Illegal Contributions from Hot Lanes Builder

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   quote:
Originally posted by CallmeMrSlug

	
ELECTION LAW 

	Toll Road Firm Made Illegal Contributions

	Transurban Gave $172,000 To 90 Campaigns in 3 Years

	  

	Transurban gave money to Gov. Timothy M. Kaine (D), foreground, and House Speaker William J. Howell (R). Both have pledged to return it. (By Steve Helber -- Associated Press) 

	

	By Anita Kumar

	Washington Post Staff Writer 

	Thursday, July 3, 2008; Page B05 

	

	RICHMOND, July 2 -- A company involved in building the express toll lanes on the Capital Beltway violated federal election law when it contributed $172,000 to 90 campaigns in Virginia over the past three years, company officials said Wednesday. 

	

	This Story

	ELECTION LAW: Toll Road Firm Made Illegal Contributions

	Transurban (USA) Inc. Contributions From 2005 to 2008

	Officials at Transurban, a U.S. subsidiary of an Australian company, said they should not have made the donations, because federal law forbids contributions from foreign companies and foreign nationals. 

	

	"We made an honest mistake," said Michael Kulper, Transurban executive vice president. "We are genuinely concerned and upset about it." 

	

	The company sent letters Wednesday to every candidate and political action committee it has contributed to in Virginia, asking for the money to be returned. Many did not know about the problem when they were contacted late Wednesday. 

	

	Recipients were Democrats and Republicans, including Gov. Timothy M. Kaine (D), dozens of state senators and delegates, the three candidates for governor next year and Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Chairman Gerald E. Connolly (D), who is running for Congress. 

	

	"I was not aware of it," Del. Phillip A. Hamilton (R-Newport News) said. Hamilton said that a member of his staff monitors his campaign contributions and that he does not track them himself. But he added that if the company asks for its $1,500 contribution back, he will send it. 

	

	Charlie Kelly, director of Kaine's political action committee, Moving Virginia Forward, said any out-of-compliance contributions will be returned immediately. Kaine and Moving Virginia Forward received $9,500. "It was our belief that Transurban USA's contributions were made in compliance with state and federal law at the time they were made. We received contributions from a U.S. company through U.S. representatives. As such, we had no reason to question the contributions," Kelly said. "We were disappointed to learn of this issue . . . but we appreciate Transurban's admission that no one receiving these contributions could have been aware of their noncompliance." 

	

	

	Transurban has invested $500 million in two projects in Virginia: helping build and maintain high-occupancy toll lanes on the Beltway and maintaining the Richmond-area Pocahontas Parkway toll road. It expects to finalize a third project to create toll lanes on interstates 95 and 395 between the 14th Street bridge and Stafford County. Transurban is working with a second company, Fluor Enterprises, on the Beltway, 95 and 395 projects. 

	

	The projects were negotiated through the Virginia Department of Transportation and Commonwealth Transportation Board. But the company has lobbied legislators on a number of bills in recent years. 

	

	Company officials were in Richmond on Wednesday to apologize to Secretary of Transportation Pierce R. Homer. "We've taken the matter under review and consideration," Homer said after the meeting. 

	

	The General Assembly will return to Richmond on Wednesday to continue a special session on transportation. Many legislators, primarily House Republicans, want to encourage more public-private partnerships, such as the Beltway project, in which companies pay for projects on roads and bridges in return for the right to collect tolls. 

	

	"We certainly hope this doesn't negatively impact on the process," said G. Paul Nardo, chief of staff to House Speaker William J. Howell (R-Stafford). 

	

	Howell's political action committee, Dominion Leadership Trust, received $12,500, the most of any group or individual, according to the Virginia Public Access Project. Nardo said Howell will cooperate with the company and return the money. 

	

	Transurban officials are asking those who received donations to return them. Kulper said the money will be donated to the Court Appointed Special Advocates program, which provides help to abused and neglected children in court. Company officials said they discovered the violations in February and began an internal review. In recent weeks, they contacted the Federal Election Commission, which is looking into the problem and could fine the company.

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aesthetic Members Profile Find Members Posts New Slug Joined: 19 Jun 2008 Status: Offline Points: 0	Post Options Post Reply Quote aesthetic Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Topic: Illegal Contributions from Hot Lanes Builder Posted: 03 Jul 2008 at 2:25pm
	quote: Originally posted by CallmeMrSlug ELECTION LAW Toll Road Firm Made Illegal Contributions Transurban Gave $172,000 To 90 Campaigns in 3 Years Transurban gave money to Gov. Timothy M. Kaine (D), foreground, and House Speaker William J. Howell (R). Both have pledged to return it. (By Steve Helber -- Associated Press) By Anita Kumar Washington Post Staff Writer Thursday, July 3, 2008; Page B05 RICHMOND, July 2 -- A company involved in building the express toll lanes on the Capital Beltway violated federal election law when it contributed $172,000 to 90 campaigns in Virginia over the past three years, company officials said Wednesday. This Story ELECTION LAW: Toll Road Firm Made Illegal Contributions Transurban (USA) Inc. Contributions From 2005 to 2008 Officials at Transurban, a U.S. subsidiary of an Australian company, said they should not have made the donations, because federal law forbids contributions from foreign companies and foreign nationals. "We made an honest mistake," said Michael Kulper, Transurban executive vice president. "We are genuinely concerned and upset about it." The company sent letters Wednesday to every candidate and political action committee it has contributed to in Virginia, asking for the money to be returned. Many did not know about the problem when they were contacted late Wednesday. Recipients were Democrats and Republicans, including Gov. Timothy M. Kaine (D), dozens of state senators and delegates, the three candidates for governor next year and Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Chairman Gerald E. Connolly (D), who is running for Congress. "I was not aware of it," Del. Phillip A. Hamilton (R-Newport News) said. Hamilton said that a member of his staff monitors his campaign contributions and that he does not track them himself. But he added that if the company asks for its $1,500 contribution back, he will send it. Charlie Kelly, director of Kaine's political action committee, Moving Virginia Forward, said any out-of-compliance contributions will be returned immediately. Kaine and Moving Virginia Forward received $9,500. "It was our belief that Transurban USA's contributions were made in compliance with state and federal law at the time they were made. We received contributions from a U.S. company through U.S. representatives. As such, we had no reason to question the contributions," Kelly said. "We were disappointed to learn of this issue . . . but we appreciate Transurban's admission that no one receiving these contributions could have been aware of their noncompliance." Transurban has invested $500 million in two projects in Virginia: helping build and maintain high-occupancy toll lanes on the Beltway and maintaining the Richmond-area Pocahontas Parkway toll road. It expects to finalize a third project to create toll lanes on interstates 95 and 395 between the 14th Street bridge and Stafford County. Transurban is working with a second company, Fluor Enterprises, on the Beltway, 95 and 395 projects. The projects were negotiated through the Virginia Department of Transportation and Commonwealth Transportation Board. But the company has lobbied legislators on a number of bills in recent years. Company officials were in Richmond on Wednesday to apologize to Secretary of Transportation Pierce R. Homer. "We've taken the matter under review and consideration," Homer said after the meeting. The General Assembly will return to Richmond on Wednesday to continue a special session on transportation. Many legislators, primarily House Republicans, want to encourage more public-private partnerships, such as the Beltway project, in which companies pay for projects on roads and bridges in return for the right to collect tolls. "We certainly hope this doesn't negatively impact on the process," said G. Paul Nardo, chief of staff to House Speaker William J. Howell (R-Stafford). Howell's political action committee, Dominion Leadership Trust, received $12,500, the most of any group or individual, according to the Virginia Public Access Project. Nardo said Howell will cooperate with the company and return the money. Transurban officials are asking those who received donations to return them. Kulper said the money will be donated to the Court Appointed Special Advocates program, which provides help to abused and neglected children in court. Company officials said they discovered the violations in February and began an internal review. In recent weeks, they contacted the Federal Election Commission, which is looking into the problem and could fine the company.

blacksky Members Profile Find Members Posts New Slug Joined: 03 Sep 2007 Status: Offline Points: 0	Post Options Post Reply Quote blacksky Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 06 Jul 2008 at 9:27am
	"The company sent letters Wednesday to every candidate and political action committee it has contributed to in Virginia, asking for the money to be returned." That's a good trick..."give" the money, get the votes, get the money back. Receive all the benefits without losing anything. Something's VERY wrong with this, and oh by the way, we've already PAID for the HOV lanes, why do we have to pay to use them as HOT lanes?

NoSUV Members Profile Find Members Posts New Slug Joined: 14 Jan 2005 Status: Offline Points: 0	Post Options Post Reply Quote NoSUV Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 06 Jul 2008 at 5:21pm
	Unfortunately, the ship has sailed. Apparently, in 2004 the legislature approved VDOT to enter into negotiations for a private-public venture, and NOTHING the public says or does has any affect from now on. VDOT was supposed to have a round of public hearings, but after the mess of the public information series they had last year, VDOT seems to have decided against it. After all, a public hearing means nothing. Speaker Howell, however, thinks that toll lanes are exactly the right answer to the transportation mess - make those who use the road pay for the road (in this case, not to be built, but to be maintained). Why raise taxes on everyone when a toll can target those affected? Don't agree with the Speaker? Perhaps you should tell him.