's Retirement Highlights Untenable Campaign Finance Regime
/PRNewswire/ -- Sen. Chris Dodd's (D-Conn.) retirement has led many observers to suggest that overhauling our financial system will be easier, a clear sign that our money-driven political system is broken, according to campaign finance watchdogs Public Campaign and Common Cause.
"As the Senate begins work on the financial system overhaul, a tough reelection battle would have had Sen. Dodd dialing for dollars and attending fundraisers with the same interests he would be working to regulate," said Nick Nyhart, president and CEO of Public Campaign. "That it takes retirement to boost the likelihood of good policy is an indictment of our broken campaign financing system."
"It's a sad commentary that many think that Sen. Dodd's announced retirement will free him to act in the public interest, since he doesn't have to worry about special interest campaign donors," said Bob Edgar, president and CEO of Common Cause. "We need a system that allows members of Congress to act in the public's interest at all times. It's time for Congress to change the way Washington works by passing the Fair Elections Now Act."
The Fair Elections Now Act (S. 752, H.R. 1826) would give candidates for Congress the option to run a competitive race with a blend of small dollar donations and limited public funds. Sen. Dodd, a co-sponsor of the legislation, has long supported the measure. "Whether you're a Washington lobbyist or a Chicago lobbyist, what we ought to have is public financing for congressional and presidential campaigns. That would solve the whole problem," Sen. Dodd told an audience at the YearlyKos convention in 2007.
Sponsored by Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill) and Rep. John Larson (D-Conn.), this legislation would put people in office unencumbered by special interest campaign cash. In addition to Rep. Larson, the House bill has the broad bipartisan and cross-caucus support of 124 co-sponsors.
-----
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"As the Senate begins work on the financial system overhaul, a tough reelection battle would have had Sen. Dodd dialing for dollars and attending fundraisers with the same interests he would be working to regulate," said Nick Nyhart, president and CEO of Public Campaign. "That it takes retirement to boost the likelihood of good policy is an indictment of our broken campaign financing system."
"It's a sad commentary that many think that Sen. Dodd's announced retirement will free him to act in the public interest, since he doesn't have to worry about special interest campaign donors," said Bob Edgar, president and CEO of Common Cause. "We need a system that allows members of Congress to act in the public's interest at all times. It's time for Congress to change the way Washington works by passing the Fair Elections Now Act."
The Fair Elections Now Act (S. 752, H.R. 1826) would give candidates for Congress the option to run a competitive race with a blend of small dollar donations and limited public funds. Sen. Dodd, a co-sponsor of the legislation, has long supported the measure. "Whether you're a Washington lobbyist or a Chicago lobbyist, what we ought to have is public financing for congressional and presidential campaigns. That would solve the whole problem," Sen. Dodd told an audience at the YearlyKos convention in 2007.
Sponsored by Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill) and Rep. John Larson (D-Conn.), this legislation would put people in office unencumbered by special interest campaign cash. In addition to Rep. Larson, the House bill has the broad bipartisan and cross-caucus support of 124 co-sponsors.
-----
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Libertarian Party wants open health care negotiations
The Libertarian Party (LP) calls on President Obama to not break yet another campaign promise by directing Congress to have an open, televised format for all future negotiations on the health care overhaul bills under consideration in Congress.
In 2008, then-Senator Obama promised at least eight times on the campaign trail to have open, transparent negotiations regarding a health care overhaul bill. That promise has been broken. Most substantive negotiations have occurred behind closed doors, not "on C-SPAN" as the President repeatedly promised.
The LP urges President Obama and Congressional leaders to hold all future negotiations in an open, televised format, as the President promised.
William Redpath, LP National Chairman, commented, "The President has no power to force Congress to hold televised negotiations, but he is clearly the driving force behind the health care legislation being considered by the Congress. Unfortunately, the President doesn't want to keep his promise. And, we all know why. Public approval of health care overhaul is down to about 40% and is sure to plummet further once a little sunshine is inserted into the legislative process."
Redpath continued, "Open negotiations would let Americans see how esthetically pleasing sausage making is when compared to Congress' negotiation process and the details of the health care legislation. The public would gain a much better understanding of how horrible this legislation is. President Obama and Democratic Party leaders probably think open negotiations would create a public groundswell that would effectively kill their ill-considered remake of one-sixth of the American economy that would likely bring the day of our next financial crisis that much closer."
Redpath concluded, "Government has an enormous cost estimate credibility problem. When Medicare Part A started in 1965, the projected cost in 1990 was $9 billion. It turned out to be $67 billion. When Medicaid's special hospitals subsidy was added in 1987, it was only supposed to cost $100 million per year, but, by 1992, it cost 110 times that amount. If the government is wrong by a factor of 7.5 or more this time, the result will truly be catastrophic for the US economy."
The LP opposes both the House and Senate versions of the current health care overhaul bill.
On the subject of health care, the LP Platform states:
We favor restoring and reviving a free market health care system. We recognize the freedom of individuals to determine the level of health insurance they want, the level of health care they want, the care providers they want, the medicines and treatments they will use and all other aspects of their medical care, including end-of-life decisions.
-----
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In 2008, then-Senator Obama promised at least eight times on the campaign trail to have open, transparent negotiations regarding a health care overhaul bill. That promise has been broken. Most substantive negotiations have occurred behind closed doors, not "on C-SPAN" as the President repeatedly promised.
The LP urges President Obama and Congressional leaders to hold all future negotiations in an open, televised format, as the President promised.
William Redpath, LP National Chairman, commented, "The President has no power to force Congress to hold televised negotiations, but he is clearly the driving force behind the health care legislation being considered by the Congress. Unfortunately, the President doesn't want to keep his promise. And, we all know why. Public approval of health care overhaul is down to about 40% and is sure to plummet further once a little sunshine is inserted into the legislative process."
Redpath continued, "Open negotiations would let Americans see how esthetically pleasing sausage making is when compared to Congress' negotiation process and the details of the health care legislation. The public would gain a much better understanding of how horrible this legislation is. President Obama and Democratic Party leaders probably think open negotiations would create a public groundswell that would effectively kill their ill-considered remake of one-sixth of the American economy that would likely bring the day of our next financial crisis that much closer."
Redpath concluded, "Government has an enormous cost estimate credibility problem. When Medicare Part A started in 1965, the projected cost in 1990 was $9 billion. It turned out to be $67 billion. When Medicaid's special hospitals subsidy was added in 1987, it was only supposed to cost $100 million per year, but, by 1992, it cost 110 times that amount. If the government is wrong by a factor of 7.5 or more this time, the result will truly be catastrophic for the US economy."
The LP opposes both the House and Senate versions of the current health care overhaul bill.
On the subject of health care, the LP Platform states:
We favor restoring and reviving a free market health care system. We recognize the freedom of individuals to determine the level of health insurance they want, the level of health care they want, the care providers they want, the medicines and treatments they will use and all other aspects of their medical care, including end-of-life decisions.
-----
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Wednesday, December 30, 2009
DGA Statement on MI Representative Fundraising off Attempted Terror Attack
/PRNewswire/ -- Nathan Daschle, Executive Director of the Democratic Governors Association, issued the following statement in response to Michigan Rep. Pete Hoekstra using an attempted terrorist attack to fundraise for his gubernatorial campaign.
"We're deeply disappointed that Rep. Hoekstra would use an attempted terrorist attack to fundraise for his gubernatorial campaign," Daschle said. "That's a shallow political ploy at a time when Americans need leaders who will take our national security seriously - not as opportunities to build a campaign war chest. Michiganders deserve a governor who cares more about serious issues than about politics, and today Rep. Hoekstra showed that he's more interested in the politics of the past than showing true leadership."
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"We're deeply disappointed that Rep. Hoekstra would use an attempted terrorist attack to fundraise for his gubernatorial campaign," Daschle said. "That's a shallow political ploy at a time when Americans need leaders who will take our national security seriously - not as opportunities to build a campaign war chest. Michiganders deserve a governor who cares more about serious issues than about politics, and today Rep. Hoekstra showed that he's more interested in the politics of the past than showing true leadership."
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Friday, October 2, 2009
Alabama Congressman Parker Griffith Claims Loophole to Give Billions to His Top Campaign Contributors was 'Unintended’
Alabama Congressman Parker Griffith Claims Loophole to Give Billions to His Top Campaign Contributors was 'Unintended’, According to the American Small Business League
(BUSINESS WIRE)--The following is a statement by the American Small Business League:
Alabama Congressman Parker Griffith (D-AL-5) is claiming that a bill he wrote would carry the ‘unintended consequence’ of allowing the subsidiaries of some of his largest campaign contributors to receive billions of dollars in federal small business contracts.
During an interview with the Times Daily newspaper regarding H.R. 3558, the Small Business Fair Competition Act, Congressman Griffith claimed that it was not his intention to create loopholes to allow two of his largest campaign contributors, Boeing and Northrop Grumman to land billions of dollars in federal small business contracts.
In the story, American Small Business League (ASBL) President Lloyd Chapman stated, "It is simply not believable that Congressman Griffith accidentally wrote a bill that is going to allow the subsidiaries of some of his largest campaign contributors like Boeing and Northrop Grumman to get small business contracts. It is absurd." (http://www.timesdaily.com/article/20090930/ARTICLES/909305008/1011/NEWS?Title=Griffith-Bill-needs-more-work)
The ASBL was the only organization to uncover the supposed accidental loophole. Yet, as opposed to thanking the organization, Griffith accused the group of seeking notoriety.
Recent data released by the Obama Administration indicates that Fortune 500 defense contractors in Congressman Griffith's district such as Boeing, Northrop Grumman and British Aerospace (BAE) are receiving federal small business contracts. Critics of Griffith and his bill believe that he was clearly trying to create a loophole to allow Fortune 500 corporations to continue to take contracts intended for small businesses.
Since 2003, over a dozen federal investigations have found that every year billions of dollars in federal small business contracts are diverted to Fortune 500 firms with a concentration on the defense and aerospace industry.
In 2005, the Small Business Administration Office of Inspector General referred to the diversion of federal small business contracts to corporate giants as, "One of the most important challenges facing the Small Business Administration and the entire Federal government today." (http://www.asbl.com/documents/05-15.pdf)
Even President Obama weighed in on the issue, when in February of 2008 he released the statement, "It is time to end the diversion of federal small business contracts to corporate giants." (http://www.barackobama.com/2008/02/26/the_american_small_business_le.php)
"Congressman Griffith's excuse that the language in H.R. 3558, that would allow large businesses to continue to receive federal small business contracts, was an accident is simply not believable," ASBL President Lloyd Chapman said. "It's ludicrous. I think Congressman Griffith is just another crooked politician and a classic example of everything the public hates about Washington. I think the American people are sick and tired of large corporations buying legislation from members of Congress, like Parker Griffith, that damage the middle class."
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(BUSINESS WIRE)--The following is a statement by the American Small Business League:
Alabama Congressman Parker Griffith (D-AL-5) is claiming that a bill he wrote would carry the ‘unintended consequence’ of allowing the subsidiaries of some of his largest campaign contributors to receive billions of dollars in federal small business contracts.
During an interview with the Times Daily newspaper regarding H.R. 3558, the Small Business Fair Competition Act, Congressman Griffith claimed that it was not his intention to create loopholes to allow two of his largest campaign contributors, Boeing and Northrop Grumman to land billions of dollars in federal small business contracts.
In the story, American Small Business League (ASBL) President Lloyd Chapman stated, "It is simply not believable that Congressman Griffith accidentally wrote a bill that is going to allow the subsidiaries of some of his largest campaign contributors like Boeing and Northrop Grumman to get small business contracts. It is absurd." (http://www.timesdaily.com/article/20090930/ARTICLES/909305008/1011/NEWS?Title=Griffith-Bill-needs-more-work)
The ASBL was the only organization to uncover the supposed accidental loophole. Yet, as opposed to thanking the organization, Griffith accused the group of seeking notoriety.
Recent data released by the Obama Administration indicates that Fortune 500 defense contractors in Congressman Griffith's district such as Boeing, Northrop Grumman and British Aerospace (BAE) are receiving federal small business contracts. Critics of Griffith and his bill believe that he was clearly trying to create a loophole to allow Fortune 500 corporations to continue to take contracts intended for small businesses.
Since 2003, over a dozen federal investigations have found that every year billions of dollars in federal small business contracts are diverted to Fortune 500 firms with a concentration on the defense and aerospace industry.
In 2005, the Small Business Administration Office of Inspector General referred to the diversion of federal small business contracts to corporate giants as, "One of the most important challenges facing the Small Business Administration and the entire Federal government today." (http://www.asbl.com/documents/05-15.pdf)
Even President Obama weighed in on the issue, when in February of 2008 he released the statement, "It is time to end the diversion of federal small business contracts to corporate giants." (http://www.barackobama.com/2008/02/26/the_american_small_business_le.php)
"Congressman Griffith's excuse that the language in H.R. 3558, that would allow large businesses to continue to receive federal small business contracts, was an accident is simply not believable," ASBL President Lloyd Chapman said. "It's ludicrous. I think Congressman Griffith is just another crooked politician and a classic example of everything the public hates about Washington. I think the American people are sick and tired of large corporations buying legislation from members of Congress, like Parker Griffith, that damage the middle class."
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Thursday, September 24, 2009
Fair Elections Now Coalition Praises Rep. John Lewis for Cosponsoring Fair Elections Now Act
/PRNewswire/ -- The Fair Elections Now Coalition, which represents seven national campaign reform organizations, today praised Rep. John Lewis (D-Ga.) for his leadership in tackling the issue of special-interest money in Washington, D.C. by cosponsoring the bipartisan Fair Elections Now Act, H.R. 1826.
The groups issued the following statement:
"As the health care reform debate enters a critical stage, the health care industry continues to spend millions on campaign contributions to get what it wants. The best way to ensure that the voices of all citizens are heard is to change the way congressional elections are financed, and that's why we are greatly appreciative of Rep. Lewis for signing onto the Fair Elections Now Act.
"We look forward to working with Rep. Lewis to pass this practical proven campaign reform program."
The Fair Elections Now Act provides qualified congressional candidates public financing once they demonstrate broad public support by raising a large number of small donations. The House legislation, which was introduced by Rep. John Larson (D-Conn.), has nearly 90 cosponsors. For a full summary of the legislation, visit www.fairelectionsnow.org.
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The groups issued the following statement:
"As the health care reform debate enters a critical stage, the health care industry continues to spend millions on campaign contributions to get what it wants. The best way to ensure that the voices of all citizens are heard is to change the way congressional elections are financed, and that's why we are greatly appreciative of Rep. Lewis for signing onto the Fair Elections Now Act.
"We look forward to working with Rep. Lewis to pass this practical proven campaign reform program."
The Fair Elections Now Act provides qualified congressional candidates public financing once they demonstrate broad public support by raising a large number of small donations. The House legislation, which was introduced by Rep. John Larson (D-Conn.), has nearly 90 cosponsors. For a full summary of the legislation, visit www.fairelectionsnow.org.
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Monday, September 14, 2009
Congress Encouraged to Collect Billions in New Revenue with Internet Gambling Regulation in New Advertising Campaign
/PRNewswire/ -- The Safe and Secure Internet Gambling Initiative launched a new online advertising campaign today in support of the Internet Gambling Regulation, Consumer Protection and Enforcement Act of 2009 (H.R. 2267), legislation that would establish a framework to permit licensed gambling operators to accept wagers from individuals in the U.S. The ads advocate regulating Internet gambling to protect the millions of Americans who continue to gamble online despite government attempts to prohibit the activity and to collect up to $62.7 billion in new revenues for the federal government in the first decade.
"As Congress searches for ways to pay for health care reform and other worthy programs, it should end the unsuccessful prohibition of Internet gambling and start collecting taxes on the billions in revenue currently lost to unlicensed, offshore gambling operators," said Jeffrey Sandman, spokesperson for the Safe and Secure Internet Gambling Initiative.
House Committee of Financial Services Chairman Barney Frank (D-MA) has announced his intent to hold a hearing and markup on the Internet Gambling Regulation, Consumer Protection and Enforcement Act of 2009 this fall. Since introduction of the legislation by Chairman Frank in May, a bipartisan group of more than 50 co-sponsors have signed onto the bill. Supporters include many senior ranking representatives such as George Miller (D-CA), chairman of the Committee on Education and Labor, John Conyers (D-MI), chairman of the Committee on the Judiciary, Charles Rangel (D-NY), chairman of the Committee on Ways and Means, Edolphus Towns (D-NY), chairman of the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, Pete King (R-NY), ranking member of the Homeland Security Committee and Ron Paul (R-TX), vice-chairman of the Oversight and Investigations subcommittee.
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"As Congress searches for ways to pay for health care reform and other worthy programs, it should end the unsuccessful prohibition of Internet gambling and start collecting taxes on the billions in revenue currently lost to unlicensed, offshore gambling operators," said Jeffrey Sandman, spokesperson for the Safe and Secure Internet Gambling Initiative.
House Committee of Financial Services Chairman Barney Frank (D-MA) has announced his intent to hold a hearing and markup on the Internet Gambling Regulation, Consumer Protection and Enforcement Act of 2009 this fall. Since introduction of the legislation by Chairman Frank in May, a bipartisan group of more than 50 co-sponsors have signed onto the bill. Supporters include many senior ranking representatives such as George Miller (D-CA), chairman of the Committee on Education and Labor, John Conyers (D-MI), chairman of the Committee on the Judiciary, Charles Rangel (D-NY), chairman of the Committee on Ways and Means, Edolphus Towns (D-NY), chairman of the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, Pete King (R-NY), ranking member of the Homeland Security Committee and Ron Paul (R-TX), vice-chairman of the Oversight and Investigations subcommittee.
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Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Cagle Withdraws from Georgia Governor's 2010 Race
Cagle’s statement: ‘I’ve been diagnosed with a degenerative spinal condition’
Here’s the statement from which Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle read on Wednesday afternoon, withdrawing from the 2010 race for governor:
By Jim Galloway
For the past several months, it has been my full intention to campaign aggressively for election as Georgia’s next Governor.
We have recruited a top-notch team, raised over a million dollars, and I’ve worked to help my family understand the kind of stress we will face.
I did this because I truly believe our state is at a crossroads, and the next Governor will play a critical role in determining whether our kids and grandkids have an opportunity to enjoy prosperity and opportunity here in Georgia......http://blogs.ajc.com/political-insider-jim-galloway/2009/04/15/cagles-statement-ive-been-diagnosed-with-a-degenerative-spinal-condition/
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Here’s the statement from which Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle read on Wednesday afternoon, withdrawing from the 2010 race for governor:
By Jim Galloway
For the past several months, it has been my full intention to campaign aggressively for election as Georgia’s next Governor.
We have recruited a top-notch team, raised over a million dollars, and I’ve worked to help my family understand the kind of stress we will face.
I did this because I truly believe our state is at a crossroads, and the next Governor will play a critical role in determining whether our kids and grandkids have an opportunity to enjoy prosperity and opportunity here in Georgia......http://blogs.ajc.com/political-insider-jim-galloway/2009/04/15/cagles-statement-ive-been-diagnosed-with-a-degenerative-spinal-condition/
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Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Campaign to Sell President's Budget Has "No Noticeable Impact" as Americans Realize It Spends Too Much, Taxes Too Much, Borrows Too Much
President Obama will hold a news conference this evening, as the campaign to sell his fiscally-irresponsible budget continues. Last week, the effort kicked-off with some fanfare, as news broke that his presidential campaign apparatus would be called upon to spin his $3.6 trillion budget blueprint. However, more than a week into the “budget campaign,” it seems the Administration and its political allies are having some trouble building support for the budget with the American people – and even some Democratic Members of Congress. McClatchy News reports:
“President Barack Obama’s army of canvassers fanned out across the nation over the weekend to drum up support for his $3.55 trillion budget, but they had no noticeable impact on members of Congress, who on Monday said they were largely unaware of the effort.”
“‘News to me,’ said Rep. Lloyd Doggett, D-Texas, a House Budget Committee member, of the canvassing.”
The reason the President’s campaign seems to be spinning its wheels is because the American people are realizing his budget will harm our economy and destroy jobs by spending too much, taxing too much, and borrowing too much. Last Friday, the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO) issued a devastating report, noting that the President’s budget is actually $2.3 trillion more costly than the White House initially claimed. And yesterday, the President doubled-down on his plan for a national energy tax, with the Administration promising that it will fight for the tax, even though it will cost families up to $3,100 more per year. In other words, the more the American people are learning about this budget, the less they like it – and Members of Congress, including many Democrats, are hearing about it.
On WKRC radio in Cincinnati this morning, House Republican Leader John Boehner (R-OH) discussed the Democrats’ nervousness over the President’s budget:
“And so, the real key is what’s going to happen here over the next couple of weeks – whether we can stop the budget proposal that he has and put enough pressure on my colleagues on the other side of the aisle to take a second look at this proposal…”
“There’s a lot of nervousness over there right now over this, and what I’ve been doing and my colleagues have been doing is helping the American people understand that his budget spends too much, it taxes too much, and it borrows too much from our kids and grandkids.” (AUDIO)
While the Administration and Democratic leaders on Capitol Hill continue their budget campaign, Republicans are prepared to offer a better budget solution – one that will help create jobs, rebuild savings, and restore fiscal sanity. In a web video released last week, Boehner outlined for the President the GOP’s principles for a better budget, including:
- Helping create and protect jobs by letting families and small businesses keep more of what they earn.
- Ensuring the federal budget doesn’t grow faster than family budgets.
- Aiming to expand access to affordable health care for every American, while preserving Social Security and Medicare for future generations.
- Ending the bailouts to protect taxpayers and reforming the financial system so this crisis never repeats itself.
- Encouraging an “all of the above” energy strategy that harnesses new technologies, encourages greater conservation and efficiency, and increases American energy production in an environmentally-safe manner – without imposing a national energy tax.
- Fighting inflation so the prices of goods and services Americans depend on every day remain stable during and after this economic crisis.
The House Budget Committee will consider the President’s budget blueprint tomorrow, and Boehner today announced that Republicans will live-blog the debate on the Republican Leader’s blog, at http://gopleader.gov/Blog. During tomorrow’s debate, Republicans will remind Democrats that the President’s budget spends too much, taxes too much, and borrows too much and will offer better solutions for improving the blueprint, strengthening the economy, and creating jobs. Will Washington Democrats give these GOP solutions the consideration they deserve?
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“President Barack Obama’s army of canvassers fanned out across the nation over the weekend to drum up support for his $3.55 trillion budget, but they had no noticeable impact on members of Congress, who on Monday said they were largely unaware of the effort.”
“‘News to me,’ said Rep. Lloyd Doggett, D-Texas, a House Budget Committee member, of the canvassing.”
The reason the President’s campaign seems to be spinning its wheels is because the American people are realizing his budget will harm our economy and destroy jobs by spending too much, taxing too much, and borrowing too much. Last Friday, the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO) issued a devastating report, noting that the President’s budget is actually $2.3 trillion more costly than the White House initially claimed. And yesterday, the President doubled-down on his plan for a national energy tax, with the Administration promising that it will fight for the tax, even though it will cost families up to $3,100 more per year. In other words, the more the American people are learning about this budget, the less they like it – and Members of Congress, including many Democrats, are hearing about it.
On WKRC radio in Cincinnati this morning, House Republican Leader John Boehner (R-OH) discussed the Democrats’ nervousness over the President’s budget:
“And so, the real key is what’s going to happen here over the next couple of weeks – whether we can stop the budget proposal that he has and put enough pressure on my colleagues on the other side of the aisle to take a second look at this proposal…”
“There’s a lot of nervousness over there right now over this, and what I’ve been doing and my colleagues have been doing is helping the American people understand that his budget spends too much, it taxes too much, and it borrows too much from our kids and grandkids.” (AUDIO)
While the Administration and Democratic leaders on Capitol Hill continue their budget campaign, Republicans are prepared to offer a better budget solution – one that will help create jobs, rebuild savings, and restore fiscal sanity. In a web video released last week, Boehner outlined for the President the GOP’s principles for a better budget, including:
- Helping create and protect jobs by letting families and small businesses keep more of what they earn.
- Ensuring the federal budget doesn’t grow faster than family budgets.
- Aiming to expand access to affordable health care for every American, while preserving Social Security and Medicare for future generations.
- Ending the bailouts to protect taxpayers and reforming the financial system so this crisis never repeats itself.
- Encouraging an “all of the above” energy strategy that harnesses new technologies, encourages greater conservation and efficiency, and increases American energy production in an environmentally-safe manner – without imposing a national energy tax.
- Fighting inflation so the prices of goods and services Americans depend on every day remain stable during and after this economic crisis.
The House Budget Committee will consider the President’s budget blueprint tomorrow, and Boehner today announced that Republicans will live-blog the debate on the Republican Leader’s blog, at http://gopleader.gov/Blog. During tomorrow’s debate, Republicans will remind Democrats that the President’s budget spends too much, taxes too much, and borrows too much and will offer better solutions for improving the blueprint, strengthening the economy, and creating jobs. Will Washington Democrats give these GOP solutions the consideration they deserve?
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Monday, February 2, 2009
National Legal and Policy Center Focuses on Next Phase in Blagojevich-Johnston 'Pay to Play' Saga
/PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Today the National Legal and Policy Center publicly released an in-depth analysis of financial contributions made to Friends of Blagojevich from Balmoral and Maywood race track owner John Johnston and other Johnston-owned/affiliated interests. The new analysis reveals that previous accounts of Johnston contributions to Friends of Blagojevich greatly under-reported the actual contributions by Johnston family interests and far exceed the $160,000 in contributions that have been reported previously.
According to the latest analysis, which was sent to the House Impeachment Committee last Thursday afternoon, Johnston-owned/affiliated interests contributed more than $343,000 to Governor Blagojevich's campaign committee from 2002-2007. The new analysis uncovered several significant and large contributions from Johnston businesses or affiliates that heretofore had not been factored into official news accounts, including contributions from Coast to Coast Food Services Ltd. ($60,000), Racing Research ($15,000), the Egyptian Trotting Association ($45,000), and Associates Racing Association, Inc. ($40,000). All businesses are either registered to Johnston family members, share addresses with known Johnston businesses such as the Balmoral and Maywood racetracks, or include officers who also serve as officers or board members of other Johnston-owned/affiliated interests.
Additionally, the new analysis reveals that large blocks of contributions were made from several Johnston-owned/affiliated interests on the same day on at least six different occasions during the 2002-2007 time period. On at least two occasions, contributions totaling $100,000 or more were received by the Friends of Blagojevich campaign on the same day or within days of each other.
The new analysis is particularly noteworthy given last week's removal of Governor Blagojevich from office and the anticipated federal indictment of the Governor by U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald.
Last week, the Illinois House Impeachment Committee released transcripts of conversations between Governor Blagojevich and his brother Rob Blagojevich concerning an expected $100,000 contribution from John Johnston allegedly in exchange for the Governor's signature on legislation benefiting horse racing interests and the Johnston family. According to transcripts of those conversations, the Governor's brother quoted Mr. Johnston as agreeing to make the $100,000 contribution and saying "I gotta just decide what, what uh, accounts to get it out of."
That conversation coupled with the new revelations of large blocks of contributions of $100,000 or more to Friends of Blagojevich from several different Johnston-owned/affiliated accounts suggest that Mr. Johnston may have chosen to make large contributions from several different entities in order to obfuscate the original source of the contributions, cobble together larger aggregate amounts that were more acceptable to Governor Blagojevich in exchange for the Governor's support of legislation or perhaps both.
Illinois election records reveal for instance that between May 21, 2002 and June 3, 2002, $100,000 in contributions were made to Friends of Blagojevich from Johnston interests with $85,000 received by Friends of Blagojevich on one day -- May 21st. Thirteen days later, Illinois election records record an additional contribution of $15,000 from Racing Research registered to William H. Johnston Jr. at 8600 W. North Ave. in Melrose Park -- the same address as the Maywood Park racetrack.
On June 27, 2006, Illinois election records reveal seven different contributions from Johnston interests to Friends of Blagojevich totaling $135,000. The contributions came almost exactly one month after Governor Blagojevich signed HB-1918 on May 26, 2008 which amended the Horse Racing Act to establish the original Horse Racing Equity Trust Fund. That legislation provided for the horse racing industry to receive 3% of the adjusted gross revenues from four riverboat casinos in Illinois.
Ken Boehm, Chairman of the National Legal and Policy Center (NLPC), a Washington DC based think tank focused on ethics and government said of the new revelations "We don't take any position on gambling or horse racing and don't have an opinion as to whether the contributions were illegal or inappropriate. However, we do believe that voters in Illinois deserve a full and complete airing of these issues to determine if campaign dollars were used in exchange for 'pay to play' politics, and if so, to what extent."
Boehm continued, "When our elected officials attempt to barter the power of their offices to the highest bidder, only those citizens who are deep pocketed enough or have the right connections retain the capability to benefit from the political process. The rest of us lose.
The Illinois General Assembly apparently found enough evidence of wrongdoing to remove Governor Blagojevich from office. It's our hope that as the Blagojevich saga now moves to the expected indictment phase, all allegations concerning the extent that the Governor may have been selling his good offices for favorable legislative outcomes will be fully explored and investigated," Boehm concluded.
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According to the latest analysis, which was sent to the House Impeachment Committee last Thursday afternoon, Johnston-owned/affiliated interests contributed more than $343,000 to Governor Blagojevich's campaign committee from 2002-2007. The new analysis uncovered several significant and large contributions from Johnston businesses or affiliates that heretofore had not been factored into official news accounts, including contributions from Coast to Coast Food Services Ltd. ($60,000), Racing Research ($15,000), the Egyptian Trotting Association ($45,000), and Associates Racing Association, Inc. ($40,000). All businesses are either registered to Johnston family members, share addresses with known Johnston businesses such as the Balmoral and Maywood racetracks, or include officers who also serve as officers or board members of other Johnston-owned/affiliated interests.
Additionally, the new analysis reveals that large blocks of contributions were made from several Johnston-owned/affiliated interests on the same day on at least six different occasions during the 2002-2007 time period. On at least two occasions, contributions totaling $100,000 or more were received by the Friends of Blagojevich campaign on the same day or within days of each other.
The new analysis is particularly noteworthy given last week's removal of Governor Blagojevich from office and the anticipated federal indictment of the Governor by U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald.
Last week, the Illinois House Impeachment Committee released transcripts of conversations between Governor Blagojevich and his brother Rob Blagojevich concerning an expected $100,000 contribution from John Johnston allegedly in exchange for the Governor's signature on legislation benefiting horse racing interests and the Johnston family. According to transcripts of those conversations, the Governor's brother quoted Mr. Johnston as agreeing to make the $100,000 contribution and saying "I gotta just decide what, what uh, accounts to get it out of."
That conversation coupled with the new revelations of large blocks of contributions of $100,000 or more to Friends of Blagojevich from several different Johnston-owned/affiliated accounts suggest that Mr. Johnston may have chosen to make large contributions from several different entities in order to obfuscate the original source of the contributions, cobble together larger aggregate amounts that were more acceptable to Governor Blagojevich in exchange for the Governor's support of legislation or perhaps both.
Illinois election records reveal for instance that between May 21, 2002 and June 3, 2002, $100,000 in contributions were made to Friends of Blagojevich from Johnston interests with $85,000 received by Friends of Blagojevich on one day -- May 21st. Thirteen days later, Illinois election records record an additional contribution of $15,000 from Racing Research registered to William H. Johnston Jr. at 8600 W. North Ave. in Melrose Park -- the same address as the Maywood Park racetrack.
On June 27, 2006, Illinois election records reveal seven different contributions from Johnston interests to Friends of Blagojevich totaling $135,000. The contributions came almost exactly one month after Governor Blagojevich signed HB-1918 on May 26, 2008 which amended the Horse Racing Act to establish the original Horse Racing Equity Trust Fund. That legislation provided for the horse racing industry to receive 3% of the adjusted gross revenues from four riverboat casinos in Illinois.
Ken Boehm, Chairman of the National Legal and Policy Center (NLPC), a Washington DC based think tank focused on ethics and government said of the new revelations "We don't take any position on gambling or horse racing and don't have an opinion as to whether the contributions were illegal or inappropriate. However, we do believe that voters in Illinois deserve a full and complete airing of these issues to determine if campaign dollars were used in exchange for 'pay to play' politics, and if so, to what extent."
Boehm continued, "When our elected officials attempt to barter the power of their offices to the highest bidder, only those citizens who are deep pocketed enough or have the right connections retain the capability to benefit from the political process. The rest of us lose.
The Illinois General Assembly apparently found enough evidence of wrongdoing to remove Governor Blagojevich from office. It's our hope that as the Blagojevich saga now moves to the expected indictment phase, all allegations concerning the extent that the Governor may have been selling his good offices for favorable legislative outcomes will be fully explored and investigated," Boehm concluded.
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Saturday, December 20, 2008
Alaska State Senator Pleads Guilty to Public Corruption Charges
/PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Alaska State Senator John Cowdery, 78, pleaded guilty December 19 to conspiring to bribe another Alaska state legislator, Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew Friedrich of the Criminal Division announced.
Cowdery admitted to conspiring to offer more than $10,000 in campaign contributions to another Alaska state senator (State Senator A) in exchange for State Senator A's support of oil tax legislation during the 2006 Alaska state legislative session.
Cowdery pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Ralph Beistline in Anchorage to one count of conspiracy to commit bribery concerning programs receiving federal funds. In court documents, Cowdery admitted to conspiring with Bill J. Allen, the former chief executive officer of VECO Corporation (VECO), a now-defunct multinational oil field services company, and Richard L. Smith, a former VECO vice president, to offer at least $10,000 in purported campaign contributions to State Senator A in exchange for State Senator A's support of a proposed petroleum profits tax, or PPT, that VECO wanted the Alaska state legislature to pass in 2006. Cowdery admitted that he and Allen met State Senator A on June 25, 2006, at an Anchorage restaurant to offer State Senator A the bribe. Cowdery admitted that he and Allen specifically conditioned receipt of the bribe, which State Senator A did not accept, on State Senator A's support for the PPT legislation sought by VECO and Allen. Allen and Smith both pleaded guilty to multiple federal corruption charges in May 2007 and both are awaiting sentencing.
At sentencing, Cowdery faces a maximum of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. As part of a plea agreement with Cowdery, the government has agreed to recommend a sentence of six to 12 months of home confinement. Sentencing has been scheduled for March 10, 2009.
Including Cowdery's guilty plea and those of Allen and Smith, there have been ten criminal convictions to date arising out of the ongoing investigation into public corruption in the state of Alaska. Thomas T. Anderson, a former elected member of the Alaska House of Representatives, was convicted in July 2007 and sentenced to five years in prison for extortion, conspiracy, bribery and money laundering for soliciting and receiving money from an FBI confidential source in exchange for agreeing to perform official acts to further a business interest represented by the source. Peter Kott, a former speaker of the Alaska House of Representatives, was convicted in September 2007 and sentenced to six years in prison for extortion, bribery and conspiracy. Victor H. Kohring, a former elected member of the Alaska House of Representatives, was convicted at trial in November 2007 for attempted extortion, bribery and conspiracy, and was sentenced to three and a half years in prison. In March 2008, James A. Clark, chief of staff to a former governor of Alaska, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit honest services mail and wire fraud. Former Anchorage lobbyist William Bobrick pleaded guilty in May 2007 to felony public corruption charges. U.S. Sen. Theodore F. Stevens was convicted at trial on Oct. 27, 2008, of making false statements regarding his required U.S. Senate financial disclosures for 2001 through 2006. Former Alaska businessman William Weimar was sentenced to six months in prison on Nov. 12, 2008, after pleading guilty on Aug. 12, 2008, to conspiracy to commit honest services mail and wire fraud and structuring financial transactions.
This case is being prosecuted by Trial Attorneys Nicholas A. Marsh and Edward P. Sullivan of the Criminal Division's Public Integrity Section, headed by Chief William M. Welch II, and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joseph W. Bottini and James A. Goeke from the District of Alaska. The ongoing investigation is being led by the FBI and the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation.
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Cowdery admitted to conspiring to offer more than $10,000 in campaign contributions to another Alaska state senator (State Senator A) in exchange for State Senator A's support of oil tax legislation during the 2006 Alaska state legislative session.
Cowdery pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Ralph Beistline in Anchorage to one count of conspiracy to commit bribery concerning programs receiving federal funds. In court documents, Cowdery admitted to conspiring with Bill J. Allen, the former chief executive officer of VECO Corporation (VECO), a now-defunct multinational oil field services company, and Richard L. Smith, a former VECO vice president, to offer at least $10,000 in purported campaign contributions to State Senator A in exchange for State Senator A's support of a proposed petroleum profits tax, or PPT, that VECO wanted the Alaska state legislature to pass in 2006. Cowdery admitted that he and Allen met State Senator A on June 25, 2006, at an Anchorage restaurant to offer State Senator A the bribe. Cowdery admitted that he and Allen specifically conditioned receipt of the bribe, which State Senator A did not accept, on State Senator A's support for the PPT legislation sought by VECO and Allen. Allen and Smith both pleaded guilty to multiple federal corruption charges in May 2007 and both are awaiting sentencing.
At sentencing, Cowdery faces a maximum of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. As part of a plea agreement with Cowdery, the government has agreed to recommend a sentence of six to 12 months of home confinement. Sentencing has been scheduled for March 10, 2009.
Including Cowdery's guilty plea and those of Allen and Smith, there have been ten criminal convictions to date arising out of the ongoing investigation into public corruption in the state of Alaska. Thomas T. Anderson, a former elected member of the Alaska House of Representatives, was convicted in July 2007 and sentenced to five years in prison for extortion, conspiracy, bribery and money laundering for soliciting and receiving money from an FBI confidential source in exchange for agreeing to perform official acts to further a business interest represented by the source. Peter Kott, a former speaker of the Alaska House of Representatives, was convicted in September 2007 and sentenced to six years in prison for extortion, bribery and conspiracy. Victor H. Kohring, a former elected member of the Alaska House of Representatives, was convicted at trial in November 2007 for attempted extortion, bribery and conspiracy, and was sentenced to three and a half years in prison. In March 2008, James A. Clark, chief of staff to a former governor of Alaska, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit honest services mail and wire fraud. Former Anchorage lobbyist William Bobrick pleaded guilty in May 2007 to felony public corruption charges. U.S. Sen. Theodore F. Stevens was convicted at trial on Oct. 27, 2008, of making false statements regarding his required U.S. Senate financial disclosures for 2001 through 2006. Former Alaska businessman William Weimar was sentenced to six months in prison on Nov. 12, 2008, after pleading guilty on Aug. 12, 2008, to conspiracy to commit honest services mail and wire fraud and structuring financial transactions.
This case is being prosecuted by Trial Attorneys Nicholas A. Marsh and Edward P. Sullivan of the Criminal Division's Public Integrity Section, headed by Chief William M. Welch II, and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joseph W. Bottini and James A. Goeke from the District of Alaska. The ongoing investigation is being led by the FBI and the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation.
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Thursday, December 11, 2008
RNC Chairman Responds to President-Elect Obama's Comments Regarding Governor Blagojevich
/PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Republican National Committee (RNC) Chairman Robert M. "Mike" Duncan released the following statement today.
"President-elect Barack Obama continues to provide less than forthcoming answers to simple questions related to Governor Rod Blagojevich. While it is encouraging that the President-elect has stated his office will disclose contacts with the scandal-ridden governor, it remains disappointing that his actions are in response to political pressure. Americans expect the highest degree of transparency from their elected leaders, rather than promises of openness on the campaign trail."
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"President-elect Barack Obama continues to provide less than forthcoming answers to simple questions related to Governor Rod Blagojevich. While it is encouraging that the President-elect has stated his office will disclose contacts with the scandal-ridden governor, it remains disappointing that his actions are in response to political pressure. Americans expect the highest degree of transparency from their elected leaders, rather than promises of openness on the campaign trail."
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