Showing posts with label Lobbyist. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Lobbyist. Show all posts

Monday, July 13, 2026

The husband, the lobbyist, the committee

Chris Pappas runs on anti-corruption platform while husband works for company his committee oversees

Rep. Chris Pappas, the New Hampshire Democrat now running for U.S. Senate as a crusader against "corporate special interests," sits on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, the same panel that oversees Uber, where his husband holds an executive policy role.

Uber spent $1.5 million lobbying Congress in the first quarter of 2026 alone, and its lobbyists have already contributed $5,250 to the Pappas Senate campaign.

Pappas's campaign website declares that he "knows the system is rigged against people and in favor of corporate special interests, dark money groups, and entrenched politicians." The arrangement between his committee seat, his husband's employer, and his own financial disclosures suggests the system may be working just fine, for the Pappas household.

The conflict, detailed by the Washington Free Beacon, traces back years and touches lobbying records, financial disclosures, regulatory filings, and a debate-stage denial that Pappas later had to walk back. His campaign did not respond to a request for comment.

Vann Bentley, Pappas's husband, previously worked as a lobbyist for Amazon through 2019. He now serves as policy manager for cybersecurity and privacy at Uber. He is not currently registered as a lobbyist at the company, but his policy work puts him squarely inside Uber's government-facing operations.

Read about Democrat Chris Pappas

Saturday, July 30, 2022

Biden Corruption Exposed...$2.5 Billion

The boldness of the Biden administration is sickening

After Trump, Biden obviously thinks he can get away with anything and everyone will look the other way. And actually they have!

So, it really is not all that surprising that he just tapped a failed program for $2.5 billion to pay off a staffer’s brother, who happens to be a lobbyist for an electric vehicle (EV) manufacturer.

Read about it...

It's past time to Impeach!

Friday, July 14, 2017

The Onion is being Peeled

And what are we ending up with? Sneaky, colluding Democrats.

Read about it...

"Radical left-wing icon former California Democratic Rep. Ron Dellums was a hired lobbyist for Natalia Veselnitskaya, the Russian lawyer who met with Donald Trump Jr. June 9, 2016, the Daily Caller News Foundation Investigative Group has learned."

Thursday, April 7, 2016

Lake Worth's Lobbyist, Richard Pinsky

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Richard Pinsky, our lobbyist in Tallahassee, was at the County Commission meeting on Tuesday sitting in the back row. He is considered a "super lobbyist" and one of his specialties--development project approvals before local governments. He is also the former husband of Kimberly Mitchell who was a West Palm Beach commissioner for 13 years.

When I kiddingly asked him if he was lobbying for the Atlanta Braves now, he said "no." I should have asked if he was lobbying for the City of Lake Worth.

He also attended our city commission meeting Tuesday night where resolution No. 18-2016, supporting the Atlanta Braves location in John Prince Park was passed on a 3/1 vote, McVoy dissenting. Commissioner Ryan Maier was out sick.

Mr. Pinsky's contract with the city dated September 24, 2014 had a term ending May 31, 2015 and was extended by City Manager Bornstein on July 6, 2015. The extension letter did not have an ending term. Originally it was a one year contract so I guess we can assume that this has been extended to May 31, 2016? Total compensation is not to exceed $25,000 per year.

Monday, March 14, 2016

Scott Maxwell always said, "Connect the Dots"

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Yesterday, Scott Maxwell had a call go out to registered voters in Lake Worth on his behalf by Marie Horenburger telling folks why Scott is so wonderful and to vote for him on Tuesday. Ms. Horenburger lives in Boynton Beach. How does she know if Maxwell has done a good job or not? He told her? She drank his Kool-Aid?

TALLAHASSEE -- A blast from a few years ago--Former Delray Beach city commissioner Marie Horenburger, who spent her last year in office on a commission embroiled in controversy, stepped into a different frying pan on Friday. Horenburger attended her first legislative committee meeting as a lobbyist for Palm Beach County -- an early-morning session where members of two House committees grilled embattled Transportation Secretary Kaye Henderson. Read more...

Marie was also a registered lobbyist for The Morganti Group in 2012. In 2012, Morganti was building our Lake Worth Casino. The city has been in a big stall in filing a law suit for three years now for what they say is faulty work and now it turns out Scott has a big connection to shhhh...a lobbyist who represented Morganti.

She was also a registered lobbyist for Waste Management, a company that gave Scott Maxwell a $1,000 campaign contribution and one of their subsidiaries, Harris Sanitation, gave him another $1,000. Pam Triolo also got $1,000. He even took a campaign contribution from Hector Samario of Siemens in the amount of $500. The convicted felon gave him $500. Not only did Benny's on the Beach give him $1,000, so did the owner of Benny's at $500.

Click here...to see what the Morganti lobbyist was up to.

You have to ask yourself why is so much money being poured into a little city election? It is impossible to connect the dots--you would need the FBI to do it. Why all the ugly hit pieces from PACs so that their names don't appear as being sent out by them. Honesty is illusive. They are still operating in the dark, so much so that you need your Raid can handy. We have witnessed their disrespect to fellow commissioners, the public and democracy itself. We got them figured out; we have connected enough of the dots.

VOTE FOR CHANGE MARCH 15

Wednesday, July 29, 2015

Tuesday, December 2, 2014

"The city's full of crap," says Lake Worth lobbyist

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TIVOLI, DOWNLOW,
GODDAMIT, & NOSAY, P.A.
========================
666 Lobbyist Parkway, Suite 000
West Bum Beach, Florida
Telephone:  561-555-screwwu

December 2, 2014

Via Electronic Mail
Mr. Joe Low Baller
Town Mgr, June Beach

Subject:  Lake Worth City Hall Crap Collecting Facility

Dear Joe:

As you may know, the cities of Lake Worth, Palmetto Bug Springs, Brownacres, Atlandisthis, Belly Glade, Lowland Beach, Jupiter Outlet Center and Puddle Ridge are supporting the location of a crap collecting facility at Lake Worth City Hall.

As you are probably aware, the county is up to its ass in crap. And nowhere is this problem more serious than in Lake Worth. We are swimming in the stuff.

Recently we had a very positive meeting with representatives of the facility and we would appreciate your sending me a formal letter of support for the Lake Worth Crap Collection Facility.  If you agree, enclosed is a sample resolution that you can utilize for your letter. The problem is really reaching crisis proportions.  Several of our commissioners have had close calls with the huge amount of crap here at City Hall. As a matter of fact, one of our commissioners, Andy Imaloser, almost drowned when he slipped and fell into the crap.

As Lake Worth City Hall is already the crap epicenter, we thought it best to put the Crap Collecting Facility here and contain it all in one place.

If you agree, it would be much appreciated if any letter of support could be provided to me by Friday, December 12.  In addition, it would be appreciated if your governing body would adopt a resolution supporting the Crap Collecting Facility at Lake Worth City Hall.

Sincerely,

Gin Tivoli

Attachment
cc:  Nike Bornstone

Monday, November 10, 2014

Lake Worth hires Lobbyist

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I was wondering why Richard Pinsky was at our last city commission meeting but as I had to leave after one hour to attend another meeting, I did not learn the reason until lately. Lake Worth just hired lobbyist, Richard Pinsky to represent them in Tallahassee. The contract pays him $2,000 a month from October 1 until May 31, 2015 and dated September 24, 2014, not to exceed $25,000.

Back in October 2010, I wrote about Richard Pinsky and his involvement in Shanon  Materio's BACPAC. He gave $1,000 to Businesses Aligned For Change Political Action Committee which was founded by Shanon Materio, co-owner of McMow Art Glass on North Dixie Highway in order to support "business friendly" candidates or those they felt were on their side of issues. You always need to follow the money. Pinsky is the former husband of West Palm Beach City Commissioner Kimberly Mitchell, a good friend of Shanon Materio who is a good friend of the Lake Worth commission.

Read about Richard Pinsky... who pushed a land buy in West Palm Beach. And you have to wonder where lake Worth is getting all the money to do the following when they essentially told us during the general obligation bond potential money grab that they had NO money.

So now we have Tallahassee lobbyist, Richard Pinsky and a Washington D.C. lobbyist, Alcalde and Fay out of Alexandria, Virginia who we hired in April for $5,000 a month plus expenses. 

Also,
The Palm Beach Post reported that Lake Worth will be spending the following:
  • $6 million to upgrade Boutwell Road in the 313-acre Park of Commerce. (Where's that $$ coming from?)
  • $4.8 million to improve Lake and Lucerne avenues to meet the Americans With Disabilities Act.
  • $3.7 million to upgrade sidewalks, roads and water utility equipment near Barton and North Grade Elementary schools.
  • $700,000 to help city code officers demolish or board abandoned buildings.
  • Regulation of sober homes.


Tuesday, May 6, 2014

Spring Training Talks

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"(Mark) Foley said the Nationals are impressed with a site plan for a waterfront stadium at John Prince Park in Lake Worth but said the 84-acre site might be too small for two teams." And this is the problem--when you have politicians and lobbyists behind the scenes working to make something happen, those 84 acres now become 134 acres and up.

The Nationals don't seem to care much about anything but what they want on the taxpayer dime. Their lease in Brevard County runs out in 2017, leaving that county high and dry. Brevard has pumped in $5 million since 2005 and the nationals wanted $29 million in upgrades before they would renew a twenty year lease.

Read about Spring Training talks.

Potential sites in PB County

Wednesday, April 16, 2014

Quiet Zones - All Aboard Florida

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Shannon Materio, West Palm Beach City Commissioner is all in favor of All Aboard Florida.  She was lobbying in Washington last week and thinks the millions it would take to have quiet zones on the FEC is a good use of taxpayer dollars. It is just one more thing that falls into the agenda.

Read about it... and see the video.

Also, Read about All Aboard Florida projected to cost ONE BILLION more than expected

The Lobbyists

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What a bunch of sad sacks we are. We are so desperate for money that we will do just about anything for it-- granny's silver is not sacred--or suggest to bulldoze John Prince Park or sell beach parking decal stickers to non-residents. Take your pick, both stupid.

One desperate move was to hire the Washington lobbyists last night, the firm of Alcalde and Fay out of Alexandria, Virginia for $5,000 a month (a mere pittance in the scheme of things but a lot to us..which fund did they move money from now?) plus expenses for a chance to get a "seat at the table." What it did was get a lobbyist's foot in the door to Lake Worth.  It sort of reminds me of selling all those decal stickers to get a chance to park your car in the "resident" parking lot that is NO LONGER THE RESIDENT PARKING LOT but one for non-residents as well. And no, Commissioner Szerdi, this is not "finally at rest."

Alcalde and Fay describe themselves as a 45 member firm with partners and professionals with a "rich diversity in both background and effective advocacy." Three of the heavy hitters were there last night giving their pitch to our desperation. Our point guys will be Skip Bafilis and Jim Davenport from the firm.

They will be assisting the city with its grant applications and developing strategies to obtain Federal funding and use all their years of rubbing shoulders with the high and mighty Washington elites for some pay-back to little ole Lake Worth. There is no telling what these guys will make off the grant amounts. Now get this--we don't even have a Grant Writer. So, this $60,000 a year plus, plus, plus will probably turn out double when we realize that we need to hire a Grant Writer in order to get off the ground.

And one more thing--all that decal parking permit money that the city will be collecting from non-residents for the chance of finding a space will off-set this lobbyist cost. For the commission, it's a win, win, plus, plus in the "scheme" of things.

Tuesday, April 1, 2014

Lake Worth to hire Lobbyist firm

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Just think, a $5,000 a month retainer fee plus out of pocket, etc. to have a possible influence in Washington, D.C. to the firm, Alcalde and Fay.  85 year old  Skip Bafilis is listed as a consultant there and the one who wrote the letter to the City of Lake Worth.  Mr. Bafilis  is a retired Republican Congressman. He used to reside in Palm Beach but now lives in Arlington, Virginia.

SUMMARY:
The Agreement provides for professional services in the field of government relations and advocacy, including legislative procedure, regulatory processes, public policy, and appropriations and grant programs administered by the Federal government.

BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION:
Currently, the City has no voice in Washington, DC in order to maximize their participation in Federal programs and funding opportunities as Congress and the Administration seek ways to stimulate the economy.

Alcalde & Fay, LTD is a bipartisan firm that represents Palm Beach County, West Palm Beach and Riviera Beach as well as other local governments ranging in population size from 2,676 to 2.6 million. They have successfully assisted in obtaining essential support and direct Federal assistance for transportation, economic development, criminal justice and law enforcement programs/projects, health services, a range of education and community programs, and water/wastewater infrastructure project. It is the city’s intent to become more effective in applying for and obtaining Federal money for projects and programs including road infrastructure and utilities. Compensation for services include a monthly retainer of $5,000 plus out-of-pocket expenses incurred in connection with their work for items such as copying, postage, telephone, delivery, and telecopy charges.

Staff recommends approval of this agreement as Administration moves forward to find funding sources for roadway, utilities, and Park of Commerce infrastructure improvements. If approved, a budget amendment would be required.

I guess you have to spend money that's not budgeted in order to get money particularly when the idea of a  general obligation bond has fallen flat for the 2020 program and Park of Commerce.

Saturday, September 14, 2013

Marijuana Lobby

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A lobby funded by billionaires who are libertarian on social issues subsidizes a tea party movement and takes control of a political party. But this time, it’s not the Koch brothers dictating the Republican agenda. I’m talking about pro-marijuana billionaires Peter Lewis and George Soros, and a left-wing tea party that smokes its tea. Marijuana money is corrupting the Democratic Party just as oil money has corrupted the Republicans. How powerful is the marijuana lobby?
Read M.D. Ed Goge's  article in the Palm Beach Post.  He ends up by stating, "...this partisan Democrat might soon be forced to say:  I  didn't leave my party; my party left me." This is exactly what happened to me in 2008 and nothing that has occurred since then has made me change my mind. Perhaps there should also be a law against eccentric billionaires.

Read interesting OP Ed by Tom Keane in the PBPost.

Sunday, September 8, 2013

Anthony Pugliese and powerful developer interests

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On March 11, 2013, a Judge agreed to return the passports of Delray Beach developer Anthony Pugliese and his business manager Joseph Reamer as they await trial on charges they stole nearly $1.2 million from Subway franchise founder Fred DeLuca in a failed land development, Destiny, Florida. He's back in the news today. Even though he's facing grand theft and money laundering charges as well as stealing approximately $1.2  million...he now has asked the Judge to allow him to travel to Italy for 9 days.

The Destiny project had been highly controversial and contentious from inception. In 2009 Osceola County proposed an amendment in its comprehensive building plan for a "new city overlay on more than 500,000 acres in a rural area in the county," which would allow for the construction of the Destiny development as well as several other large-scale projects. The Florida Department of Community Affairs opposed the amendment, citing the Florida’s Growth Management Act and stating the amendment would contribute to urban sprawl. The PB Post back in 2009 said "it is an inappropriate exploitation of natural resources and will be a setback for Florida."

In 2011, Florida legislators wiped out 30 years of growth management law and passed measures to restrict the public from challenging controversial development projects in the name of economic development. We here in Lake Worth know what all these shenanigans are about and have been dealing with developer backed politicians for years. Recently the Lake Worth city commission denied the results of an election to change its Charter held this past March that would have limited heights in downtown Lake Worth to 4 stories because of some law that Rick Scott passed in June 2013, three months AFTER the election, that they say makes our vote moot. This is being challenged. The commission has now passed an overlay Hotel District allowing heights to go to 6 stories.

Throughout the years, Florida residents have had to challenge those with the power--developers and politicians, and those sitting on major boards who are forcing heights and/or sprawl even believing their own lies and twisting the truth to get their way. Lobbyists, politicians and those hell bent on ruining our State and local  municipalities, continue to effect laws under the guise of "we need growth" and the hell with what you want and your quality of life and the Florida environment.

And Anthony Pugliese gets to have a European vacation.

Monday, May 20, 2013

Ron Klein, Lobbyist

Even though Obama had pledged not to accept donations from federally registered lobbyists, we all know how long that lasted. Former congressman, Ron Klein, was a registered lobbyist and a top bundler for the Obama re-election campaign. He has now registered again as a federal lobbyist.

Read more...

Tuesday, March 5, 2013

Shanon Materio back in the News

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Back in October 2010, I wrote about Richard Pinsky and his involvement in Materio's BACPAC. He gave $1,000 to Businesses Aligned For Change Political Action Committee which was founded by Shanon Materio, co-owner of McMow Art Glass on North Dixie Highway in order to support "business friendly" candidates or those they felt were on their side of issues. You always need to follow the money.

In many ways, it was the same old players back then that we are dealing with now on the heights issue. Greg Rice was the Secretary of the BACPAC and he is the treasurer of The friends of the Gufstream. The only interests they all had then was putting business first. This concept was indeed "special" and still true today.

Now Mrs. Materio is back in the news today, along with her campaign adviser and political lobbyist friend, Richard Pinsky. Read more...

Tuesday, October 2, 2012

Sex, corruption, Incest and the alleged suggestion of murder?

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a

Marlene Ross with former Lake Worth Mayor, Rene Varela

You think Lake Worth has troubles?

On a scale of one to ten, Lobbyists are right at the bottom of the pole right along with used car salesmen. This story, that is front page news in the Palm Beach Post today, is about the lobbyist, David Katz, who allegedly took advantage of a commissioner, Marlene Ross, who did something stupid--she made a very bad and wicked personal choice.

Everyone needs to be accountable for their actions. What they do in their personal lives are important when they are public officials.  We have residents in Lake Worth who have the same sort of zeal to bring their opponent down and go out of their way to research everything possible to come up with something. It is a sick society today in more ways than one.

Read all about sex, corruption, incest and the alleged suggestion of "taking care of it" in Boynton Beach.

Boynton Beach has us beat

Friday, August 3, 2012

Palm Beach Post fails to give pertinent facts in disclaimer of letter writer's background



Today, there was a Letter to the Editor expounding on Martin County sheriff Robert Crowder over Allen West. It was written by Frank Messersmith. The Post noted that he was a former state representative from PB County. What they failed to tell all of its readers is--

When the Florida Sheriffs Association decided to outsource its governmental consulting in the year 2000, it was Messersmith’s law-enforcement background that selected him to represent the Sheriffs in the Legislature. As there was a conflict where he worked, he started his own firm, FSM Associates, LLC and  became a lobbyist for the Sheriff's Department.

Messersmith has been a governmental consultant with FSM Associates since 2000.  He served on the Florida Public Service Commission from 1990 to 1992, in the Florida House of Representatives from 1980 to 1990, and was an assistant to the Sheriff of Palm Beach County from 1968 to 1978.

Usually the PB Post does qualify the writer. This time they failed to give important details of the  background of the letter writer which clearly prejudices his endorsement of a Sheriff over Allen West.


Sunday, July 15, 2012

West capitulates to Big Business Lobby

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Don't we all believe in humane treatment of animals?  It seems like a "no-brainer" to me. However,  Colonel Allen West has just changed his position on more humane treatment of egg laying hens. He advocated for larger cages for hens and now has changed his mind. Some of these hens are in cages 6 inches by 8 inches.

West reversed his position. The agriculture business' lobby, Keep Food Affordable, and a lobby that represents 56 large egg-producing farms, has been running attack ads against West. They are afraid of over-regulation of farming in general particularly pigs. Those ads have appeared on just about every Internet site.

The Lobby gave the pitch that if egg producing farms had to provide better conditions for hens, then it would cost them money or eggs would be produced in foreign countries and the cost of eggs would sky-rocket. However, it is estimated that over twenty years, it would cost consumers less than one cent per egg.

Remember the Pregnant Pig amendment in 2002?

The language that appeared on the ballot for the Pregnant Pig that passed with 54.75%:
Inhumane treatment of animals is a concern of Florida citizens; to prevent cruelty to animals and as recommended by The Humane Society of the United States, no person shall confine a pig during pregnancy in a cage, crate or other enclosure, or tether a pregnant pig, on a farm so that the pig is prevented from turning around freely, except for veterinary purposes and during the prebirthing period; provides definitions, penalties, and an effective date.

Government has an obligation to protect animals, not just big business that is exploiting them for profit. Animal cruelty is an issue that no one supports. You got lousy advice on this one Colonel.

Sunday, May 13, 2012

Volcker Rule

JP Morgan Fought for Loophole
The first rule of gambling is to know when to fold ’em. But after the creation of the Volcker Rule, a regulatory law meant to prevent overly risky trading, JPMorgan Chase sent a lobbyist to Washington to argue for loopholes that would allow for trades much like those that led to a $2 billion loss announced by the bank on Friday. Bank chief executive Jamie Dimon and other members of upper management paid regular visits to lawmakers to argue that, while they thought some parts of the rule were useful, others would hurt the bank’s ability to hedge against risk. The result, said Senator Carl Levin, was a “big enough loophole that a Mack truck could drive right through it.”
Read more at The New York Times.

The Volcker Rule says that since a functioning commercial banking system is essential to the stability of the entire financial system, banks that engage in high-risk speculation create an unacceptable level of systemic risk. The proposal specifically prohibits a bank or institution that owns a bank from engaging in proprietary trading that is not at the behest of its clients, and from owning or investing in a hedge fund or private equity fund, as well as limiting the liabilities that the largest banks could hold. See Wikipedia.

On January 21, 2010, under the same initiative, President Obama announced his intention to end the mentality of "Too big to fail." He got that one right. The Volcker Rule is to be implemented on July 21, 2012 as part of Dodd-Frank that became law in July 2010.