Dem convention co-chair’s company received $230.4M in stimulus money, hired Podesta Group to lobby

Washington Free Beacon ^ | Feb 17, 2012 | BY: Andrew Stiles

[Islander7]

Jim Rogers, the co-chairman and lead fundraiser for the Democratic National Convention host-committee, is well versed in the art of political cronyism.

Rogers, the CEO of Duke Energy Corp., one of the largest utility corporations in the country, has given generously to Democratic politicians over the years. Along with his wife, Mary Anne, he has contributed more than $210,000 to Democratic candidates and committees since 2008, more than double what the couple has given to Republicans. Of that figure, more than $150,000 went to the Democratic National Committee (DNC); $19,200 went to President Obama.

Rogers is co-chairing the host committee with Charlotte Mayor Anthony Foxx (D), who was elected to a second term in November 2011. Rogers and his wife both contributed $8,000 to Foxx’s campaign, the maximum allowed under state law.

Rogers has also done his part to make sure that the convention has access to plenty of cash. The Charlotte Observer reported that Rogers was “quietly raising” as much as $15 million for the DNC.

[Islander7]

In 2009, the company enlisted the services of the Podesta Group, a lobbying firm founded by John Podesta, the former president of the Center for American Progress and co-chairman of the Obama-Biden transition team, and his brother Tony Podesta. Since then, Duke Energy has paid the firm $860,000 to lobby to “support the passage of climate change and energy legislation” and “energy efficiency and clean energy solutions,” according to a database maintained by the Senate Office of Public Records.

[Java4Jay]

Q. Has Duke Energy accepted stimulus funds from the Department of Energy for deployment efforts?

A. We are pleased to have reached an agreement with the DOE to accept $204 million in digital grid stimulus funds. This award will enable us to move forward with the evolution of our power delivery system in the five states we serve. We feel strongly that our grid modernization efforts support the job creation, economic stimulus and energy infrastructure objectives of the Recovery Act and the Smart Grid Investment Grant Program. We expect to put to work approximately 1,000 people over the next few years as we deploy digital grid technologies in the Carolinas, Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana.

The DOE also awarded Duke Energy $3.5 million for workforce development and training. Currently we are developing training plans and programs to equip our existing and new employees to support our grid modernization efforts.

http://www.duke-energy.com/about-us/smart-grid-faq.asp

[GeronL]

Obama is the bggest thief in history.

Why are these people not in prison?

[Prince of Space]

Didn’t a lady get caught in a car fire in her own garage a year ago or so who just happened to be married to Zero’s top legislative aide and also just happened to be working as a lobbyist for Duke Energy? In fact, it was when they were working on an important merger. Things that make you go hmmmm.

Mrs. Prince of Space

[nascarnation]

Yes that’s correct.

But on the whole it appears to me that the number of suspicious deaths associated with Baraq is minimal compared to the wholesale slaughter of Clinton associates.

And this made one of my predictions of 2009 pretty much wrong.

[DustyMoment]

This is just SHOCKING . . . . . . . SHOCKING, I tell you!!!

Oh, wait. No, it isn’t. For Dems, it’s just another day at the office.

[DJ MacWoW]

We're also going to try to replace some of our older servers and failing equipment this year so we're going to add a little extra to our FReepathon goals. John is estimating ten to fifteen thousand to do this and I'd like to get it all in place and working before the election cycle is fully heated up, so we'll try to bring in a little more now if we can and the rest next quarter.
Jim Robinson

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