Earlier today, retired Federal Secretary of Transportation Ray Lahood graced Lil Rhody with his presence ... Ostensibly to endorse our Governor's execrable tolling plan ... Who is Ray LaHood, and, to be blunt, why should we care? Most folks remember Mr. LaHood for his oversight role in perhaps one of the most epic failures in American Governmental History .. The much loathed "Cash For Clunkers" Program. Here's a link that will turn back the hands of time ... if you want to relive that fiasco ...
Flash forward ... it's 2016 ... And our Governor wants to reach out and ultimately touch every one of us ... Or should I say, "Put the Touch" on everyone. Given the Governors contacts with Wall Street, who have profited handsomely as a result of her pension management, a history exists for crony corporatism that should put every citizen on alert for the next big "payoff". How will Big Construction, Big Finance, & Big Infrastructure potentially profit from almost 1 Billion Dollars in Bonding/Design/Construction?
Here is the potential LaHood Connection:
Mr. LaHood is Co Chairman of Building America's Future, an innocuous enough sounding "Educational" Group that espouses the following:
Mobilize a coalition of elected officials and like-minded organizations to understand the benefits of increasing our nation's infrastructure investments and reforming national infrastructure policy.
Educate the public and elected officials on infrastructure policy that is focused on shared prosperity that reaches all Americans, revitalizes our metropolitan centers, and boosts our nation's economic competitiveness.
Educate the public and elected officials about the benefits of strategic planning, economic analysis, accountability and rigorous performance standards for U.S. infrastructure investment.
Highlight infrastructure policy that is forward-thinking and comprehensive in scope, yet grounded in the need for environmental sustainability, lower carbon emissions, and reduced U.S. dependence on foreign oil.
Building America's Future Educational Fund works closely with associations that represent the nation's top officials, including the National Governors Association, the U.S. Conference of Mayors, the National League of Cities, the National Association of County Officials, the National Conference of State Legislators, and the Council of State Governments and with other non-profit groups such as the Brookings Metropolitan Policy Center, Regional Plan Association, OneRail, Transportation 4 America, US Chamber of Commerce and the National Association of Manufacturers.
Innocent enough ... and a quick look at the Organization's 990 shows no untoward levels of executive compensation.
Mr. LaHoods other employment, however, raises eyebrows. Mr. LaHood is listed as a Senior Policy Advisor for DLA Piper, one of the Nations's leading Law Firms. And one of their prime areas of expertise? Projects, Energy & Infrastucture. From Piper's Website:
DLA Piper's Projects, Energy and Infrastructure team has a track record of successfully delivering first-rate legal services in all segments of the infrastructure and energy industries. We advise on energy law, infrastructure finance, transport matters and more. (My Emphasis)
What conclusion can we draw from this? None ... or ... Was Mr. LaHood's purpose today to advocate for infrastructure? Or perhaps was Mr. LaHood the rainmaker ... advocating for "Infrastructure Finance", and the windfall of fees that will certainly accrue to the "lucky" winner ...
As they used to say in those old half time commercials ... You Make The Call
Flash forward ... it's 2016 ... And our Governor wants to reach out and ultimately touch every one of us ... Or should I say, "Put the Touch" on everyone. Given the Governors contacts with Wall Street, who have profited handsomely as a result of her pension management, a history exists for crony corporatism that should put every citizen on alert for the next big "payoff". How will Big Construction, Big Finance, & Big Infrastructure potentially profit from almost 1 Billion Dollars in Bonding/Design/Construction?
Here is the potential LaHood Connection:
Mr. LaHood is Co Chairman of Building America's Future, an innocuous enough sounding "Educational" Group that espouses the following:
Mobilize a coalition of elected officials and like-minded organizations to understand the benefits of increasing our nation's infrastructure investments and reforming national infrastructure policy.
Educate the public and elected officials on infrastructure policy that is focused on shared prosperity that reaches all Americans, revitalizes our metropolitan centers, and boosts our nation's economic competitiveness.
Educate the public and elected officials about the benefits of strategic planning, economic analysis, accountability and rigorous performance standards for U.S. infrastructure investment.
Highlight infrastructure policy that is forward-thinking and comprehensive in scope, yet grounded in the need for environmental sustainability, lower carbon emissions, and reduced U.S. dependence on foreign oil.
Building America's Future Educational Fund works closely with associations that represent the nation's top officials, including the National Governors Association, the U.S. Conference of Mayors, the National League of Cities, the National Association of County Officials, the National Conference of State Legislators, and the Council of State Governments and with other non-profit groups such as the Brookings Metropolitan Policy Center, Regional Plan Association, OneRail, Transportation 4 America, US Chamber of Commerce and the National Association of Manufacturers.
Innocent enough ... and a quick look at the Organization's 990 shows no untoward levels of executive compensation.
Mr. LaHoods other employment, however, raises eyebrows. Mr. LaHood is listed as a Senior Policy Advisor for DLA Piper, one of the Nations's leading Law Firms. And one of their prime areas of expertise? Projects, Energy & Infrastucture. From Piper's Website:
DLA Piper's Projects, Energy and Infrastructure team has a track record of successfully delivering first-rate legal services in all segments of the infrastructure and energy industries. We advise on energy law, infrastructure finance, transport matters and more. (My Emphasis)
What conclusion can we draw from this? None ... or ... Was Mr. LaHood's purpose today to advocate for infrastructure? Or perhaps was Mr. LaHood the rainmaker ... advocating for "Infrastructure Finance", and the windfall of fees that will certainly accrue to the "lucky" winner ...
As they used to say in those old half time commercials ... You Make The Call
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