Gov. Ritter Steered Stimulus Money To Ex-Employer (Democrat cronyism stimulated in Colorado)

CBS4Denver(AP) ^ | July 12, 2009 | AP

[catnipman]

Denver (AP) Colorado Gov. Bill Ritter has awarded some of the state's first stimulus money to his former employer in a no-bid contract.

Ritter hired his former law firm, the Washington-based Hogan & Hartson, in a no-bid contract to review stimulus spending, The Denver Post reported Friday. It said the firm was paid $40,000 in stimulus money through June.

...

[catnipman]

Well, thank goodness stimulus money is finally entering Colorado. Just in time too. Colorado's elected Democrat officials were running out of local taxpayer money to give away. But fortunately Federal funds will do the trick now, I'm sure.

Of course, the only thing being stimulated is the perpetuation of Colorado's Democrat-machine corruption, enabling even more taxpayer dollars to be shoveled to favored operatives. Gives a new meaning to "shovel-ready" projects when you think about it, right? Plus, do you suppose very much of that stimulus payoff money will be shoveled right back to the Democrat machine at election time?

And gosh, what a wise use of the Colorado's first "stimulus" money: hiring your old buddies to "review" stimulus funding! I wonder how many new jobs are being created with that money? My guess is not very many, But hey, we could always hire another favored firm to study why the stimulus money isn't creating any new jobs. Of course, that study would probably conclude more stimulus money was needed. What do you think?

But then, there are no real surprises here, I mean no new jobs being created, lots of payoffs to big-business Democrat election donors, etc. After all, the nearly trillion dollar "stimulus" bill was never intended to be anything other than the most massive quid pro quo payoff in the history of the United States, so no one should pretend that it's not "working". It's working perfectly!

[FromLori]

The Triumph of Crony Capitalism
Want to get ahead in business? Make friends in Washington.

http://www.weeklystandard.com/Content/Public/Articles/000/000/016/695beqni.asp

[denydenydeny]

This is of course exacttly the problem with government spending to fight recession. Corruption in the distribution of funds is a given.

[tsmith130]

Ritter hired his former law firm, the Washington-based Hogan & Hartson, in a no-bid contract to review stimulus spending,

They got stimulus money to review stimulus spending?!

We are so screwed.

[Frantzie]

Hiring a law firm to review bid spending? LOL! Law firms are about the most corrupt “billers” you will ever find. Law firms and unions are places where money disappears into thin air.

What a joke. Obama, the Dems and cronies are so corrupt.

[org.whodat]

Well, thank goodness stimulus money is finally entering Colorado. Just in time too. Colorado's elected Democrat officials were running out of local taxpayer money to give away. But fortunately Federal funds will do the trick now, I'm sure.

I would bet that that is the story all over this country, the stimulation of law firms. Same thing happened under the tobacco buy out program.

[Arkinsaw]

Hey buddy, I am awarding you $50,000 to determine whether giving you $50,000 to determine whether giving you $50,000 to determine whether giving you $50,000 to determine whether giving you $50,000.........

[Rational Thought]

How Strange! No mention of which party this Governor belongs to in the AP piece.

[silverleaf]

Great work!

$40,000 is what- 200 billable hours worth of work reviewing stimulus spending...?

think of the lawyers whose jobs were saved

sarc

[freespirited]

They got stimulus money to review stimulus spending?!

And here I was thinking that this was the job of the legislature and various govt agencies!

[jiggyboy]

"HoGAAAN!"