AP Investigation: Plant deal may enrich donors (Gov.Perdue)

Houston Chronicle ^

[sunmars]

A state lawmaker and a group of Democratic political donors with ties to Gov. Beverly Perdue are poised to sell land at a handsome profit for a tire plant that's being lured with $100 million in state and local incentives, according to public records reviewed by The Associated Press.

As North Carolina's chief executive, the governor is a key decision maker in large incentives deals involving state money. She also helps appoint the board members of a foundation that's been asked to provide part of the tire plant's package. Perdue's campaign has received more than $52,000 from five men with an ownership stake in the Brunswick County industrial park proposed for the new facility.

The governor's son, Garrett Perdue, is also a lawyer and site-selection consultant for an influential law firm that a county official said was advising the tire company. The firm, Womble Carlyle Sandridge & Rice, does not disclose which projects the younger Perdue works on, citing attorney-client privilege.

Perdue's spokesman stressed Thursday that the company seeking the incentives, not the governor's aides, chose the site. The North Carolina site is competing with sites in two other states.

"Gov. Perdue is focused on bringing 1,300 jobs to North Carolina," said Mark Johnson, Perdue's spokesman. "She doesn't care where in the state the plant goes, who owns the land or who the company hires as its lawyer. She just wants the jobs."

The proposed location, the Mid-Atlantic Logistics Center, is owned by a group of investors that includes state Sen. Michael P. Walters, a Democrat from Proctorville.

[Hoodat]

Culture of Corruption

[headstamp 2]

Tammany Hall goes national.

[GeronL]

business as usual.

hand out YOUR money and get some back as campaign contributions.

[Scott from the Left Coast]

Cronyism and corruption is THE SYSTEM in America today, the Democrat principal of governance is NOTHING but cronyism and using power to determine society’s winners. They operate in no other way.

[concerned about politics]

Cronyism and corruption is THE SYSTEM in America today

"The rich get richer, and the poor get poorer."

"The politicians get richer, and the tax payers get poorer."

[LMAO]

LOL!!

I now see why she wants to suspend elections

[pcpa]

Do deeper research into Perini and you will find deep chicago connections that date back to the Capone days if my memory serves me. They also held a prime piece of property in West Palm for many years that was undeveloped that was near the airport again if memory serves me. I was know of an attempt to do a land swap on that property and that was when I learned of those connections from talking with one of the individuals involved. They scared the He>> out of him.

[Crichton]

Womble Carlyle is a powerhouse law firm - with Jim Hunt & Burley Mitchell leading the lobbying charge, Perdue's son is not really consequential. I would expect most of the lobbying types at the firm are connected Democrats, since Democrats have been running state govt for so long.

Golden LEAF, like so many unaccountable slush funds, is the biggest magnet for corruption in this story. The John Locke Foundation, a prominent local think tank, has recommended liquidating it.

[Crichton]

Ping to 28 - It would make for a great investigative piece to track the disposition of the massive tobacco settlements in each state.

[Only1choice____Freedom]

Time for a recall yet?

How many more of these will it take?

[Dubya-M-DeesWent2SyriaStupid!]

It is in wikipedia that Purdue wants to run for POTUS...one day.Obama has his cake and eats it too.He used the joker witch to steal NC and have they're pathetic commierat convention here. And then set her up to never be able to challenge him or run for POTUS.As well as I read an article that Weiner was thinking of challenging Obama then weinergate happened.Obama didn't eat his cake too with this one as the rats lost a seat but he does not care about the democratis party only himself so he did have his cake and eat it too.

[Marty62]

Frankly you can’t even take a step without running into a criminal DumoRAT.

The Dummie Party has been a stain on America since it was founded.
It’s in their DNA.

[Scott from the Left Coast]

Ever sit back and think how people like Obama, Harry Reid, etc. got to be multi-multi millionaires when their families don’t have any money and they held government and not-for-profit jobs for their entire careers?

[Blood of Tyrants]

They figure if Obastard can do it, they can, too.

Rats are not opposed to capitalism, just free market capitalism that doesn’t deposit any green into their accounts simply for existing.

[Repub4bush]

Right to work state as of now!

[Repub4bush]

Right to work state as of now!

[RetiredTexasVet]

And Eric “the bigot” Holder is too busy suing the states for enforcing the feds abandoned responsibility for immigration to prosecute corruption in his own house (ATF, FBI, DEA, etc) gunrunner, DOE Solyondra, or other corruption in government.

[dennisw]

Perini Construction is an old Massachusetts company that owned the Boston Braves back in 1948. Go look it up

[MadMax, the Grinning Reaper]

I wonder if Gov. Perdue is related to the late Frank Perdue of Chicken foods fame?

If so, couldn’t we say that her “chickens have come home to roost”, and to crap all over her and her corrupt cronies?

In fact, after this is all over, I predict that “her goose will be cooked”.

Bon appetit, Bev. Prison food is good for you.

[RightOnline]

"Rats are not opposed to capitalism, just free market capitalism that doesn’t deposit any green into their accounts simply for existing."

Precisely; well said.