[F.O.A.D.]

Bob McDonnell of Virginia has company"

Mon Jul 29, 2013 at 03:26 PM PDT
PA Gov. Corbett (R) Caught Accepting Thousands of $$$ in Gifts in Return
for Favors



From ThinkProgress.org:

NHL Winter Classic hockey tickets. Robert “Bob” Kennedy is the vice
president of government affairs at University of Pittsburgh Medical
Center (UPMC) and lobbies the government on behalf of his employer. He
provided Corbett with two tickets to the National Hockey League’s Winter
Classic and the pre-game brunch ($472). Ten months later, Gov. Corbett
reportedly backed the UPMC hospital chain in a major dispute with a top
regional insurance company. Corbett also appointed Kennedy to the public
safety committee for his 2011 transition team.

NFL playoff tickets. John “Jack” Barbour is CEO at Buchanan,
Ingersoll & Rooney, one of Pennsylvania’s largest lobbying and legal
firms. He twice gave Corbett tickets to see the Pittsburgh Steelers in
their National Football League playoff games ($140 and $185). The firm,
which receives millions in state contracts, also represents UPMC, as
well as energy companies EQT and the Williams Companies, and numerous
medical and pharmaceutical outfits. Barbour has long served as outside
counsel to the Steelers and its owners. Corbett appointed Barbour as a
co-chair of his 2011 transition team and to his committee on
privatization. When asked whether this contribution violated the state’s
Code of Conduct, a Corbett spokesman noted that because Barbour and
Corbett are friends, the gift was not prohibited.

Private jet travel to Pittsburgh. Frank Schoeneman is CEO of Empire
Education Group, a for-profit beauty-school chain. He provided private
jet travel for Gov. Corbett for an event in Pittsburgh ($1406.80). Ten
months later, Corbett signed a bill making it easier for cosmetology
students who attend schools like Empire’s to obtain state licensure.

Rhode Island yachting vacation. John D. Moran Jr. is president and
CEO of Moran Industries, a warehousing and transportation company with
an oil and gas subsidiary. He provided for Gov. Corbett with private jet
travel to a Rhode Island and a yachting vacation ($1,423) and private
jet travel to events in Pittsburgh and Williamsport, PA ($902). He
reportedly accepted this travel as state regulators were investigating
whether his company was shipping waste without a necessary permit. Moran
traveled with Corbett on a six-day European trade mission touting the
benefits of fracking and a 10-day trade mission to South America.
Corbett also appointed Moran to his committee on privatization.
Corbett’s initial filings omitted the Rhode Island yachting trip, a
mistake his press secretary called a clerical error.