Tampa-Hillsborough Tollway Authority under FBI/DOT investigation(Jeb ties)

[seafan]

Now, this is very interesting.

It involves entities and persons with very close ties to Governor Jeb Bush.



It involves investigations into the Tampa-Hillsborough Expressway Authority, involving conflicts of interest, ethics violations, public record law violations and suspicious billings by lobbyists.

Sounds typical for Jeb Bush's Florida, right?

It looks like Jeb's five appointees to the seven-membered Expressway Authority banded together to fire their legal counsel at the time, Steven Anderson, after Anderson warned one of Jeb's appointees sitting on the Expressway Board, Bob Clark, regarding a conflict of interest concerning Clark's planned vote on materials used for road projects, because of his ownership of Tampa Steel Erecting Company.

This vote by Clark would have benefited his own company. So, the legal counsel who issued the ethics warning to the panel was summarily fired. (Oh, and that sale of building materials went through without a hitch.)


After Anderson was fired by Jeb's appointees sitting on the Expressway board, another law firm with strong ties to Bush replaced Anderson. This law firm is Gray Robinson.

Just par for the course for Jeb's Florida, right?



Another interesting fact that has emerged is that part of the FBI/DOT interest in this case is that the Expressway officials may have illegally steered this legal services contract to Gray Robinson, which has close ties to Jeb Bush.

So, before Gray Robinson was *selected* to provide services for the Expressway Authority, the lobbying firm of John Beck was meeting with Gray Robinson to seal the deal.

And what a surprise to learn that there are now allegations of double-billing the Expressway by Beck's lobbyist partner Cynthia Henderson, a former top official in Jeb's administration.


Another thread of Florida corruption to pull on that involves Jeb Bush.



Here are some links to this whole sordid mess. Wonder if we will find out next about similar allegations of corruption involving the Florida Turnpike....



FBI joins expressway inquiries


Tollway Authority Under FBI Scrutiny


Federal expressway inquiry puzzles some

[The Backlash Cometh]

1. Gray Robinson. Oh shit.

Is it a foregone conclusion that G/R is right-wing?

[seafan]

2. It would be a good bet, imho. n/t

[lpbk2713]

3. And if I recall correctly there was some shoddy contruction

that had to be redone. And that added many millions more to the bottom line.

Shades of Halliburton.

[LizW]

8. Yes, part of it fell down.

I've been watching this because the same company that built the Tampa-Hillsborough is consulting with a group in my city to build an elevated roadway. They are big into Republican politics -- big Bush donors and also donors to state and local Repugs.

[The Backlash Cometh]

4. Here's something interesting. Do you think the two are interrelated?

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=2532360

The thread talks about a land deal from the politically connected St. Joe Company. The land was purchased for roads, mainly.

[seafan]

5. Can't begin to guess. But this type of secretive deal is just Jeb's style

And his time is quickly running out, so he'd better work fast to squeeze every last bit of taxpayer money out of the treasury before we force him out in 2.5 months.

He will leave behind a broken and demoralized mess in his wake.

It will take some time to repair the damage of the Jeb Bush *legacy.*

It's time to lance and flush this putrid abscess.

[The Backlash Cometh]

6. The parallel with what I've seen on a local level is astonishing.

Law firms and development. One hand washes the other. Where politics and industry collide, and not in a good way. You would be shocked at how the public is treated when these titans come together. The private developer will cut corners, the city approves those short cuts, knowing someday, the homeowners will have to pay extra for to fix the crumbling infra-structure. Despicable.

And highway construction? Good work if you can find it. If these deal goes down, they'll be set in the private sector.

Not to say they'll do a bad job, but I saw an overpass built with huge cracks developing in the first year of use. They did patch it up, but I have to remember to look up to see how it's wearing.

[seafan]

7. And the following is just ONE egregious example:

http://www.sptimes.com/2003/04/23/news_pf/State/Legislators_give_GOP_.shtml">Legislators give GOP donor exemption for expanding hospital at The Villages

By STEVE BOUSQUET, Times Staff Writer

© St. Petersburg Times, published April 23, 2003

TALLAHASSEE -- A big-money Republican Party donor gained legislative approval Tuesday to sidestep costly state regulation and expand the hospital that serves his booming retirement development in Central Florida.
The major beneficiary of the bill is Gary Morse, developer of The Villages, an 18,000-acre residential community that straddles three counties north of Orlando. Morse is a director of The Villages Regional Medical Center, a 60-bed hospital that will be allowed to add 180 beds under the bill.

snip

The affected hospitals are The Villages Regional Medical Center in Sumter County and Florida Hospital in Flagler County. Sumter's population grew by 69 percent in the 1990s and Flagler's grew by 74 percent, far outpacing the statewide growth rate of 23.2 percent. House Speaker Johnnie Byrd, R-Plant City, who voted for the exemption, said the "clunky administrative process" can't keep up with such rapid growth. But the Flagler administrator, Daryl Tol, has said he wasn't seeking more beds, and he has referred to the legislation as "The Villages bill."

Morse donated nearly $700,000, personally or through corporations, to Republican lawmakers and the party since 1999. A single Republican reception hosted by Morse's companies cost $58,823.63, campaign records show.
Morse also rented his corporate jet to the party and candidates, including Bush, who flew his two sons to the 2002 Rose Bowl on the jet. The governor reimbursed Morse for the cost of equivalent commercial airline tickets, to comply with Florida law.

snip

Most Democrats voted against the bill, but Rep. Susan Bucher, D-West Palm Beach, was the only Democrat who challenged Farkas in debate.

"This bill circumvents the certificate of need process and is based on a campaign contribution to a particular political party," Bucher said. "In this instance, it only cost him $800,000 in campaign contributions to get 180 beds that circumvent the system. This is not good public policy. It's not how we're supposed to pass bills."

snip

Jeb has stolen our state blind for 8 years. Jeb's politics will always be about how to enrich himself and his buddies.

[The Backlash Cometh]

9. Nearby hospitals are what the old people want in Florida.

You talk to anyone who has had a heart attack and they all say the same thing. They get excited when they know there's going to be a hospital built around the corner. That and good assisted living quarters.

Personally, my experience with the Seniors here in Florida is not good. They are tremendous tight-wads. Don't want to spend a penny on infra-structure for parks unless you shame them. And they're the reason my Association is getting pilfered. They'd rather sit quiet and allow the greedy bastards steal common ground, than spend another penny in Association fees to sue them, or maintain them. Meanwhile, all the kids are getting cheated out of playground areas near their homes.

[seafan]

10. Update October 12, 2006

http://www.tbo.com/news/metro/MGBYPD5Q6TE.html">Local Control Sought For Road Agency

TAMPA - Hillsborough County Commissioner Tom Scott said Wednesday that he wants more accountability from an embattled transportation agency.

He is asking for state legislation to mandate local control of the Tampa-Hillsborough County Expressway Authority. He said the toll-funded agency has forgotten the people it is supposed to serve.

Scott wants to change the makeup of the authority's governing board so that all or most of them are locally elected officials. He and Tampa City Councilwoman Gwen Miller are the only elected members on the board of seven.

The majority - four members - is appointed by Gov. Jeb Bush. The remaining board member is the Florida Department of Transportation's local district secretary.

"The authority has shown a total disregard for policy and procedure and the principles of open and honest government," Scott said. "They have refused to acknowledge its own wrongdoing and have instead insisted on rewarding acts of deceit and dishonesty in a manner not seen in this county in years."