TREBIC 2009 City Council Candidate Questions: How is this not illegal lobbying/political activity?

On Robbie's Lobbyist vote

Self-dealing is a form of conflict of interest.

...“a situation where one takes an action in an official capacity

which involves dealing with oneself in a private capacity

and which confers a benefit on oneself."

...“You work for government and use your official position

to secure a contract for a private consulting company you own”

or “using your government position to get a summer job for your daughter”.

Where a fiduciary has engaged in self-dealing,

this constitutes a breach of the fiduciary relationship.

Wiki

If political self-dealing involves an elected official

taking advantage of an undisclosed position in a transaction

and acts in self interest

instead of the interests of those represented,

did Robbie Perkins vote for a Federal lobbyist

involve unethical conduct unbecoming a Mayor 

which violated the trust between Robbie and his constituents

through their tax dollars?

.

"A member of the board or any other body

exercising quasi‑judicial functions

...shall not participate in or vote

on any quasi‑judicial matter in a manner

that would violate affected persons' constitutional rights

to an impartial decision maker.

Impermissible conflicts include, but are not limited to,

a member having a fixed opinion prior to hearing the matter

that is not susceptible to change,

undisclosed ex parte communications, a close familial, business,

or other associational relationship with an affected person,

or a financial interest in the outcome of the matter."

§ 160A‑388.

Did the other City Council Members know

about Robbie's relationship with the family of the lobbyist?

Koury, TREBIC and RUCO: What could Regulatory Capture look like?

Is this the same Pillsbury that now represents the City of Greensboro?

"Pillsbury is a full-service law firm with a keen industry focus on the energy and natural resources,
financial services, real estate and construction, and technology sectors.

If Pillsbury represents

the energy and natural resources industries,

does that mean they support Fracking and strip mining

and foriegn energy companies like from Qatar Petroleum?

If Pillsbury represents

the energy and natural resources industries,

does that mean they support less regulation for thier clients,

which may not be in the best interests of many human beings

living in the City of Greensboro?

...We are particularly noted for representing energy, financial services, government contractor, technology and university clients in complex litigation matters, restructurings, labor suits, and intellectual property disputes.

If Pillsbury represents corporate clients in intellectual property disputes,

does that mean they support higher consumer prices

for some of thier clients,

which may not be in the best interests of many human beings

living in the City of Greensboro?

If Pillsbury represents

the financial services, government contractor industries,

does that mean they support more government debt for thier clients,

which may not be in the best interests of many human beings

living in the City of Greensboro?

Pillsbury makes a significant and sustained investment in monitoring—and helping shape—the industries in which our clients compete, from energy and financial services to real estate and technology. We not only attend the same industry events as our clients, but are often the presenters and keynote speakers.

Regulatory capture occurs when a...regulatory agency

created to act in the public interest

instead acts in favor of the commercial or special interests

that dominate in the industry or sector it is charged with regulating.

...the complexity of the global energy industry led us to build an Energy team that covers all aspects of project development, financing and regulation, providing both industry leaders and new entrants the 360-degree perspective they need to compete effectively.

Regulatory capture is a form of government failure,

as it can act as an encouragement for large firms

to produce negative externalities.

...our practice teams include lawyers who sit on the standards bodies and working groups that define industry rules. Our Public Policy team is another resource for clients seeking to advocate policy options before federal and state lawmakers.

...regulatory capture occurs because groups or individuals

with a high-stakes interest

in the outcome of policy or regulatory decisions

can be expected to focus their resources and energies

in attempting to gain the policy outcomes they prefer,

while members of the public,

each with only a tiny individual stake in the outcome,

will ignore it altogether.

...In tightly regulated industries like aviation, health care and communications, our clients benefit from working with lawyers that formerly served in government oversight positions. Across the firm, more than 75 Pillsbury lawyers have held top positions at government and regulatory agencies.

Regulatory capture

refers to when this imbalance of focused resources

devoted to a particular policy outcome

is successful at "capturing" influence

with the staff or commission members of the regulatory agency,

so that the preferred policy outcomes

of the special interest are implemented.

...We have a passion for our work, a strong bond with our colleagues and an unshakable dedication to our clients' interests."

Pillsbury

...A captured regulatory agency

that serves the interests of its invested patrons

with the power of the government behind it

is often worse than no regulation whatsoever.

Regulatory Capture

Wikipedia

Brad Miller - House Financial Services committee - 1989 - 2012 Total Receipts: $6,011,785

JPMorgan has two in-house lobbyists

with connections to the House Financial Services committee.

Tom Koonce is a lobbyist for JP Morgan

and formerly a legislative director for Brad Miller, D-N.C.,

who sits on the committee.

Lawyers/Law Firms $852,417
Insurance $266,219
Industrial Unions $254,000
Public Sector Unions $253,700
Building Trade Unions $180,000
Securities & Investment $173,825
Transportation Unions $145,450
Misc Unions $129,250
Health Professionals $129,030
Commercial Banks $104,750
Accountants $92,346
Credit Unions $79,341
Lobbyists $64,400

James T. Ahler - Registered Lobbyist, Matthew Eisley - Registered Lobbyist and B. Davis Horne, Jr. - Registered Lobbyist

Mr. James T. Ahler, CAE
NCACPA, Raleigh, NC

Jim Ahler, CAE,
is the CEO of the North Carolina Association of Certified Public Accountants.

Prior to joining NCACPA in 1988,
Jim served as executive director of the State Board of Accountancy
in Louisville, Kentucky.

While in Kentucky, Jim was active on various national committees
of the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA).

He was also a consultant to NASBA
for strategic planning and committee management.

Jim is an active member of the Association Executives of North Carolina (AENC).

He is also active in the CPA Society Executives Association (CPA/SEA),
a national association of state CPA association executives.

Lobbyist Information...
Name: James T. Ahler 
Raleigh, NC 27623
Registered with these Principals...
Filings Term Status Firm Principal
2012 Active  North Carolina Association of CPAs 
2011 Active  North Carolina Association of CPAs
2010 Active North Carolina Association of CPAs
2009 Active North Carolina Association of CPAs
2008 Active  North Carolina Association of CPAs
2007 Active  North Carolina Association of CPAs
2005-2006 Active NC Assocaition of CPAs
2003-2004 Active NC Assocaition of CPAs
2001-2002 Active NC Assocaition of CPAs
1997-1998 Active NC Assocaition of CPAs ACPA, NC
1995-1996 Active NC Assocaition of CPAs
1993-1994 Active NC Assocaition of CPAs

http://www.secretary.state.nc.us/Lobbyists/Lobbyist.aspx?PId=8143885
.
.
.
Lobbyist Information...
Name: Matthew Eisley 
Raleigh, NC 27601-2611
Registered with these Principals...

2012 Active Nationwide Insurance & Affiliates
2012 Active North Carolina Association of CPAs 
2012 Active North Carolina Economic Development Group
2012 Active North Carolina Medical Society
2012 Active Waste Management Carolinas
2011 Active FMR LLC (Fidelity Investments)
2011 Active North Carolina Association of CPAs
2011 Active North Carolina Economic Development Group
2011 Active North Carolina Medical Society
2011 Active North Carolina Travel and Tourism Coalition
2010 Active Abbott Laboratories
.
.
.
Lobbyist Information...
Name: B. Davis Horne, Jr.
Raleigh, NC 27601-2611
Registered with these Principals...

2012 Active American International Group, Inc. 
2012 Active FMR LLC
2012 Active North Carolina Association of CPAs 
2012 Active North Carolina Economic Development Group
2012 Active North Carolina Financial Services Association 
2012 Active North Carolina Medical Society
2012 Active Waste Management Carolinas
2011 Active Abbott Laboratories
2011 Active American International Group, Inc. 
2011 Active Nationwide Insurance & Affiliates
2011 Active North Carolina Association of CPAs
2011 Active North Carolina Financial Services Association
2010 Active American International Group, Inc.

What is Crony Capitalism in Greensboro and Guilford County?

How could Pillsbury Law and Greensboro's local press respond to accusations of news censorship about the Craig Saperstein, Robbie Perkins lobbying scandal?

Why hasn't the Greensboro News & Record reported on the Craig Saperstein, Pillsbury Law lobbyist campaign contribution story?

Are the less informed easier to persuade than the more?

If white northern college students enlisted for voter registration drives,

only after murders of black civil rights volunteers

went relatively unreported by law enforcement and news organizations

is the Greensboro News & Record doing the same thing

only different?

Without an informed and free press,

there cannot be an enlightened people.

Justice Potter Stewart

Is an independent press
essential to capitalistic democracy?

Freedom of the press

is guaranteed only to those who own one.

A J Liebling

Why is journalism the only profession
explicitly protected by the US Constitution?

Not to transmit an experience

is to betray it.

Elie Wiesel

Is this who Greensboro's City Council hired as a lobbyist?

"Pillsbury lawyers have influenced and shaped not just the law,
but the geopolitical landscape,
helping to set policy on everything from the environment
to securities reform and international banking regulations.

Among the firm's illustrious alumni are two Secretaries of State,
two Secretaries of War, an Assistant Secretary of Defense,
a Supreme Court Justice, and a Nobel Laureate.

Today, nearly 100 Pillsbury lawyers have held top positions
at various government and regulatory agencies,
including the DOJ, EPA, FAA, FERC, IRS, NOAA, SEC and USPTO,
as well as serving in Congress
and as senior White House staff and advisors."

Does Greensboro's new lobbyist specialize in eliminating American Jobs for thier corporate clients?

IAOP World's Best Outsourcing Advisors
The International Association of Outsourcing Professionals (IAOP)
named Pillsbury to the 2011 list of World's Best Outsourcing Advisors.

2010 European Outsourcing Assn MultiSourcing Award
Pillsbury’s Sourcing practice was honored with an EOA award
for the Best Multi-sourcing Project of the Year
on behalf of client GlaxoSmithKline.

Greensboro City Council Set To Waste Taxpayer Money Going After Taxpayers Money to Hire Federal Lobbyist

Let's take a stroll down memory lane for the City of Greensboro with this post on March 2, 2011 with a title of post" City of Greensboro doesn't waste taxpayers money on federal lobbyist" here is what was in post:

At the City of Greensboro's 3-1-2011 meeting agenda item #38 was this

Agenda item for March 1, 2011 for City of Greensboro

38. Resolution authorizing the City Manager to enter into a contract with Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP to represent the City of Greensboro priorities to Federal elected officials and agencies. (Council District: all) (roll call vote) (Attachment #38 to Councilmembers) COPY OF THE PROPOSAL ON FILE IN THE CITY CLERK’S OFFICE FOR PUBLIC REVIEW.

If you would like to see what was written yesterday on this issue on TRIADWATCH CLICKHERE with a title "Greensboro N.C. Will Waste $78,000 of Taxpayers Money for a Federal Lobbyist if Approved Tuesday".

Now, we know that with a vote of 6-3 the Greensboro City Council voted DOWN the notion of wasting taxpayers money going after taxpayers money . Here are the council members who voted to NOT fund the federal lobbyist. Mayor Bill Knight, Mayor Pro Tem Nancy Vaughan, Dr. Trudy Wade, Danny Thompson, Mary Rakestraw, and last but not least Zack Matheny. These council members get the award from Triad Citizens Against Government Waste for not approving this item on the agenda.

Now, let's take a look at the usual suspects on who wanted to spend $78,000 of taxpayers money to waste on a federal lobbyist and they are T Dianne Bellamy Small, Jim Kee , and last but not least Robbie Perkins . They will be awarded PORKERS OF THE MONTH TRIADWATCH EDITION
_________________________________________________________________________________

Forward to the Greensboro City Council meeting set for this Tuesday  December 13, 2011 . Here is what is on the agenda.

44. Resolution authorizing the City Manager to enter into a contract with Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw and Pittman LLP to represent the City of Greensboro Priorities to Federal elected officials and agencies. (Council District: all) (roll call vote) (Attachment #44 to Councilmembers)

 Greensboro Mayor Perkins has already started with the paint in his new office as Mayor of Greensboro not even dried yet and he is wasting taxpayers money with this proposal, and to me it seems like this proposal should have been rebidded because this company was a part of the old request for proposal(RFP) which was voted down as shown above and should not be brought up again or it should be rebidded .

Should Government Agencies Be Allowed to Hire Lobbyist?

Then we have this in a past post on Triadwatch about the relationship with Greensboro Partnership and the City of Greensboro. As we see in this new agenda item the Greensboro Partnership is going to pay 25% of cost.

The Greensboro Partnership has agreed to pay 25% ($19,500) of this cost . But let's take a closer look at who might pay the total cost because in the Rhino Times this week there is a article titled "Even President finds Partnership Confusing" CLICKHERE . In the article John Hammer wrote this,

The Greensboro City Council uses the Greensboro Partnership to launder money, according to what the council was told at its work session on Tuesday, Feb. 22.

The council allocates $200,000 to the Partnership to be used by the Greensboro Economic Development Alliance (GEDA), but of that money $25,000 goes to Downtown Greensboro Inc. (DGI) and $30,000 goes to the Piedmont Triad Film Commission.


Dan Lynch, president of the GEDA, told the council Tuesday that the money was simply a pass-through. He said they were told to write a check for $25,000 to DGI and $30,000 to the film commission and he did, but he did not know why.

Now we have another item to add to this money laundering game the City of Greensboro wants to play with the Greensboro Partnership at the expense of the Greensboro Taxpayers who are getting hosed in this situation. It is so amazing to see the City of Greensboro wants to think about cutting a job or even a service to the citizens at the same time hire a lobbyist on the federal level when in reality we have capable leaders in Washington D.C. working in our behalf and on top of it we have a sitting Senator in the name of Kay Hagan who resides in Greensboro and we also have the other senator of this state who resides right next door in Richard Burr from Winston Salem. We can also add on the House side in Rep. Howard Coble who also resides in Greensboro as well.

If this passes on Tuesday December 13, 2011 we will give the new Greensboro City Council the Porker of the Month Award Triadwatch Edition.

Keith Brown; Pigs, Poultry, and Politics + TREBIC + FREE MEAL = Ethical Issues for Local Elected Officials in Guilford County

Triad Real Estate and Building Industry Coalition(TREBIC) our local special interest lobbying group headed by Marlene Sanford has a annual gathering in it's 11th year called Pigs, Poultry, and Politics- Old Fashioned Political Rally. Click on the title above or CLICKHERE


If this is a old fashioned political rally it sure is composed of the most connected sponsors who give plenty of campaign contributions to the local politicians. Let's take a closer look at who is sponsoring this political rally.

2010 Sponsorship Congress members:


President: Signature Property Group

Governor: AT&T; Fairway Outdoor Advertising

Senator: BB&T; Brown Investment Properties; Davenport Transportation Consulting; D.R. Horton Homes; Isaacson Isaacson Sheridan & Fountain, LLP; Smith Moore Leatherwood LLP


Commissioner: K. Hovnanian Homes; Pest Management Inc

This old fashioned political rally is where TREBIC can tell all the local politicians who runs Guilford County and where do you get your campaign contributions from.This is where Marlene Sanford President of TREBIC can say to the local politicians just how many more TREBIC  members can we fit on these boards and commissions in Guilford County, especially in the City of Greensboro.

Governor Sponsor: Fairway Outdoor Advertising and it's main kingpin W.S. Morris III from Augusta Georgia, between the in kind contributions from Fairway Outdoor Advertising and the campaign contributions to local politicians he is one of the most generous campaign contributors in this county and he doesn't even live here.Lately there hasn't been much campaign giving from W.S. Morris but this company is very generous with their influence and sign placements all over Guilford County.


Senator Sponsor: Isaaacson, Isaacson & Sheridan. We like to call them King Zoning Stud Henry Isaacson and his son Little King Zoning Stud Marc Isaacson because if you want to get a zoning case passed in Greensboro or Guilford County these are the one's who give plenty of money to the local politicians campaign coffers and if you haven't seen their DOG AND PONY SHOW it is a masterpiece just go to a Greensboro City Zoning meeting to witness King Zoning Stud Henry Isaacson  in action.

We also have Brown Investment and Chester Brown who is connected to Greensboro City Council member Robbie Perkins with a new shopping center out off of church street and HWY. 150 with Guilford County Commissioner Billy Yow also the well driller on this project. Then we find out that one of Chester Brown's employees Russ Parmele VP of business development has moved right from Greensboro board of adjustment to the Greensboro Zoning Commission without any opposition . It must be nice to go from one commission right to another without any objections and to see if there has been any applications in the databank waiting to get on this board but the TREBIC connected Brown Investment goes right to the front of the line. Amazing

These are just a few of the usual suspects who will be at this Old fashioned political rally. The influence of TREBIC on the local politicians needs to come to an end. When you hear certain politicians come out and say TREBIC has been contacted and TREBIC has some interest, it only goes to show that the FOX is guarding the Hen House and each year they want everyone to know who the FOX actually is.

_________________________________________________________________________________


We also have a new ethical dilemma for any local politician who has received a e mail from TREBIC on this annual gathering . If you would like to go to this event check out the application CLICKHERE . If you see the link it states that this event will cost you $30.00. This poses a real problem and all you need to do is CLICKHERE. This is where TREBIC states this

"Welcome Elected Officials and Candidates!


We invite you to attend our Annual "Pig, Poultry & Politics" event on Thursday, October 14 from 4:30 to 7:00 pm. TREBIC and its member Trade Associations represent nearly 4000 real estate professionals in and around Guilford County, plus all their employees.
Provide your name and mailing address and we'll send you the tickets. See you there!

ELECTED OFFICIALS AND CANDIDATES FREE REGISTRATION"

TREBIC also sent out a email to all the local elected officials and here is what was in the e mail,

"Please plan to attend the 11th Annual Pig, Poultry & Politics Thursday, October 14th! You can reply to this email to RSVP. Your ticket is complimentary, but if you need tickets for guests, they can be purchased for $30 each, $35 day of the event. You can order tickets on our website, www.trebic.org, or you can use the order form attached. "

It states that the local elected official and candidates can get their ticket for free and complimentary.


We have seen plenty of problems on the state level with some DMV workers were given free meals just like the Greensboro ABC Manager Katie Alley who is in a little hot water for her lunch dates with vendors comping the meals for her. How is this different from the most influential lobbyist group in Guilford County TREBIC giving FREE MEALS to local elected officials and candidates right before the elections.

If you are a local elected official and do plan on going to this event it is in your best intertest to NOT take the free meal and buy a $30 ticket and run it through your campaign committee fund because to me this is accepting a free meal and should not be done. Ethics is a real issue and it is time for our local elected officials and candidates understand how this free meal is not right and if you want to attend then pony up the $30 or not go. Triadwatch looks forward to seeing your $30 contribution on your campaign returns from this special interest lobbying political rally event brought to you by the non registered lobbyist Marlene Sanford and the non registered lobbyist group TREBIC.