Posted on 03/13/2013 10:34:23 AM PDT by rightwingintelligentsia
A former state Senate power broker and seven others were charged Wednesday in what prosecutors termed a "pay to play" scheme involving the Pennsylvania Turnpike, its vendors and political contributions.
Attorney General Kathleen Kane said public money was used to line the defendants' pockets and sway elections.
"The public has lost untold millions of dollars," Kane said, adding that the "greatest improper influence" involved the turnpike's procurement process.
Retired state Senate Democratic Leader Bob Mellow, currently jailed on unrelated corruption charges, was accused of having his chief of staff help supporters and contributors get business from the turnpike, and having him pressure people at the turnpike to support him politically and raise campaign funds.
(Excerpt) Read more at nbcnews.com ...
How did they “lose” millions? Hunt the perps down and extract it.
The Rats treat government as a trough, from which they feed freely. What a surprise!
I moved from Philly to Texas 10 yrs ago and the PA Turnpike has been the largest patronage in America. Great Teamster jobs collecting $20./hr plus full beenies for collecting outragious fees. The Pa Turnpike has been a democratic kitty fund for atleast a decade before I moved.
I needed to call AAA on the PA Turnpike a few weeks ago and the guy who showed up told me that AAA doesnt have a “contract” with the PA Turnpike Authority and the tow truck guys who show up do so thru their own contacts with the PATA - kudos for AAA for not paying to play......
Those millions aren’t ‘lost’. They were re-invested in the economy, buying expensive toys & encouraging recipients to go out to dinner more. It’s almost better than welfare for getting the economy moving! /sarc
The tolls are so high because “Fast Eddie” Rendell turned it into a cash cow to fund other Democrat initiatives from the pockets of people who don’t actually live here.
The company I work for had a service contract with the PA Turnpike for decades. In 2007 they decided to put the contract out to bid which was fine with us. This was a large contract of over 6 figures. Four companies bid and we were the lowest bid by about 40% to the next lowest which was submitted by our biggest competitor in this business. The Turnpike decided to not accept any bids.
The next year, they resubmitted their request for bids. We were able to lower ours even more. Our biggest competitor came in at exactly 10% lower than our bid. We knew the fix was in.
Bob Mellow was a neighbor of my deceased grandma, and he lived in my town Blakely, near Scranton. His ex-wife used to sit on my grandma’s porch and cry about the abuse that this man inflicted on her. I would put NOTHING past this felon, who is now serving a light sentence in prison. Bob
Wanna bet that Fast Eddie Rendell, former Pa. governor, knows something about this? Bob
Yup; they do mention that un-indicted co-conspirator Fast Eddie at the end, along with his bosom buddy Vince.
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