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MONDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2009
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NEWS ABOUT: pay to play

pay to play stories: 18 news summaries

Rattner May Have Quit Over Pay-to-Play Settlement

New York AG targets ex-car czar's company

Jul 15, 09 8:30 AM CDT
(Newser) - Washington is dying to know why Steven Rattner quit after just months as President Obama’s car czar. One possible reason: New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo is pushing for a legal settlement with his company for its part in a pay-to-play scandal surrounding the state’s pension fund, sources... More »

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New York • General Motors • Andrew Cuomo • pension funds • Obama administration • President Obama • pay to play • car czar • Steven Rattner

Texas Firm Charged in Kickback Case

Pension 'pay to play' scheme had tentacles
in many states: Cuomo

May 1, 09 9:22 AM CDT
(Newser) - New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo and the SEC brought criminal charges yesterday against Saul Meyer, founder of Aldus Equity Partners, saying the firm had been involved in a “pay to play” scheme to manage part of New York’s pension scheme. And that’s just the tip of... More »

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corruption • Andrew Cuomo • pay to play • Securities and Exchange Commission • Aldus Equity Partners • Henry Morris • Saul Meyer

Blago Gave Burris' Son Job

Facing foreclosure, Burris II gets housing gig; 'reeks of hypocrisy,' state rep charges

Feb 26, 09 12:34 PM CST
(Newser) - Sen. Roland Burris’ son, Roland W. Burris II, got a job with the Illinois housing authority last year, weeks after the IRS imposed a tax lien and his home entered foreclosure, the Chicago Sun-Times reports. The appointment came as his father lobbied for Barack Obama’s Senate seat, and Gov.... More »

MORE ABOUT:
corruption • foreclosure • Illinois • governor • Rod Blagojevich • political scandal • pay to play • Illinois House of Representatives • Roland Burris • Roland W. Burris II • tax lien

(Newser) - As the chorus urging Roland Burris to resign grows larger and louder, the White House today stopped just short of joining but sent an unmistakable "veiled threat," writes Frank James in the Chicago Tribune. At this afternoon's press briefing, Robert Gibbs' words were measured yet blunt: "... More »

MORE ABOUT:
Senate Democrats • White House • Illinois • Rod Blagojevich • US Senate • Obama administration • Robert Gibbs • President Obama • pay to play • Roland Burris

(Newser) - Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn today joined the chorus of politicians calling for Roland Burris to resign, urging him to step down "as quickly as possible for the best interests of Illinois," the Chicago Tribune reports. Said Quinn, who gained the office after Rod Blagojevich's ouster for attempting to... More »

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corruption • Illinois • Rod Blagojevich • US Senate • pay to play • Pat Quinn • Roland Burris • public corruption

OPINION



 How We Can 
 Get Rid of 
 This Guy 


Feb 19, 09 2:02 PM CST
(Newser) - Even with everyone in sight calling for his head, even after he’s been caught lying multiple times about his appointment, Roland Burris seems determined not to step down. But there is a quick way to be rid of him, law professor Garrett Epps writes for Salon: The Illinois legislature... More »

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Senate • Illinois • US Constitution • Rod Blagojevich • constitutional law • US Senate • pay to play • Roland Burris

(Newser) - Roland Burris denied today that an affidavit sent to the Illinois House conveyed a shift in his testimony in the Rod Blagojevich scandal, the Chicago Sun-Times reports. “There was no change,” Burris said of three statements he gave to the committee that recommended Blago's impeachment. Burris also... More »

MORE ABOUT:
corruption • Illinois • governor • Rod Blagojevich • political scandal • pay to play • Illinois House of Representatives • Roland Burris • affidavit

(Newser) - Rod Blagojevich's camp asked Roland Burris for money before nominating him to take Barack Obama's vacated Senate seat, the Chicago Sun-Times reports. Burris revealed the request, for up to $10,000 in campaign contributions, in an affidavit dated Feb. 5—3 weeks after he was sworn in. Burris didn't... More »

MORE ABOUT:
Barack Obama • Congress • corruption • Illinois • governor • Rod Blagojevich • political scandal • US Senate • pay to play • Illinois House of Representatives • Roland Burris

Richardson: Not So Easy Going Home Again

Mixed reactions greet return of Santa Fe's political dynamo

Jan 6, 09 12:31 PM CST
(Newser) - His cushy Cabinet post yanked out from underneath him, Bill Richardson is heading home to the state that made him a national player, reports the New York Times. And while New Mexico might be a let-down for Richardson, (“Sometimes your own dreams and plans must take a back seat... More »

MORE ABOUT:
Bill Richardson • New Mexico • governor • commerce secretary • pay to play

Keep Richardson Cabinet Spot Hispanic, Leaders Urge

Latino activists disappointed NM governor won't head Commerce, push new list

Jan 5, 09 10:50 AM CST
(Newser) - Bill Richardson’s Cabinet nomination was big for the Hispanic community, and with the New Mexico governor backing out, Politico reports, Latino leaders are pushing Barack Obama to choose another of their own for the Commerce slot. Says the head of one group, “We hope we can keep that... More »

MORE ABOUT:
Bill Richardson • Cabinet • Bill Clinton • nomination • grand jury • George W. Bush • Hispanics • President Obama • commerce secretary • Manny Diaz • pay to play • Xavier Becerra • Marty Chavez


 Richardson 
 Camp Mum 
 to Vetters 
 on Pay-to-Play 

Gov. tight-lipped about investigation

Jan 5, 09 7:42 AM CST
(Newser) - Bill Richardson’s sudden exit from the prospective Obama Cabinet is causing some Democrats to question the transition team’s vetting process. Sources tell Politico that Richardson evaded the team’s questions about the “pay-to-play” investigation he cited as his reason for backing out. The investigation has been public... More »

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Barack Obama • Bill Richardson • New Mexico • grand jury • political scandal • transition team • President Obama • commerce secretary • pay to play

(AP) - Bill Richardson has withdrawn his nomination to be commerce secretary amid a grand jury investigation into a lucrative state contract awarded to a firm that backed the New Mexico governor's political activities. Barack Obama's transition office said today that Obama has accepted Richardson's withdrawal. More »

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Bill Richardson • New Mexico • nomination • grand jury • commerce secretary • pay to play • CDR Financial Products

 Emanuel Talked Senate Seat 
 With Blago Aide 

No sign Chief of Staff pick tried to wheel and/or deal

Dec 13, 08 10:20 AM CST
(Newser) - Rahm Emanuel, Barack Obama’s pick for White House chief of staff, had multiple conversations with Rod Blagojevich's chief of staff about Obama’s Senate seat, the Chicago Tribune is reporting. There’s no evidence that Emanuel engaged in any dealmaking for the seat, or that he knew of... More »

MORE ABOUT:
Barack Obama • corruption • Rahm Emanuel • Illinois • governor • Rod Blagojevich • political scandal • special election • President Obama • chief of staff • pay to play

OPINION

Media Gets 'Silly' Over
Obama Ties to Blago  

There's little evidence of ties as questions pour from press

Dec 12, 08 2:05 PM CST
(Newser) - The media is aflutter with questions over Barack Obama’s connection to Rod Blagojevich, and although it’s fair for the press to probe, things are getting “silly,” Joan Walsh writes on Salon. The only tie we’ve seen is Blagojevich caught on tape ranting obscenely that Obama... More »

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media • press • corruption • Illinois • governor • Rod Blagojevich • political scandal • hype • President Obama • pay to play

(Newser) - Jesse Jackson Jr. vigorously denounced Gov. Rod Blagojevich today and insisted he did nothing unethical to try to win appointment to Barack Obama's vacant Senate seat. "I reject and denounce pay-to-play politics," said Jackson, who was identified earlier today as the so-called "Senate Candidate No. 5" in... More »

MORE ABOUT:
Chicago • corruption • Illinois • governor • Rod Blagojevich • Jesse Jackson Jr. • political scandal • pay to play

(Newser) - Rod Blagojevich's wife was deeply involved in his alleged scheming, the Chicago Tribune reports, based on details in the federal complaint against the Illinois governor. Though Patricia Blagojevich has not been charged with a crime, she was a vocal party to wiretapped conversations. In one recording, she can be... More »

MORE ABOUT:
Barack Obama • Tribune Company • corruption • Illinois • Wrigley Field • governor • Rod Blagojevich • political scandal • pay to play • Lady Macbeth • Patti Blagojevich

UPDATED

Blago Charges Go Beyond Obama Seat

'Breadth of corruption' would 'make Lincoln roll over in his grave'

Dec 9, 08 1:22 PM CST
(Newser) - In addition to bartering over President-elect Obama’s vacant Senate seat, Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich sought campaign contributions in return for government action, and attempted to influence the editorial board of the Chicago Tribune, the Sun-Times reports. The FBI released transcripts of incriminating conversations today. “The conduct would make... More »

MORE ABOUT:
Barack Obama • Patrick Fitzgerald • Tribune Company • corruption • Illinois • governor • Rod Blagojevich • political scandal • Chicago Tribune • President Obama • pay to play

 Illinois Guv 
 Charged With 
 Corruption 

Feds focus on 'pay-to- play politics' in choice
of Obama successor

Dec 9, 08 9:10 AM CST
(Newser) - Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich was arrested at his Chicago home today, and taken into federal custody on charges of “pay-to-play politics,” the Tribune reports. Amid questions over whether such practices were involved in the selection of a senator to replace President-elect Obama, a federal probe had been recording... More »

MORE ABOUT:
corruption • Illinois • arrest • governor • Rod Blagojevich • political scandal • pay to play

18 Stories


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