Solyndra's Whorehouse Lender (Follow the Money)

zerohedge ^ | 9/17/2011 | Bruce Krasting

[tomd2]

If you want to find out what happened with Solyndra you have to follow the money. I did. The half billion dollars of taxpayer dough that is probably lost in Sol came from the Federal Financing Bank (“FFB”). It’s worth a look at this bank to see what else is going on.

FFB is a bank that is owned and controlled by the US Treasury. The chairman of the Board is the TSec. (Tim Geithner). With the (big) exception of the Post Office all of the loans at FFB are guaranteed by government agencies. Technically speaking, FFB has no risks on loans guaranteed by an agency like the DOE. But I don’t think that should absolve Tim Geithner of any responsibility regarding the losses the country faces with Solyndra. If he, (or anyone else at Treasury) puts their pen to a ½ billion loan, they better well know where the taxpayers money is going. That didn’t happen.

[bronxville]

Center for American Progress:

Steve Spinner is a Senior Fellow at the Center for American Progress focusing on Energy Policy. Based in Silicon Valley, he is an advisor to numerous clean-tech and Internet companies.

In September 2010, Mr. Spinner concluded his appointment as the loan programs advisor in the Office of the Secretary in the U.S. Department of Energy focused on implementation of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Appointed on April 29, 2009, Mr. Spinner helped oversee the more than $100 billion of loan guarantee and direct lending authority for the Title XVII Loan Guarantee Program, or LGP, and the Advanced Technology Vehicles Manufacturing, or ATVM, loan program.

He worked closely with the commercial lending, state and regional development finance agencies, venture capital, private equity, and entrepreneurial communities. He was also the department’s member on the White House Business Council, the White House Innovation Cohort, and the White House Automotive Communities Task Force.

Steve Spinner’s career spans nearly 20 years in the technology, media, energy, and retail industries. Prior to joining the Obama administration, Mr. Spinner served the Obama-Biden Presidential Transition Team on the technology innovation and government reform working group. Before then, Mr. Spinner had been an active advisor and investor to over 30 leading technology companies, helping entrepreneurs grow their ventures, focusing on incorporation, financing, product development, organizational behavior, business development, and sales and marketing.

In 2002, Mr. Spinner founded Sports Potential, the preeminent educational services and sports sciences company. Mr. Spinner was senior vice president of NotifyMe Networks, a voice ASP company, which was sold to AT&T in 2001. From 1996–2000 he held several positions at NBC including senior vice president of strategic partnerships where he oversaw the company’s business and channel development departments, operations with over $70 million in annual revenues. Before his tenure at NBC, Mr. Spinner was program manager for Atlanta Centennial Olympic Properties, the marketing joint venture between the United States Olympic Committee and the Atlanta Committee for the Olympic Games.

Mr. Spinner began his career based in both Europe and Asia as a management consultant for McKinsey & Company focusing on media and entertainment clients. He received an M.B.A. from Harvard University and is a Phi Beta Kappa graduate from Wesleyan University.

A resident of Menlo Park, CA, Mr. Spinner is married and has two children.

Email: sspinner /@\ americanprogress.org
http://www.americanprogress.org/experts/SpinnerSteve.html

Is that him? Is Podesda involved?

[maica]

Today’s interesting tidbit from the LA Times (this is precious):

“Steve Spinner, who helped monitor the Energy Department’s issuance of $25 billion in government loan guarantees to renewable energy projects, was one of Obama’s top fundraisers in 2008 and is raising money for the president’s 2012 reelection campaign.

Spinner did not have any role in the selection of applicants for the loan program and, in fact, was recused from the decision to grant a $535-million loan guarantee to Solyndra Inc. because his wife’s law firm represented the company, administration officials said Friday.”

%%%%%%%

WOW!

I hope the Congressional Committees force everyone involved to come before them, if only to show the CSPAN audience that they are taking protection of the Fifth Amendment.

I firmly believe that the FBI raids of factory and homes was a vacuuming operation, to protect Obama and cronies, not to prosecute them.

[bronxville]

$25 Billion to Promote Electric Cars Is Untouched

A123 Systems, a battery maker in Massachusetts, is seeking $1.8 billion.

By LESLIE WAYNE
Published: February 26, 2009

WASHINGTON — The future of the American auto industry is getting off to a slow start.

Politicians are breaking down the door asking why the money isn’t being sent out,” said Michael Carr, counsel to the Senate Energy Committee, which oversees the Energy Department.

It is a question that Lachlan W. Seward, director of the program, says he hears a lot these days. “We’re moving with a sense of urgency,” said Mr. Seward, who also oversaw the Chrysler Loan Guarantee Board from 1981 to 1984. “But at the same time we are trying to do this in a responsible way that reflects prudent credit policy and taxpayer protections.”

Until now, the program has gotten caught in the shifting priorities of two administrations. The program was not funded until September 2008. Then, the Bush administration considered using the Energy Department fund to help bail out G.M. and Chrysler, an idea that was later rejected. After that, President Obama had to name a new cabinet. As soon as Steven Chu took office as energy secretary, some members of Congress started applying pressure on the fund.

As soon as Steven Chu took office as energy secretary, some members of Congress started applying pressure on the fund.

Senator Evan Bayh, Democrat of Indiana, wrote Secretary Chu on Jan. 23, two days after he was sworn in, to say the agency is “under an obligation to issue the loans as soon as possible.” ...

Senators Dianne Feinstein, Democrat of California, and Olympia J. Snowe, Republican of Maine, who have led a bipartisan effort to increase fuel-mileage standards, followed with a letter calling for an “aggressive timeline” in issuing loans....
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/27/business/energy-environment/27green.html

Spinner worked there until 2010 as soon as the investigation started he took off....and one can see the pressure Chu underwent. The NYSlimes, of course, taking potshots at the Bush Adm for being so slow.

This from a pissed off greenie:

“Steve Spinner- Worked for Matt Rogers and Lachlan Seward. Did their bidding. Suddenly left DOE as first investigations began.

Steve Spinner is a Senior Fellow at the Center for American Progress focusing on Energy Policy. Based in Silicon Valley, he is also an advisor at Silver Lake Sumeru as well as numerous other cleantech and Internet companies. In September, 2010, Mr. Spinner concluded his appointment as the loan programs advisor in the Office of the Secretary in the U.S. Department of Energy focused on implementation of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Appointed on April 29, 2009, Mr. Spinner helped oversee the more than $100 billion of loan guarantee and direct lending authority for the Title XVII Loan Guarantee Program, or LGP, and the Advanced Technology Vehicles Manufacturing, or ATVM, loan program. He worked closely with the commercial lending, state and regional development finance agencies, (socialist - bronxville) venture capital, private equity, and entrepreneurial communities. He was also the department’s member on the White House Business Council, the White House
Innovation Cohort, and the White House Automotive Communities Task Force which was run by STEVE RATTNER, now under criminal prosecution.”....contin
http://corruptiondoe.weebly.com/steve-spinner.html

Wahid Hamid (Obama’s Pakistan rommie at Occidental) is also on the board of the business council. I think I posted that here before. Hamid is also on the board or runs the Pakistan Council or Institute set up by Hillary Clinton and himself a while back. His other Pakistan rommie was Chandoo from Westchester...they collected big money for his campaign. I’m sure they weren’t neglected nor their circle in Pakistan. Hamid was in China a few years ago setting up a tech company called HANDS. I tried to find out more at the time but could only find that he worked with a professor at their top university. I wondered if they weren’t hooking them up to the State Dept. There’s something huge going on...almost like a world heist but thereagain I’m a crazytalker.

[ronnie raygun]

The scumbag media claims nothing here keep moving.

[Eva]

When I was doing a search on federal dollars to rail roads, I came across a big hand out to Siemens America which they used to build rail road cars in China. The announcement was more celebrated in China than it was here.

[randita]

Yes, that’s the one. Haven’t heard any connection to Podesta.

[randita]

Goldman Sachs, Lehman Bros., blah, blah, blah.

Steve Rattner, Counselor to the Secretary of the Treasury Rattner will join the Treasury Department as Counselor to the Secretary where he will serve as an adviser on a variety of economic and financial matters, and will lead the Treasury’s efforts with regard to the automobile sector. Rattner most recently was Managing Principal at Quadrangle Group, LLC since 2000. Prior to that, he was Deputy Chairman at Lazard Frères & Co. LLC. At Lazard Frères & Co. LLC he also served as Deputy Chief Executive from 1997-1999 and Managing Director from 1989 – 1997. From 1984 -1989, Rattner served as Associate, Vice President, Principal and Managing Director at Morgan Stanley and Associate, Vice President at Lehman Brothers Kuhn Loeb, Inc from 1982-1984. He was a correspondent for The New York Times from 1975 – 1982. Rattner received his B.A. with Honors in Economics from Brown University in 1974, and awarded Harvey Baker Fellowship for Graduate Study.

[randita]

I mean Morgan Stanley - not Goldman Sachs - same difference.

[randita]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/11/18/AR2010111806124.html

Former Obama car czar Steven Rattner charged in pay-for-play scheme

By Zachary A. Goldfarb
Washington Post Staff Writer
Thursday, November 18, 2010; 10:47 PM

State and federal authorities on Thursday charged former Obama administration car czar Steven Rattner with participating in a “pay-for-play” scheme to win business from New York state’s pension fund, and sought more than $30 million in penalties.

New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo sued Rattner for $26 million and sought to ban him from working on Wall Street permanently. Rattner, meanwhile, agreed to settle a suit brought by the Securities and Exchange Commission by paying $6.2 million and accepting a two-year ban from Wall Street.

[bronxville]

Spinner – Co-founder - Bloomberg took most of his money out in 2009 – Spinner went to work at the WH in 2010 – no time to check the month – don’t know if either are connected. (I wonder where Spinners wife works, when one reviews the Podesta’s, Rangels, Feinsteins, Pelosi’s et al, we know it’s all in the family:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quadrangle_Group

In 2000, Carlyle entered into a joint venture with Riverstone Holdings, an energy and power focused private equity firm founded by former Goldman Sachs investment bankers.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Riverstone_Holdings#New_York_State_investigation

In September 2007, Mubadala Development Company, an investment vehicle for the government of Abu Dhabi of the United Arab Emirates, purchased a 7.5% stake for $1.35 billion.[9]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carlyle_Group

Center for American Progress - he’s listened under energy along with the usual crew:
http://www.americanprogress.org/experts/topic.html

Glass-Steagall:
http://thestrangedeathofliberalamerica.com/bill-clinton-glass-steagall-and-the-current-financial-and-mortgage-crisis-part-two-of-an-indepth-investigative-report.html

Brettonwoods:
http://www.brettonwoods.org/index.php/179/Leadership_Staff
http://www.brettonwoods.org/index.php/180/Bretton_Woods_Institutions
http://www.brettonwoods.org/members/#International_Council_Members

Good info. Lost of bribery with these corrupt bastards. Carlyle – bribery, Sieman’s bribery (6 or 11 board members). The previous NY attorney general was after them, but got caught with a hooker and had to resign, everyone knew it was the bankers. Pensions/IRA’s, that’s about all the money, we the people have left, and these robber barons are the guardians!! Lehman’s has always bothered me...I tracked the execs. They started their own companies which were all conveniently successful within a year or two almost as if they had inside info. One of them is Apollo Management (they like that name). Blackstone (another interesting name...even more interesting is how in almost every article it’s clarified as to why they chose it) and Apollo are linked insofar as I remember. One of them is a board member of Drum Major in Harlem where Clinton set up his office. Hillary’s been there and most politicians/union biggies in NYC. Their previous director is an assistant of Bloomberg - the same director who texted something nasty about Sarah Palin...don’t remember what it was about. If you track the Clinton administration you’ll find they’re on every board, big business, UN, big projects, big ivy league administrators, boards, etc., and if they’re not there, they’re in government, making laws for us to follow. Hillary didn’t fail in the health care deal...she got Managed Care which opened the door, then Romney got it done in his state. The treaties that have been signed by most presidents, that we don’t even know about, is shameful. Nixon signed a treaty to the effect that overpopulation was a security threat. When he resigned, he continued to work with the Chinese and one can’t help but wonder if there was a cold war. Clintons major deals - environment/green, “conservation” of our land, lift glass-steagll, homosexuals in the military and schools, rearranged the treasury. When Glass-Steagll was lifted, Reuben was at a desk in Citi-bank as the CEO. We’re dealing with cheats, liars, and ….They have a template which has been followed for eons. They’ve gotten away with bloody murder and it’s imperative we nail them on this one.

[bronxville]

First Street™ Research Group - The Lobbying Activity of Solyndra Inc.

Published: September 9, 2011

Some insiders allege Solyndra, Inc. got special treatment from the Obama administration in the form of unusually low interest rates on loans. On September 8th, the FBI and the Energy Department’s inspector general raided Solyndra’s headquarters. And a report out today claims Department of Energy officials sat in on meetings with Solyndra.
Click here for more info on this extraordinary political intelligence tool!

As the investigation into Solyndra continues, the First Street Research Group takes a detailed look at Solyndra’s lobbying activities since 2008. Since 2008, Solyndra:

Spent $1.3 million on lobbying activities, including paying 5 different firms over $800,000 to lobby on its behalf.
Relied heavily on The Revolving Door - 17 lobbyists who have worked on its behalf are connected to over 30 different offices or Members of Congress.

Lobbied on 18 bills, ranging from the Department of Defense Appropriations Act of 2012 to the Energy and Tax Extenders Act of 2008.

Lobbied on issues focused on Budget/Appropriations, Defense, Energy/Nuclear, Taxation/Internal Revenue Code, and in particular:

“Issues related to Department of Energy loan program.”
“Lobbied on obtaining language expressing interest in how DoD funds were being spent on solar PV related to country of origin of solar cells and modules.”

Solyndra’s In-House Lobbyists:

Victoria Sanville
Most Recently: Registered Lobbyist - Solyndra, Inc.
Formerly:
Deputy Chief of Staff; Legis. Director - Rep. Sam Graves (R-MO)
Deputy Chief of Staff - Rep. Peter Roskam (R-IL)
Legislative Director - Rep. Peter Roskam (R-IL)
Legislative Director - Rep. John Sweeney (R-NY)
Legislative Assistant - Rep. John Sweeney (R-NY)
Scheduler - Rep. John Sweeney (R-NY)
Staff Assistant - Rep. George W. Gekas (R-PA)

Joseph Pasetti

Currently: Registered Lobbyist - Sharp Electronics Corporation

Formerly:
Registered Lobbyist - Solyndra, Inc.
Registered Lobbyist - Applied Materials, Inc
Registered Lobbyist - Information Technology Industry Council
Professional Staff Member - Joint Economic Committee
Staff Assistant - Joint Economic Committee

Lobbyists Representing Solyndra
2011
Chris Fish (McAllister & Quinn LLC)
Formerly:
Chief of Staff - Rep. John Sweeney (R-NY)
District Director - Rep. Sue W. Kelly (R-NY)
Executive Assistant - Sen. Alfonse M. D’Amato (R-NY)

Jan Fowler (The Washington Tax Group LLC)
Formerly:
Legislative Assistant - Sen. George V. Voinovich (R-OH)
Legislative Assistant (Tax, Social Security, Banking/Finance, Budget, Insurance, Pensions, Labor, Small Business, Education) - Rep. James O McCrery, III (R-LA)

Stephen Ham (McAllister & Quinn LLC)
Formerly:
Legislative Assistant (Defense and Military Construction Appropriations, Arts, Humanities, Animal Rights) - Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-MD)

Noushin Jahanian (Intel Corporation; The Washington Tax Group LLC)
Formerly:
Policy Director - Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-MI)

Gregory Nickerson (The Washington Tax Group LLC; Van Heuvelen Strategies LLC)
Formerly:
Staff Director - House Subcommittee on Select Revenue Measures
Tax Counsel - House Ways and Means Committee

Kyle Winslow (McAllister & Quinn LLC)

2008-2010
Angela Becker- Dippmann (McBee Strategic Consulting, LLC.)
Formerly:
Professional Staff Member - Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources
Policy Director - Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-WA)

Andrew Davis (McBee Strategic Consulting, LLC.)
Formerly:
Minority (Democratic) Communications Director - Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation
Communications Director - Sen. John Kerry (D-MA)
Communications Director - Sen. Ernest F. Hollings (D-SC)
Deputy Director - Senate Democratic Technology and Communications Center

Gabriel Horwitz (McBee Strategic Consulting, LLC.)
Formerly:
Legislative Director - Rep. Doris Matsui (D-CA)
Legislative Assistant (Agriculture, Trade, EPA, Resources, Conservation, Wildlife, Environment, Steel, Defense, Energy) - Rep. Marion Berry (D-AR)
Legislative Assistant (Homeland Security, Coastal Waterways, Environment, Immigration, Agriculture, Appropriations, Homeland Security, Telecommunication, Transportation, Corps of Engineers Projects) - Rep. Mike McIntyre (D-NC)

David Harry Mann (Holland & Knight LLP)

Jeff Markey (McBee Strategic Consulting, LLC.)
Formerly:
Legislative Director Nuclear Cleanup Caucus - Rep. Doc Hastings (R-WA)
Legislative Director - Rep. Jack Metcalf (R-WA)

Steve McBee (McBee Strategic Consulting, LLC.)
Formerly:
Legislative Assistant, Defense, National Security, Appropriations - Rep. Norm Dicks (D-WA)
Legislative Assistant, Foreign Affairs - Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-WA)
Legislative Assistant, Defense, Foreign Affairs, Trade, Labor, Transportation - Rep. Allan Swift (D-WA)

Deana Perlmutter (Holland & Knight LLP)

Michael W Sheehy (McBee Strategic Consulting, LLC.)
Formerly:
National Security Advisor - Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-CA)
Democratic (Minority) Staff Director; Chief Counsel - House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence

Beth A Viola (Holland & Knight LLP)
Formerly:
Associate Director for Public Liaison - Council on Environmental Quality (Executive Office of the President)

Legislation that Solyndra or a Firm Representing the Company Has Lobbied On:
110th HR 6049: Energy and Tax Extenders Act of 2008
110th S 3335: Jobs, Energy, Families, and Disaster Relief Act of 2008
110th S 3478: Energy Independence and Investment Act of 2008
111th HR 1 IH: American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009
111th HR 2454 RH: American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009
111th HR 2847 RS: Department of Commerce Appropriations Act, 2010
111th HR 2998 IH: American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009
111th HR 3136 IH: To extend the program to provide grants for specified energy property in lieu of tax credits.
111th HR 4085 IH: To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow an investment credit for property used to fabricate solar energy property, and for other purposes.
111th HR 4599 IH: Renewable Energy Expansion Act of 2010
111th HR 5252 IH: Renewable Energy Tax Incentives Extension Act
111th S 1733 RS: Clean Energy Jobs and American Power Act
111th S 2755 IS: Solar Manufacturing Jobs Creation Act
111th S 2899 IS: Renewable Energy Incentive Act
112th HR 1540 RH: National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2012
112th HR 2055 RS: Military Construction and Veterans Affairs and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2012
112th HR 2219 RH: Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2012
112th S 981 IS: National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2012

Issues that Solyndra or a Firm Representing the Company Most Recently Lobbied On:
Budget/Appropriations
“Defense appropriations, Financial Services appropriations, DOD, S 3454 National Defense Authorization Act, Renewable energy”

Defense
“DOD, S 3454 National Defense Authorization Act”

Energy/Nuclear
“H.R. 2219 (no official bill in the Senate yet), the Department of Defense Appropriations Act of 2012 This bill funds the Department of Defense for FY12. Lobbied on obtaining language expressing interest in how DoD funds were being spent on solar PV related to country of origin of solar cells and modules.” & “Renewable energy” & “Issues related to Department of Energy loan program.”

Taxation/Internal Revenue Code
“Issues related to tax code section 48C and solar manufacturing equipment tax credit.”

First Street Coalition Builder snapshot of Solyndra’s activity in 2011:
http://firststreet.cqpress.com/content/Solyndra.aspx

[bronxville]

Solyndra’s Total Lobbying Activity

Lobbying Activity

Total
In-House
Outside Firm

2011
$480,000
$327,500.00
$152,500.00

2010
$550,000
$165,000.00
$385,000.00

2009
$160,000

$160,000.00

2008
$160,000

$160,000.00

Total

$1,350,000
$492,500.00
$857,500.00

Lobbying Firms Hired by Solyndra

Name
Filing Quarter
Amount

McAllister & Quinn LLC
2011 2Q
$ 37,500

The Washington Tax Group LLC
2011 2Q
$ 20,000

McAllister & Quinn LLC
2011 1Q
$ 45,000

The Washington Tax Group LLC
2011 1Q
$ 30,000

McBee Strategic Consulting, LLC.
2011 1Q
$ 20,000

McBee Strategic Consulting, LLC.
2010 4Q
$ 50,000

McAllister & Quinn LLC
2010 4Q
$ 45,000

The Washington Tax Group LLC
2010 4Q
$ 30,000

McAllister & Quinn LLC
2010 3Q
$ 45,000

McBee Strategic Consulting, LLC.
2010 3Q
$ 50,000

The Washington Tax Group LLC
2010 3Q
$ 30,000

McBee Strategic Consulting, LLC.
2010 2Q
$ 50,000

The Washington Tax Group LLC
2010 2Q
$ 20,000

McAllister & Quinn LLC
2010 2Q
$ 15,000

McBee Strategic Consulting, LLC.
2010 1Q
$ 50,000

McBee Strategic Consulting, LLC.
2009 4Q
$ 50,000

McBee Strategic Consulting, LLC.
2009 3Q
$ 50,000

McBee Strategic Consulting, LLC.
2009 2Q
$ 40,000

McBee Strategic Consulting, LLC.
2009 1Q
$ 20,000

Holland & Knight LLP
2008 4Q
$ 50,000

Holland & Knight LLP
2008 3Q
$ 50,000

Dutko Worldwide, LLC
2008 2Q
$ 20,000

Holland & Knight LLP
2008 2Q
$ 10,000

Dutko Worldwide, LLC
2008 1Q
$ 30,000
http://firststreet.cqpress.com/content/Solyndra.aspx

[maica]

What you have added to this thread should be sufficient information alone to stop government handouts to any companies, ever. The Revolving Door, and the Fountain of Money coming out of the sewer of DC has to be stopped.

They are using monopoly money - totally imaginary - but crippling real people’s ability to earn real money at the same time.

Restaurants in DC are packed, reservations required, prices high, no housing crisis at all, because of the thousands of people working as lobbyists.

It is obscene.

[riri]

So, I wonder how many companies like this out there are there? There is a company in Mississippi called Green Tech Auto chaired by a Mr. Terri McCauliff. They manufacture little golf cart sized cars that get an abysmal MPG ratio. How much tax payer dough is being funneled through there?

[randita]

I have no qualm about banks making money, but the revolving door from Wall Street to the White House and back has got to stop. It’s pay-to-play on steroids.

They’re the new robber barons and they have the D.C. political elites in their hip pockets.

[randita]

Who knows. There could be dozens. The green agenda has been and is being used as a money laundering operation to enrich big Democrat donors and players.

It may take years of turning over stones to find all the vermin who have participated in the public fleecing.

[GlockThe Vote]

Bfl.

[stonehouse01]

Pay to play on steroids - you nailed it.

The Tamanny Hall folks were just holding amature hour compared to this.

They are the new robber barons - I think Soros even has his Columbia County Hudson river estate - true to form.

[stonehouse01]

sorry meant amateur - I try not to misspell

[bronxville]

JENNIFER NOLAND GENERAL COUNSEL

Jennifer Noland, General Counsel (worked for Patty Murray and Norm Dicks - she was there at the startup 2002)

Jennifer has been involved with McBee Strategic since its inception, and officially joined the firm in November 2002. Jennifer handles all legal matters, and also serves as the company’s financial manager. Prior to joining McBee Strategic, Jennifer practiced corporate law at Cooley Godward, LLP in Reston, Virginia. She earned her Juris Doctorate from Stanford Law School in 2001, where she was an Editor on the Stanford Law Review. Before law school, Jennifer worked in Washington, DC for both Senator Patty Murray and Congressman Norm Dicks. Jennifer graduated Magna Cum Laude and Phi Beta Kappa from the University of Washington in 1995 with a degree in Human Behavioral Studies
http://new.mcbeestrategic.com/generalcounsel.asp

STEVE McBEE PRESIDENT & CEO (SENIOR AIDE TO NORM DICKS - father was a gov lobbyist for years, campaign money)

Steve McBee, President & CEO. (Senior Aide to Norm Dicks)
Steve McBee is the founder of McBee Strategic Consulting, LLC, which provides bespoke advisory services, risk mitigation advice, and governmental advocacy on a national scale. The firm’s client roster includes numerous Fortune 100 corporations, institutional investors, the venture capital community, and start-ups that display a high potential for rapid growth. Launched eight years ago with a staff of two, McBee Strategic now includes more than 50 professionals, spread across three offices on both the east and west coasts of the US. The company’s rapid growth notched industry-high 18% revenue growth, far outpacing its peers.

Though McBee Strategic advises numerous household-name firms such as Google, General Electric, The Boeing Company, American Airlines, Time Warner Cable, and Federal Express, it has developed a well-deserved reputation for helping renewable energy and clean technology companies navigate Washington and the global capital markets. This reputation has yielded tangible results: Over the past three years, McBee clients have landed more than $2.6 billion in U.S. Department of Energy awards.

Mr. McBee’s clients include some of the most advanced and visionary companies in the business, such as Tesla Motors and BrightSource Energy.

Mr. McBee’s success hasn’t gone unnoticed in the popular press: A recognized thought leader in Washington, on Wall Street and in Silicon Valley, the former Capitol Hill staff member has built a reputation for identifying global trends in public policy long before his competitors do. Hailed by Roll Call in 2009 as one of the most effective players in Washington, Mr. McBee has also been recognized as “Best in the Business” for three years running by influential Beltway publication The Hill.

In 2007, Mr. McBee created McBee Strategic Capital Markets, which provides investors with sophisticated advice and analysis to help them identify and manage political and regulatory risk. As part of the work in this unit, McBee Strategic provides deep Washington analysis under a co-branding arrangement with Sanford C. Bernstein, the largest and most venerated sell-side research firm on Wall Street. Beneficiaries of this intelligence include clients such as Deutsche Bank, UBS, Bank of America, Fidelity, Morgan Stanley, BLACKROCK (interesting - bronxville), the Royal Bank of Canada, and the Government of Singapore Investment Corporation.
http://new.mcbeestrategic.com/president.asp

This guy (wiith Jennifer Noland) started the company and it started making billions within the first few years...These are BIG companies and they hired a startup company...

MIKE SHEEHY: Executive Vice President (security advisor to Nancy Pelosi):-

Mike Sheehy joined McBee Strategic in March of 2009, after more than thirty years of service in the U.S. House of Representatives. For six years, Mike was the national security advisor for Speaker of the House NANCY PELOSI. In that capacity, he served as the Speaker’s principal advisor on all matters affecting the security of the United States including defense, foreign policy, energy security, homeland security, and intelligence. Prior to joining the Speaker’s staff, Mike served for thirteen years as Democratic staff director and chief counsel on the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence where he was responsible for the committee’s work in authorizing funding for, and overseeing the conduct of, the nation’s intelligence activities. Before joining the Intelligence Committee, he was chief of staff for Congressmen Richard Neal (D-MA) and Edward Boland (D-MA). Mike served in the Navy for five years before beginning his career on Capitol Hill. He holds a B.A. from Marquette University and a J.D. from Georgetown University. http://new.mcbeestrategic.com/sheehy.asp

ELIZABETH “Betsy” PHILLIPS, EXECUTIVE VP (wked for Dicks - see note below)

Elizabeth “Betsy” Phillips, Executive Vice President. (worked 27 yrs in gov/moves to McBee in Sept., 2010... WHY?
Betsy joined McBee Strategic in September of 2010, after more than 27 years of government service. Prior to joining McBee Strategic, Betsy was a 25-year member of the professional staff of the House Appropriations Committee where she served on various Subcommittees. Betsy’s area of expertise encompasses the national security enterprise including defense and intelligence programs, security assistance, and diplomatic policy.

While on the professional staff of the Appropriations Committee, Betsy worked for both Democrat and Republican Subcommittee Chairmen, including Congressman Steny Hoyer (D-MD), Congresswoman Nita Lowey (D-NY), Congressman NORM DICKS (D-WA), Congressman Bill Young (R-FL), and Congressman Jerry Lewis (R-CA). Her program and budget expertise ranges from Department of Navy shipbuilding programs to federal building programs of the General Services Administration. Betsy briefly left the Committee staff in 2007 to serve at the US Embassy in Baghdad, Iraq where she developed and managed the civilian portion of the Joint Campaign Plan, providing strategic advice and consultation to the Ambassador and other members of the national security team in Baghdad and Washington, DC. Throughout the years Betsy has conducted oversight of many of the federal government agencies, including the Departments of Defense and State as well as the Office of Management and Budget, providing a wealth of information on the functioning of the executive branch and its interaction with the legislative branch.
http://new.mcbeestrategic.com/phillips.asp

27 years in gov - 25 yrs Appropriation Com. and she leaves at the end of last year just as the investigation began.

Rick Desimone, Executive Vice President. (Murry’s Chief of Staff):-

Rick Desimone joined McBee Strategic in 2007. A Washington state native, Rick Desimone has served at the nexus of politics and government in Washington State for over 16 years. Rick’s political experience includes working on both of President Clinton’s successful campaigns in Washington State, managing Senator PATTY MURRAY’s (D-WA) successful re-election campaign in 1998, and contributing as a senior advisor to Senator MURRAY’S 2004 re-election effort. The 1998 effort resulted in Senator Murray being elected with the highest percentage vote for a U.S. Senate candidate in Washington State in over 20 years.

In government, Rick has worked for the City of Seattle, held an appointment during the Clinton Administration, and has served as Senator Murray’s Chief of Staff for the last 8 years. During Rick’s tenure as Senator Murray’s Chief of Staff, he played a key role in support of Senator Murray’s efforts to lead the Senate Democratic Caucus’ electoral strategy as she served as Vice-Chair and Chair of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee in the 2000 and 2002 election cycles, respectively. Rick also advised Senator Murray in her efforts to advance within the Senate Democratic Caucus where she now serves in the elected leadership as Conference Secretary.
http://new.mcbeestrategic.com/desimone.asp

CLIENT LIST:
http://new.mcbeestrategic.com/allclients.asp

STEVE McBEE’s **FATHER** DENNY is a well-known longtime lobbyist in DC and a large donor to both Dicks and Murray -
DENNY MILLER McBEE ASSOCIATES Inc.
http://projects.publicintegrity.org/lobby/profile.aspx?act=firms&year=2003&lo=L001534

Boeing protests ‘skewed process’ in tanker bidding
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2004290476_webboprotest18.html

Old news BUT but why did EAD really win the contract over Boeing? (don’t have time to check - anyone know):-

If Rep. Dicks takes lead on Defense panel, Boeing may benefit
By Roxana Tiron - 02/09/10 09:59 PM ET

Dicks’s links to K Street come through Denny Miller (McBEE - bronxville)Associates. The firm has longstanding ties to Washington state, represents a large number of defense contractors and has hired several former DICKs (exphas - bronxville) staffers.

Meanwhile, McBee Strategic was started by STEVE McBEE McBee, a former POLICY AIDE FOR DICKS (my emphasis). McBee Strategic has expanded far beyond defense. Defense clients are only a small portion of the firm’s roster.

Dicks was among other members of the House Appropriations Defense panel who were INVESTIGATED (my emphas - bronxville) last year by the Office of Congressional Ethics (OCE) for directing earmarks to defense companies that had hired the NOW DEFUNCT (did they get loans - bronxville) lobby shop PMA Group, whose founder is under federal investigation for fraudulent campaign contributions. The OCE closed its investigation into Dicks, finding no cause to continue.
http://thehill.com/homenews/house/80479-if-rep-dicks-takes-top-position-on-defense-panel-boeing-may-benefit

It needs to be reopened!

Lobbyists are Sen. Murray’s biggest donors

Top lobbyist donors

On Murray’s list of top-10 contributors are two lobbying firms. Employees at DENNY MILLER (McBEE - bronxville) Associates of Washington, D.C., have given $84,200 since 2005. Miller lobbies on behalf of a wide range of clients in Washington state, including Boeing, the Muckleshoot Indian Tribe and Swedish Medical Center, as well as defense contractors.

The other firm is McBee Strategic Consulting, whose founder, STEVE McBEE (bronxville), once worked for U.S. Rep. Norm DICKS, D-Bremerton. The firm’s president of Northwest operations is RICK DESIMONE, MURRAY’s former chief of staff. McBee has given $58,600 since 2005 to Murray’s campaign and to her PAC.

M-PAC is the 16th-largest leadership PAC in the Senate, with $435,000 in contributions between January 2009 and April 2010.

Murray has dipped into M-PAC to support a host of Democratic candidates and groups. Recipients include REID, the Senate majority leader; Senate Policy Chairman Sen. Byron DORGON; AND THE POLITICAL-ACTION COMMITTEE OF PLANNED PARENTHOOD.

Murray’s Washington state colleague in the Senate, MARIA CANTWELL, IS ONE OF 13 SENATORS WHO DO NOT OPERATE A DEADERSHIP PAC (bronxville).

McGehee, the campaign-finance expert, believes that leadership PACs represent influence peddling at its worst: Donors give to curry favors with a lawmaker, who for the same reason then funnels the money to fellow politicians.
Murray voted for the landmark 2002 McCain-Feingold campaign-finance bill, which sought to regulate large contributions from corporations and unions to political organizations. She also is one of 47 co-sponsors of the DISCLOSE Act, a legislative counterattack to the recent U.S. Supreme Court decision that overturned parts of McCain-Feingold.

McGehee, though she credits MURRAY’s votes, FAULTS HER and many other Democrats for paying only lip service to curbing money’s influence on politics.

Murray spokeswoman Glass said the only thing that sways Murray is the needs of Washington residents. And the biggest part of that job, Glass said, is bringing jobs and federal dollars home.
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2012287293_murray06m.html

Silicon Valley - COOLEY linked to McBee (person of interest Renu Gupta - joined the firm in 2010 ?month - just when the money was expected to flow)

Over the past five years, Cooley has handled more than 400 mergers and acquisitions (M&A) transactions, ranging in size from less than $4 million to more than $4 billion, making our practice one of the most active in the country.
http://www.cooley.com/mergersacquisitions

RENU GUPA SPECIAL COUNSEL (joined firm just as the money was being released (**2010**):
http://www.kronishlieb.com/rgupta
http://www.cooley.com/cleanenergytechnologies
http://www.cooley.com/mergersacquisitions
http://www.allbusiness.com/energy-utilities/renewable-energy-solar/15233917-1.html
http://aasquared.org/gallery/GuptaAward
Fed guarantee helps BrightSource Energy plan (Gupta’s husband)

BRIGHTSOURCE ENERGY (link to McBee) - haven’t had time to investigate)

BrightSource Energy Inc. of Oakland won $1.37 billion in FEDERAL LOAN GUARANTEES Monday to build solar power plants in the Mojave Desert, becoming the latest Bay Area green-tech company to receive major financial backing from the U.S. government.

The money will help BrightSource build the Ivanpah Solar Electric Generating System, a collection of three solar-thermal power plants that will use mirrors to focus sunlight and generate electricity. Together, the three plants near the NEVADA border will produce enough power for 140,000 homes.
http://articles.sfgate.com/2010-02-23/business/17951804_1_renewable-energy-loan-guarantees-california-energy-commission

BECHAL - Outside Directors (linkage):
http://www.bechtel.com/leadership.html
BRIGHTSOURCE:
http://www.brightsourceenergy.com/about_us/management_team/
INVESTORS:
http://www.brightsourceenergy.com/about_us/investors/
http://articles.sfgate.com/2010-02-23/business/17951804_1_renewable-energy-loan-guarantees-california-energy-commission

Vantage Enterprises LLC: Private Company Information – BusinessWeek (no time to dig – it’s probably the big daddy)
http://investing.businessweek.com/research/stocks/private/snapshot.asp?privcapId=20700999

I didn’t have too much time but think I made it self-explanatory. It’s done half-assed but one can see a pattern and also know there’s lots more of these hungry beasts. One can now understand why the closed the doors during their sessions over the Healthcare Bill. Some of these big companies are into Medical Equip etc. If you read Gupta’s husbands link...it might be the reason we don’t have a regular lightbulb for much longer. I found it interesting that the father’s last name McBee wasn’t used by the media yet it’s what’s documented by the government. How many more family members are hiding their identity and feeding from the trough of our hard-earned money? And now we know why this “jobs bill” MUST pass...

This must stop and people need to go to jail.