Posted on 03/05/2015 5:45:08 AM PST by Hojczyk
Corporate donors to a green energy nonprofit operated by Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid’s (D., Nev.) former staffers and a current campaign operative have received billions of dollars in federal loan guarantees and grant money as a result of Reid’s advocacy.
Fulcrum Bioenergy began contributing to the Clean Energy Project (CEP) in 2013. One year later, the Nevada Democrat steered tens of millions of dollars in federal grant money to the California biofuel company.
Reid took credit for delivering the Pentagon’s money. “Senator Reid wrote Secretary [Chuck] Hagel in support of Fulcrum’s grant application earlier this year,” his office said.
Most of CEP’s corporate supporters are companies that have benefitted or stand to benefit from policies that subsidize green energy technologies—policies that Reid routinely pushes for in the Senate.
Their donations to the CEP suggest “a vehicle to promote pay-to-play politics,” says Ken Boehm, chairman of the National Legal and Policy Center, an ethics watchdog group.
“It is run by Reid insiders, funded by those who want Reid’s political favors, and there’s a track record of Reid dispensing favors to those who fund it,” Boehm said in an email. “As the late Senator [Sam] Ervin said, sometimes things are what they look like.”
Asked whether donations to CEP bought or rewarded Reid’s legislative support, Jentleson noted the 5,500 Nevada jobs—temporary, permanent, and “indirect”—created by Reid-supported CEP donors.
“With specific regard to the projects you mention, Senator Reid is extremely proud of his involvement in each one of them,” Jentleson said.
McCue denied that political considerations played any part in donations to CEP or Reid’s efforts to steer subsidies to those donors.
The group “does not do any federal lobbying on behalf of its supporters,” she said in an emailed statement.
(Excerpt) Read more at freebeacon.com ...
Somebody straight up kicked Harry Reid’s ass. I wonder how it is that someone that high up in Congress can get stomped by someone and that’s that.
No matter, thanks to whoever did it.
Wake up kids! This is the real system.
Move along, move along... nothing to see here. (Repeat for Hillary).
Hey, he’s just doin’ what he does best to lock up the 2016 (s)election. Some of the “influence” will get spread around to the vegas unions pushing him to the front once again. But, have no fear, the gop-e say he’s vulnerable this time around. LOLOLOLOLOL!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.