Portal:Government corruption

Bellingham, WA withholding Amtrak records after death

Judge Charles Snyder, of the Whatcom County Superior Court, ordered that seven of the 80 withheld documents should be released to lawyer Steve Chance by Saturday, June 27, but that the rest were exempt from public disclosure because of attorney-client privilege or that they were attorney work product, The Bellingham Herald reported. Bellingham city officials have requested reconsideration of the release of those seven documents, asking also if lawyers could file explanations requests in private.

The records in questions were filed by Chance on behalf of the family of the woman struck by the train. The crossing at which she was struck was part of a 2001 negotiation that resulted in a pedestrian crossing with a train crossing warning sign. The agreement to put the pedestrian crossing at this spot called for bells and flashing lights at the crossing.^[1]

R.I. House to vote on bill protecting deadly force offenders

The bill, expected to face a vote today, would specifically protect those officers involved in deadly force incidents that resulted in killing.^[2] It would amend the Open Records Law, which currently mandates the release of police incident reports, exempting the officers involved in deadly force episodes from this requirement.

Rep. Kenneth A. Vaudreuil, a Democrat from Central Falls, introduced the bill at the request of Central Falls police. Both current and retired police officers are cosponsors on the bill.^[3]

Chafin examines FOIA response

"Senate Majority Leader H. Truman Chafin’s search for answers regarding federal dollars awarded to the West Virginia Turnpike has netted a 84-page response from the legal division of the state Division of Transportation.

However, with the exception of a two-page cover letter, the DOT’s official response to Chafin’s Freedom of Information Act filing is largely a myriad of charts, fact sheets and flow charts that may or may not answer Chafin’s questions."

Agency needs more time to respond to Chafin’s FOIA request

"The West Virginia Department of Transportation left Senate Majority Leader H. Truman Chafin waiting for answers Friday to his questions concerning the West Virginia Turnpike.

Chafin, D-Mingo, filed a Freedom of Information Act request last week with the DOT after questions emerged over why state officials didn’t use more than $10 million in federal dollars awarded to the turnpike for turnpike repairs."

FOIA request filed with Fayette schools

"The Register-Herald has filed a Freedom of Information request with the Fayette County Board of Education.

On March 17, The Register-Herald was contacted by Oak Hill certified public accountant Leland O’Neal, who contended there were discrepancies in a story published that day.

As previously reported, West Virginia Education Association representative Ben Barkey addressed the Fayette school board at a March 16 meeting."

Chafin files FOIA over turnpike

"Senate Majority Leader Truman Chafin is awaiting a response on his demand for an explanation of why and how much federal money drawn by the West Virginia Turnpike went elsewhere.

Just last week, Senate Minority Leader Don Caruth, R-Mercer, disclosed the Manchin administration told him at least $10 million the 88-mile toll road enticed in federal dollars didn’t go to the highway.

Chafin told fellow senators Thursday he had filed a request under the Freedom of Information Act to get a full disclosure."

Board questioned on FOIA request, job reductions

"West Virginia Education Association representative Ben Barkey addressed Fayette County Board of Education members Monday evening regarding both a Freedom of Information Act request submitted by a local WVEA member and proposed job reductions.

According to Barkey, Fayette County schools superintendent Chris Perkins responded verbally to the FOIA request by Dale Arrington. According to Fayette County school board president Dave Arritt, Perkins has already answered the request twice in previous meetings."

Mingo sheriff complains of average citizen treatment

"Mingo County Sheriff Lonnie Hannah told the Mingo County Commission he felt as if he were coming upon “a brick wall” when he tries to access records from the Commission. But Commissioners say Hannah went through different channels and did not ask the commissioners themselves for any information.

Hannah said he had some concerns about fees paid to engineering firm E.L. Robinson for work done on the Twin Branch Motorsports Complex project."

Since November, Dunbar has processed six FOIA requests

"Dunbar city officials have gotten six requests for information under the state Freedom of Information Act since November.

In January, members of Dunbar City Council decided to start charging a $10-an-hour research fee to look up public information to fulfill FOIA requests. City officials said the fee was necessary because employees in the city clerk's office were overwhelmed with requests for information."

Pratt misses Kanawha payroll query deadline

"Officials in the town of Pratt have not responded to a request from Kanawha County officials for information under the state Freedom of Information Act.

On Feb. 8, Kanawha County Commission President Kent Carper sent a FOIA request to town officials asking for payroll records from Pratt's water and sewer plants. Officials for the state Department of Environmental Protection and Public Service Commission say the sewer plant is often unmanned and lacks a certified operator."

Ohio employee pleads not guilty for tampering with kids' grades

Wyandot County prosecutors are charging Gilliland on 34 counts for allegedly tampering with her children's grades, all third-degree felonies, as her indictment categorized.

The indictment shows the alleged incidents occurred on or about March 26, 2008, June 2, 2008, June 3, 2008, Oct. 28, 2008, Nov. 10, 2008, and Feb. 13, 2009, the Advertiser-Tribune reported.^[1]

Former NYPD commissioner Kerik indicted

Kerik allegedly lied to the Bush administration about circumstances with contractors he worked with for a renovation of his home and prosecutors accuse him of receiving and concealing about $255,000 in renovations from contractors interested in doing business with the city of New York.

Kerik's lawyer is confident that his client will be vindicated from the charges.

Pineville Mayor resigns

"Pineville Mayor Bob Madon resigned after a city council meeting in the aftermath of being indicted on federal vote buying charges during the 2006 mayoral election.

Councilwoman Diana Anderson will act as the interim mayor.

Council member named in Shelby County clerk's office arrests

Eight Shelby County (Tenn.) Clerk's office employees were indicted in April 2009 for taking bribes to register cars without an inspection or other proper documentation.

City Councilwoman Barbara Swearengen-Ware was named in three of the indictments, which allege the councilwoman gave money to three different employees in order to get a car registered without proper documentation.

Those arrested were: Darlene McKee, Millicent Rogers, Rita Jones, Patricia Reid, Janice Garrett, Anita Porter, Seprice Crews and Julia Marshall.

Former Illinois Governor Blagojevich indicted on 16 felony counts

According to a press release put out by the office of U.S. Attorney Patrick J. Fitzgerald, Blagojevich "used his office in numerous matters involving state appointments, business, legislation and pension fund investments to seek or obtain such financial benefits as money, campaign contributions, and employment for himself and others, in exchange for official actions, including trying to leverage his authority to appoint a United States Senator," but he was far from the only one.^[2]

The 75-page indictment lays out a wide spread corruption scheme that federal prosecutors refer to as "the Blagojevich Enterprise," the “primary purpose" of which "was to exercise and preserve power over the government of the State of Illinois for the financial and political benefit of” Blagojevich, his family and friends.^[3]

Illinois Gov. Blagojevich arrested on corruption charges

According to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Illinois, the 76 page FBI affidavit charges Blagojevich and Harris with conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud, and solicitation of bribery.

In a statement, U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald said, "The breadth of corruption laid out in these charges is staggering. They allege that Blagojevich put a 'for sale' sign on the naming of a United States Senator; involved himself personally in pay-to-play schemes with the urgency of a salesman meeting his annual sales target; and corruptly used his office in an effort to trample editorial voices of criticism."^[4]

The day before his arrest, Blagojevich was joking about being recorded, "I think there’s nothing but sunshine hanging over me." He went on to say, "I appreciate anyone who wants to tape me openly and notoriously. And those who feel that they want to sneakily and wear taping devices, I would remind them that kind of smells like Nixon and Watergate."^[5]

Nevada Lt. Gov. indicted on fraud charges

The indictment is the culmination of a 20 month long criminal investigation. It accuses Krolicki of two counts of misappropriation and falsification of accounts by a public officer and two counts of misappropriation by a treasurer. His former chief of staff Kathryn Besser is also charged with two counts of misappropriation. All six charges are felonies that are each punishable by four years in jail.^[3]

Maricopa County supervisor indicted on 118 counts

The investigation was a joint effort between Maricopa County Attorney's Office and the Sheriff's Office. They allege Stapley failed to disclose millions of dollars in loans, hundreds of thousands of dollars in deposits from checking accounts to business accounts, along with real-estate deals and other assets.^[6]

The transactions specifically cited include a $10 million loan received by companies owned or controlled by Stapley, and land sales involving Conley Wolfswinkel, who was convicted of bank fraud in the early 1990s.^[7] It is alleged that both of these were improperly reported on annual financial-disclosure statements mandated by state law.

Birmingham mayor arrested on federal charges

U.S. Attorney Alice Martin said that during November 2002 and November 2006, while Langford was president of the Jefferson County, Alabama Commission and head of its department of finance and general services, he put his own affairs ahead of the county. She stated, "Our investigation has revealed, and the indictment alleges, that Langford sold his public office to his friends and political supporters."^[4]

Alongside Langford, the indictment charges two other men - William Blout, an investment banker from Montgomery, and Albert LaPierre, a lobbyist.

Former Chattanooga councilman guilty of obstructing justice

According to the indictment, Michael Kelly, co-defendant in the case, needed help hiding the origin of nearly $70,000 in drug money that was seized during a traffic stop in March. Kelly found someone to provide a document saying Kelly was loaned the money, and Franklin agreed to create a fake document for the non-existent loan.^[8]

With the look of legitimacy to the loan papers, Franklin figured the money would be returned to Kelly. Officials say that when Franklin was questioned about his involvement in the scheme he lied about the papers.^[9]

Auditor faults Richmond schools’ human resources, payroll departments

Johns review of payroll information covered the period from July 1, 2006, to May 31, 2009 and found a number of problems, including overpayments to 19 employees, totaling $50,356.96, employees taking off time but not recording it and sloppy bookkeeping.

The biggest overpayment instance was to an employee on education leave who received $10,050. This employee has agreed to repay the extra salary in $50 increments over 201 periods, but the other overpaid employees are keeping their overpayments.

Richmond school district supervisor overpaid employee, falsified evidence

A letter from Umesh Dalal to Brandon does not include the name of the official but writes that the supervisor "either overpaid or failed to detect overpayment to the employee" and "created documentation after the fact to justify overpayment to the employee."

According to the letter, Brandon's payroll documentation was "very limited and incomplete," failing to coincide with time sheets and work schedules. Dalal said the overpayment for the year reached about $2,000.

Mayor puts muscle behind 346-unit apartment complex

"The mailing reads like a finely produced marketing brochure, touting the opening of a new downtown apartment tower and urging Houstonians to consider moving there:

“One Park Place will be the residence of choice downtown because its 346 residences offer 14 floor plans with finishes typical of high-end condominiums, spectacular views, a nearly one-acre resort-style pool area, a grand terrace overlooking the park and retail spaces.”

Except it is not a marketing brochure. It is a Jan. 16 letter, penned by Mayor Bill White on city letterhead and sent by the developer of One Park Place to hundreds of people and human resources representatives at businesses and organizations across Houston."

Justice Dept. signs off on state's ambitious ethics-reform law

"The U.S. Department of Justice has given its OK for Mississippi to put into action the state's most sweeping government ethics and transparency reform in decades.

Gov. Haley Barbour signed into law in May a bill that gives the Mississippi Ethics Commission significantly more authority."

Patrick targets ethics lapses

"Governor Deval Patrick yesterday proposed a sweeping overhaul of the state's ethics and lobbying laws that would give an array of state authorities unprecedented powers to tap phones, subpoena records, and punish corrupt officials.

Following the recommendations of a 12-member panel formed after a series of scandals roiled the State House, Patrick proposed giving subpoena power to the secretary of state's office and wiretapping authority to the state attorney general. And he would make it easier for the attorney general to win public corruption convictions."

Controversies bring push for more ethics laws

"As Massachusetts deals with its biggest corruption scandals and ethics controversies in decades, everyone from the governor to rank-and-file lawmakers is trying to respond to the public's growing distrust by offering a slew of proposals to tighten ethics laws.

Under one proposal, lawmakers would have to undergo ethics training every two years, like college freshmen being repeatedly reminded not to cheat on exams.

Under another plan, legislators would be subject to term limits, and earmarks - the grease that helps the budget get passed every year - would disappear."

Gobb's strip club companions identified

"The two Blue Grass Airport officials who accompanied former executive director Michael A. Gobb to a Dallas strip club, where they spent thousands of dollars, were identified Friday as operations director John Coon and planning and development director John Slone.

Airport attorney Thomas Halb leib said records show that $5,080 was charged to the Millenium Restaurants Group, which operates the Cabaret Royale club.

Halbleib said that the strip club visit was on Nov. 16, 2004, not in 2003, as he had told the Herald-Leader earlier this week, and the total amount spent was higher than he was initially told."

Airport director Mike Gobb resigns

"Michael Gobb, executive director of Blue Grass Airport for the last decade, resigned Friday morning at a special meeting of the airport board that had been called to discuss whether he should be disciplined or fired. Meanwhile, airport board chairman Bernard Lovely confirmed that new questions about Gobb's expenses have arisen, specifically whether he used other airport officials' credit cards for his own expenditures and whether those expenses were for the airport.

Gobb's resignation is effective immediately."

Airport director suspended with pay during review

"The future of Blue Grass Airport Executive Director Michael Gobb is in doubt after his indefinite suspension with pay while his expenses are reviewed. Airport Board Chairman Bernard Lovely informed the airport staff Tuesday morning of the decision to suspend Gobb.

"I'm very disappointed that we had to take this step in respect to Mike," Lovely said. "He has done much for the airport and this community. .... But there have been recent media and other reports that have raised questions about Mike's conduct" regarding travel expenses."

Transportation Cabinet holds conflict of interest report

"The state Transportation Cabinet yesterday declined to release a report raising questions about possible conflicts of interest of two of its high-ranking officials who resigned last week.

The report is part of an ongoing investigation, and records of such investigations are not subject to release until the investigation is complete, according to a letter from the cabinet's Office of Legal Services."

Cook County Superintendent's office raided

About six boxes of papers and a computer left the office this morning in an effort to further investigate the superintendent whom a state audit confirms misused public funds while in his position. Investigators also raided Flowers' Maywood home on Wednesday morning, leaving with boxes, neighbors report.^[1]

Monica Conyers pleaded guilty to bribery

The City Council member, 44, admitted to accepting bribes for her vote to sway the City Council to approve Synagro Technologies Inc.'s 2007 $1.2 billion contract. Synagro successfully gave Conyers, wife of U.S. Rep. John Conyers, money until December 2007.

The same day she received an envelope of cash from convicted Synagro consultant Rayford Jackson, she voted in favor of the contract for waste water treatment on November 20, 2007. In a McDonald's parking lot two weeks later, Jackson gave Conyers another envelope of cash.

"She was the swing vote in this deal," Berg said. "She used her power to get the deal done, and she acknowledged that." ^[1]

New Jersey Judge schedules sentencing of State Sen. Wayne Bryant

Bryant was a Camden County Democrat senator who served for 25 years. He was convicted of fraud and bribery for taking a low-work job at the School of Osteopathic Medicine at UMDNJ in exchange for siphoning $10.5 million in state funding toward the Stratford school as head of the Senate Budget Committee.

The former senator was also convicted of pension fraud for sending law firm associates to work as a solicitor in his stead for the Gloucester County Board of Social Services. He acquired about $50,000 a year for this function, done by these lawyers.^[1]

65 indicted in student loan fraud

The leader kept records of the process, which allegedly ran between July 4, 2006 and Oct. 30, 2007, with handwritten notes. The notes show much personal, quantitative information of up to 136 straw people involved in the scheme. None of those who applied for these loans in this group were active students, nor did they indent to become so.

She allegedly charged the straw people between $500 and $1,500 each for her help in attaining the grants and loans. They could keep most of the loan money.

Light shed on Ted Stevens debacle, two months later

Two senior managers who supervised Stevens' case, William Welch and Brenda Morris of the department's Public Integrity section, have been moved into other roles. Two of their subordinates had been moved in the last week as well.

The case against Stevens accused the Alaskan of bribery and influential peddling, but new evidence in the form of document-sharing lapses on the department's part have provoked defense complaints. Government lawyers and the FBI are reviewing the case.

Because the new evidence leaves pockets of doubt in the case that the government must review the case, two former Alaska lawmakers were released from prison last week and given lighter parole rules.

Alaska lawmakers could be freed after review

The Alaska state lawmakers, former Representative Vic Kohring and former House Speaker Pete Kott, were convicted in 2007 of accepting bribes from former VECO CEO Bill Allen in return for votes in favor of an oil tax that would benefit the company, according to Allen's testimony.^[2]

The prosecution team, led by assistant U.S. Attorney Jim Trusty and Public Integrity lawyer Peter Koski, handled former senator Ted Steven's case.

Houston's sludge processor tied to Detroit bribery scandal

"A Houston-based company that does contract work for the city of Houston to remove and dispose of its sewage sludge is in the hot seat after an executive of the firm pleaded guilty to bribing Detroit city officials to win a $47-million-per-year contract, Detroit-area media are reporting today and WatchDog Blog's Jennifer Peebles blogged about here. She saw the Associated Press story at chron.com What other Texas cities have contracts with Synagro? If you know of one, e-mail news@texaswatchdog.org or drop us a comment at this WatchDog Blog post).

Obama proposes government expansion into business sector

Obama is expected to announce the proposal at the White House today, expanding the current governmental hold on the banking sector in order to monitor and take over those that fall into trouble, as the executive and legislative branches define.

"We are going to put forward a very strong set of regulatory measures that we think can prevent this kind of crisis from happening again," Obama said Tuesday, the Los Angeles Times reported.^[3]

Detroit bribery scandal trail leads to consultant and councilwoman

Conyers and her former aide Riddle join the other 6 alleged accused of bribery to aide Houston-based Synagro Technologies confirm a multimillion dollar contract with Detroit.^[4] The other officials include former mayor Kwame Kilpatrick, lobbying firm owner Bernard Kilpatrick, former Detroit CAO and CIO Derrick Miller, Kilpatrick's former assistant and later political consultant Mike Tardif, developer and consultant Rayford Jackson and lobbyist Akunna Olumba. The contract sparking the scandal was set to award Synagro with a $47 million annual contract to recycle biosolids from the city’s waste treatment plant.^[5]

NC state employees' group denies bribe attempt

"The legal fight between State Treasurer Richard Moore and a state employees' group that has criticized his stewardship of the state employee pension fund turned ugly Thursday as Moore's attorney accused the group's lawyer of offering a bribe.

In an emergency motion filed by his attorney, Moore asked that a public records lawsuit filed against him by the State Employee Association of North Carolina be dismissed because of "unethical and illegal conduct" by the association and its attorney, Tom Harris."

Confession needed when seeking out wrongdoing at the polls, even with evidence of voter fraud

"It’s darn near impossible to prosecute someone for election-related fraud, public attorneys say. That’s even as Texas Watchdog has found two apparent cases of impersonation of dead people at the polls. But does that mean Texas should require photo ID? Lawmakers will weigh that question in the coming days."

WL reaches deal with accounting firm

"The city of West Linn will receive $385,000 under a settlement agreement with Pauly Rogers and Co. and accountant L. Parry Ankersen, who signed off on financial audits as $1.4 million was embezzled from public funds.

The city released a copy of the five-page agreement Friday in response to a public records request filed by the Tidings in October, when city councilors authorized City Manager Chris Jordan to sign the final draft of the settlement agreement, release and covenant not to sue. The last party signed off on the deal Dec. 15."

County files probe may take months

"Washington County Sheriff Larry Mincks said Friday it might be a couple of months before charges could be brought against the two former county commissioners accused of taking public records with them when they left office.

That's how long, Mincks said, it will take the current commissioners and other county officials to sufficiently comb through the mounds of paper documents and electronic files confiscated from the homes of former office-holders John Grimes and Larry Steinel.

"This is going to be a very detailed, intensive search," Mincks said. "I will say it's going to be a couple of months before our report is sent to (Washington County Prosecutor) Jim Schneider.""

Islip official quits, two suspended in probe

"Islip's deputy public works commissioner has resigned and two department managers have been suspended after, town officials say, they played golf and went on at least one boating excursion during work hours and used town-issued vehicles for the personal trips.

Newsday had submitted a Freedom of Information request in February for the GPS records of town vehicles driven by the four men, and the town launched its own investigation."

Tickets? VIP shields elite

"Dozens of private citizens and government officials received thousands of "free" parking tickets when their license plates were logged into a secretive Albany Police Department program that dates back years.

A recent Times Union analysis of 5,000 tickets issued to vehicles on the VIP list since Jan. 1, 2003, using documents obtained through a Freedom of Information Law request, revealed that most of the cars are or were owned by the city police force."

A Matter of Trust: Auburn obligated to turn over workers' names

"The city of Auburn appears to have violated the law in refusing to release the names of workers on the city payroll who stole $10,000 worth of city tools and equipment.

The sticky-fingered workers were promised anonymity and told they could keep their jobs if they returned the stolen property.

But under the state Freedom of Information Law, the public appears to have a clear right to their identities. Courts have ruled that the law trumps any promise of anonymity."

New Mexico Records on Governor Aides, JPMorgan Sought in Probe

"A federal grand jury investigating whether New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson’s administration steered bond advisory work to a campaign contributor subpoenaed correspondence from the governor’s top political advisers and a JPMorgan Chase & Co. banker.

The Sept. 22 subpoena, obtained from the governor’s office under the state’s open records law, shows the grand jury’s interest in the roles that former Richardson chief of staff David Contarino, political adviser Michael Stratton, and JPMorgan Chase & Co. banker Chris Romer may have played in the hiring of CDR Financial Products Inc. The probe’s existence was earlier reported by Bloomberg News."

U of L grant checks end up in local bank

"Three checks totaling $450,000 — money that former University of Louisville education dean Robert Felner said was intended to pay for research — instead ended up being deposited in a Louisville bank, records show.

The records, which The Courier-Journal obtained in an open-records request, don’t identify who deposited or endorsed the checks."

911 operator had history of errors, sleeping on job

"It took the death of Darlene Dukes for a 911 operator to finally lose her job in Fulton County.

Gina Conteh survived nearly 12 years handling emergency calls despite a personnel record that includes fights with co-workers, chronic tardiness, insubordination, repeated sleeping on the job and numerous mistakes routing emergency calls."

Cop charged with murder had been subject of probes

"An Atlanta police officer who was arrested in July on a murder charge in Cobb County has been investigated six times by the department's internal affairs unit for various allegations since he joined the force in April 2002.

In five of those investigations, the police department determined that Officer John Kevin Freeman had violated department policies, according to Freeman's disciplinary files, reviewed by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution through an Open Records Act request."

Cook County Superintendent's office raided

About six boxes of papers and a computer left the office this morning in an effort to further investigate the superintendent whom a state audit confirms misused public funds while in his position. Investigators also raided Flowers' Maywood home on Wednesday morning, leaving with boxes, neighbors report.^[1]

700 NYC teachers are paid to do nothing

"Hundreds of New York City public school teachers accused of offenses ranging from insubordination to sexual misconduct are being paid their full salaries to sit around all day playing Scrabble, surfing the Internet or just staring at the wall, if that's what they want to do.

Because their union contract makes it extremely difficult to fire them, the teachers have been banished by the school system to its "rubber rooms" — off-campus office space where they wait months, even years, for their disciplinary hearings."

El Paso County's top-paid employee: $225K

"Seventy El Paso County workers made six figures in calendar year 2007 — and a few other county workers put in enough overtime to nearly double their regular pay. Those are among the findings of Texas Watchdog’s review of county salary data." Click here to search the database OR check out this more detailed report at the El Paso Times OR click here for a summary of Texas Watchdog's findings.

Documents show costs grew for state House lounge renovations

"No one’s claiming responsibility for the renovations of the state House members’ lounge in the Capitol, but the $140,000 renovation project still has a paper trail. Texas Watchdog is making those documents available to the public today on its Web site after obtaining them from the House’s administrative office."

Exclusive: As Gaston leaders prospered, town suffered

"For years, as the town sank deep into debt, Gaston officials and some relatives got jobs, bonuses, cell phones, meals and mileage reimbursements on the public’s dime.

The former police chief, who questioned how tens of thousands of dollars in traffic tickets were handled, found himself locked out of the offices of the town administrator and mayor.

Town Council members — who say they were unaware of any problems — failed to act or adopt formal, written rules of good government."

Anderson Twp. officials defend woodland getaway retreat

"Anderson Township officials are expected to spend more than $3,500 of taxpayers' money this week to meet, eat and sleep at a woodland getaway.

Township trustees, department heads and administrative staff were expected to meet at the Murphin Ridge Inn in West Union, about 50 miles east of the township, for a workshop planning meeting beginning Thursday, Jan. 29."

'Other pay' drives up Yorktown wages

"The town's top earner last year wasn't its top-salaried employee, and he didn't receive a penny of overtime pay.

Records provided by the town put police Lt. Richard Malan, a 36-year veteran, ahead of the town supervisor and every department head, including his own chief, with total compensation for 2008 of $140,931. That includes nearly $48,000 beyond his regular salary, including retroactive pay increases."

Waiver lets state pensioners prosper

See also: New York state budget

"Lower Hudson Valley taxpayers will shell out millions of dollars in salaries this year for public sector retirees who continue to collect state pensions despite taking new government and education jobs.

The double dippers include a Westchester schools superintendent making nearly $400,000 a year, a Putnam town supervisor with two public jobs who earns more than $230,000 and a Rockland environmental manager earning in excess of $272,000.

Due to a loophole in state law, more than 185 public employees in the three counties have been allowed to collect a pension and a salary during the past three years, records obtained by The Journal News under the state Freedom of Information Law show."

Audit finds UMDNJ spent big on cell phone service for terminated employees

"The state's medical university, which spends more than $1 million a year for pagers and cellular phones, cannot account for many of them, according to a confidential internal audit.

The auditors, whose report was obtained by The Star-Ledger, found the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey was paying for cell phones still held by terminated employees, and also was paying for expanded services -- such as cell phone picture messaging -- that the auditors questioned. Their report also said the university is not tracking personal phone usage by its employees -- a violation of Internal Revenue Service regulations."

IN DEPTH: Public service pays off

"Former Henderson Police Chief Richard Perkins was on the city payroll two months this fiscal year, but he stands to pull down nearly $450,000 from City Hall at a time when politicians must slash services or raise taxes as government revenue plummets with the state economy.

Perkins, 47, stepped down this past summer with the minimum 25 years of service credit on the police force, necessary to qualify for a full pension.

His years, combined with the $168,478 salary he received when he departed, gave him a pension worth an estimated $99,400 a year."

Governments lobbying governments

"State and local governments in Nevada spend millions each year lobbying other levels of the government, and taxpayers get little if anything in return.

Open records requests and federal database research conducted by the Nevada Policy Research Institute have found that a significant amount of taxpayer money is spent on questionable lobbying activities."

Info sought on severance tax issue

"A former state senator from Colorado's eastern plains has filed an open records request to see if the governor's office or any other state body has used taxpayer funds to formulate a controversial ballot measure.

Former Sen. Mark Hillman, R-Burlington, said he filed the request for correspondence between the Colorado Department of Higher Education and the governor's office to see if taxpayer funds were improperly used to push for a ballot measure to increase the severance tax."

Tax dollars to lobby for more government

California taxpayer-funded lobbying associations

"An expose in the Sacramento Bee shows that Los Angeles County spent $3.7 million from 2007-2008 to employ eight lobbyists and to contract separately with five lobbying firms to influence the California legislature."

IL governments spent $5 million to lobby the state

Responding to the report, Director of ICPR Cynthia Canary said, “This $5 million of public funds is significant, but it is a small portion of the tens of millions of dollars spent on lobbying by hundreds of corporations, labor unions and other special interest groups represented by lobbyists in Springfield. What the public doesn’t know is what special interests in the private sector are spending to try to pass or kill legislation and to impact actions in the executive branch."

“Through the Freedom of Information Act and the cooperation of dozens of public officials, we were able to research public spending on lobbying, but a change in state law is needed to mandate similar disclosure by the private sector.”^[1]

The difference, of course, is that lobbying by local governments is paid for with taxpayer dollars, but Canary did not pass judgment, “Cities of all sizes, transit agencies, school districts and many other local governments have turned to professional lobbyists for a variety of reasons. ICPR leaves it to local taxpayers to determine whether the lobbying services were necessary and whether the fees paid to lobbyists were fair.”^[1]

Report details the cost of taxpayer-funded lobbying

From 1998 to 2008, federal government spending has increased by $1.3 trillion, or 78.8%. That same time period has seen dramatic increases in federal lobbying by state and local governments, public universities, transportation authorities, and public water utilities. All combined these entities spent $138.1 million on lobbying in 2007, up 151% since 1998.^[2]

Kerpen concludes that these efforts have led to a direct increase in earmarks, along with an overall breakdown in fiscal discipline. He points out that the actual figure for taxpayer-funded lobbying is much higher than the $1.09 billion, as Senate disclosure reports are coded by industry group, but does not specify if it is private or public. Thus he was only able to use information on entities that could be identified as public. Alongside that, private lobbyists are held to strict gift rules - $50 limit in the Senate and an outright gift ban in the House. Lobbyists paid by tax dollars, however, are exempt from this rule and can give unlimited gifts, which do not have to be disclosed.^[2]

Key document reveals early airport evidence in Sansom case

Prosecutors have made public nearly 16,000 pages of evidence against the former state House speaker as Sansom is preparing for his trial on felony official misconduct and perjury charges. Sansom and Bob Richburg, the Northwest Florida State College president, had denied that Odom was going to store planes in the building and that it was going to be used for classrooms. However, another piece of evidence in the mountain of paperwork against the former Florida House Speaker is a testimony from the man who oversaw Destin Airport saying he contacted the Federal Aviation Administration to say that the building would have classrooms as well as serve as storage and maintenance space for Destin Jet, a company owned by Odom.^[1]

Top 50 earners in Clarkstown work for police

"The top 50 wage earners in the town of Clarkstown worked for the police department and collectively made about $10 million in 2008.

The highest paid among them was Capt. Thomas Purtill, who earned $335,676.88 in 2008 while working two days a week because of a disability. Purtill, who retired in March after 35 years in the police department, spent three days a week receiving physical therapy."

Full-time pension, part-time hours for 5 local town attorneys?

"Five town attorneys in the region have been collecting credits toward public pensions as though they were full-time town employees, even though each also works for a private practice or represents more than one municipal client.

Public records obtained by the Times Herald-Record show that the towns that employ these lawyers regularly credit them with full-time service when submitting monthly reports to the New York State and Local Retirement System, the taxpayer-funded pension plan for public employees."

Local businessman challenges USD 259 bond award

"A local businessman says he's growing increasingly frustrated in trying to find out why the Wichita school board awarded a multi-million dollar project to a Dallas based company over him.

The bid to install the synthetic turf is the first contract awarded for the new bond issue.

The CEO of ATG sports says he and his attorney already filed a formal protest and open records request last week but heard nothing."

Quincy superintendent addresses pay raises

"At the same time the Quincy school district is talking cuts, we're hearing questions about recent salary increases for administrators in the district.

We received several calls from viewers concerned that the district was giving hefty pay raises to the district's top salaried employees, even while the district plans to whack $2 million dollars in the coming school year.

KHQA investigated to find out if raises were given, how much, and why they were approved for this KHQA FactFinder report."

Lawmakers may take aim at school superintendent contracts

"Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle want to blow the lid off "hidden benefits" in educator salaries now that some superintendent salaries in the state have climbed past $400,000.

Several legislators said they would like to see itemized breakdowns of school administrator salaries. Currently, the Illinois State Board of Education only releases an overall annual salary figure.

Now-retired Supt. Neil Codell, who oversaw two schools for north suburban Niles Township High School District 219, was the highest paid educator in the state last year, taking home $411,500, according to a report in last week's Chicago Sun-Times."

Experts: FGCU violated open records law when short-listing bidders for solar project

"Florida Gulf Coast University didn’t follow state open records law or its internal bidding procedures when selecting a firm for the school’s highest-profile project, experts said.

But the university insists it did nothing wrong during this summer’s short-listing process to choose a company for its $17 million solar energy farm.

At a September public meeting, FGCU’s eight-member selection committee narrowed the 10 firms that applied for the project by oral vote alone. There were no minutes taken during the meeting and committee members didn’t rank the firms.

Both were required, experts said."

Colorado elections director resigns amid inquiry

"The abrupt resignation Thursday of a top elections official at the secretary of state's office happened in the midst of a watchdog group's investigation into her relationship with a local businessman who has contracts with that office.

Holly Lowder, 66, resigned from her post as elections director two months before what is expected to be one of the biggest elections in recent Colorado history. She held that job since 2006. Before that, Lowder served as Alamosa County clerk for about 25 years."

Auditor's report: 145 contracts altered without Assembly OK

An internal auditor released a report Monday saying the municipality tinkered with union contracts without Assembly approval 145 times since 1990.

All changes to contracts between the municipality of Anchorage and union workers are supposed to be reviewed and approved by the Anchorage Assembly."

NO Councilwoman says sanitation director lied about contract

Head said that for most of 2008, she had been asking for a list from White, detailing the number of addresses served by the sanitation department, which is crucial in determining the cost of garbage collection. Council President Jackie Clarkson and previous meeting minutes confirm White previously testified that such a list was not available. However, at the November 11 hearing, White said she receives monthly updates on how many addresses are served, with the number currently at 106,500.

Head became furious, saying this was exactly the information she had been requesting for months. She is concerned that the city is paying contractors based on the 106,500 addresses, which she thinks is much too high. When asked to explain the estimate, White said she would "reserve my comments for the inspector general." Events escalated from there, leading to White's departure.

State Sen. Rodney Ellis' private firm stands to profit from bond package he championed for HISD

"The Houston lawmaker gave the Houston Independent School District’s 2007 public bond campaign a final-leg push, and his firm, Rice Financial Products, stands to make a mint from it."

Tickets? VIP shields elite

"Dozens of private citizens and government officials received thousands of "free" parking tickets when their license plates were logged into a secretive Albany Police Department program that dates back years.

A recent Times Union analysis of 5,000 tickets issued to vehicles on the VIP list since Jan. 1, 2003, using documents obtained through a Freedom of Information Law request, revealed that most of the cars are or were owned by the city police force."

Bonuses boost council staff pay

"The City Council has been awarding large bonuses to members of its staff, quietly boosting the pay of some political appointees to levels that are well beyond the salary ranges authorized for those positions in city statutes, according to a Globe review of public records."

DHR consultant’s pay probed

"The head of the state Department of Human Resources, whose hiring practices have drawn past scrutiny, is facing new allegations of preferential treatment of an employee.

Georgia’s inspector general is investigating the employment of Cynthia Tate after an anonymous complaint said Tate was a “personal friend” of B.J. Walker, commissioner of the department, when Tate was hired.

The complaint also alleged that Walker allowed Tate to charge the state for hours not worked to compensate for her travel costs to and from Chicago, where she lives while commuting regularly to Georgia for her work. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution received a copy of that complaint, made anonymously by a DHR employee."

Records show high spending by Atlanta City Council

"Expense reports show that several Atlanta City Council members have spent tens of thousands in taxpayer money to hire their relatives and pass out gifts and food to constituents.

The Atlanta Journal Constitution obtained the records under Georgia's Open Records Act."

Councilman’s use of brother’s company questioned

"Atlanta city councilman and mayoral candidate Ceasar Mitchell authorized $49,223 in payments from his taxpayer-funded expense account to a company owned and operated by his brother and former campaign manager, according to records obtained under Georgia’s Open Records Act."

Former Florida Speaker of the House indicted

Late in the 2007 budget session, Sansom put $6 million dollars into the budget to fund the building, which is located near Northwest Florida State College at Destin Airport, next to Odom's private jet business. Sansom said he had no idea that, at the same time, Odom was seeking $6 million to build a hanger he planned to share with local emergency officials.

Sansom's official misconduct charge is for creating false budget documents, which gave the building the appearance of "multi-use educational facility," when it was nothing more than a hanger. For example, he referred to office space in the building as classrooms.^[1] Richburg, indicted for his part in the scheme, was also indicted for perjury after lying to the jury over plans for the building.

Sweetheart loans for government officials

• A blog post calling for Conrad's resignation on sayanythingblog
• Fox News segment on the matter

Two more leaving Nagin Administration

In addition to the two top staff members who have already left the Nagin Administration, the Mayor will soon be able to count two more.

Before the end of June, both Kenya Smith, the intergovernmental relations director, and Col. Terry Ebbert, the city's homeland security director, will be leaving. Currently it is unclear who will fill these positions.

Smith came to his position in August 2005, just before Hurricane Katrina hit. While there are rumors that he plans to run for Congress, all Smith has said is that he wants to continue to work for New Orleans.

In a statement, Mayor Nagin praised Smith, saying "Kenya has been a critical part of our work to recover and to build an even better city for the future. His passion and strategic vision have been invaluable."^[2] Recently, Smith has been under great criticism for charging tens of thousands of dollars on his city issued credit card.

Ebbert, 65, plans on retiring from City Hall, but said he will continue to lobby to increase local governments ability to deal with disasters. While leading New Orleans' response after Katrina, he had been one of the most vocal critics of the Federal Government's attempts to deal with the catastrophe. ^[3]

Already having left the Administration this year was Mike Centineo, director of safety and permits, and Becca O'Brien, who served as Nagin's executive council.

CTO Jones lied about credentials

Chief Technology Officer Anthony Jones, currently under fire for his department's role in the city cameras and 311 programs, finds himself in trouble once more - this time over his resume. It seems that the college degree Jones claimed to have earned, and put on two job applications, never existed.

Hired right before Hurricane Katrina, Jones saw his salary rise from $99,000 to $160,000, the same amount made by the previous CTO, who held a college degree. In fact, under current New Orleans law, the position of CTO must be filled by someone holding a college degree.

In an attempt to explain the issue away, Chief Administrative Officer Brenda Hatfield said that "'Interim' was placed before his title with the understanding it would be removed when he earned that degree."^[4]