[PAA-Discuss] Sen. John Whitmire (Democrat) invited to TTC shindig in Canada

[Ron and Kris Graham]

08.18.06 CorridorWatch.org MEMBER BULLETIN

 

CINTRA'S INSIDE MAN - DAN SHELLEY

 

Cintra consultant turned Governor Perry's legislative aide, turned Cintra
lobbyist. It's hard to keep up with who is working for who. Or is it?

 

Austin lobbyist Dan Shelley has been one of Governor Perry's aides and
Cintra's inside men.

 

Shelley worked for Cintra making introductions to TxDOT just in time to see
them get a winning proposal submitted for the Trans Texas Corridor. Then he
worked for Governor Perry just in time to lobby the Legislature to protect
and strengthen laws benefiting Cintra. Now he's back working for Cintra
again planning all expense paid trips to Canada for TxDOT and Texas law
makers. 

 

The Dallas Morning News reports this morning, "Mr. Shelley resigned his
state job in September and struck a lobbying deal with Cintra worth between
$50,000 and $100,000 to work from March through the end of this year. In
addition, his daughter and lobbying partner, Jennifer Shelley-Rodriguez,
will earn between $25,000 and $50,000 from the company over the same period,
state records show."

 

The four-day, three-night, trip to Canada would have put key Texas
legislators and senior TxDOT officials together with Cintra well out of the
view of Texans. CorridorWatch.org has learned that rooms were ready booked
for the group at the luxurious Le Royal Meridien King Edward Hotel in
Toronto. 

 

The Dallas Morning News reported that the lawmakers invited by Cintra
included Rep. Mike Krusee, Chairman of the House Transportation Committee
and three members of the Senate committee that writes the state budget:
Royce West of Dallas, John Whitmire of Houston, and Kim Brimer of Fort
Worth. CorridorWatch.org has learned that an invitation was also extended to
Sen. John Carona, new Chairman of the Senate Transportation and Homeland
Security Committee. 

 

TxDOT had their bags packed too. Here's the list obtained by
CorridorWatch.org: Mary Ann Griss (Aide to Chairman Ric Williamson); Steve
Simmons (Deputy Director); James Bass (Director of Finance); Amadeo Saenz
(Asst Executive Director for Engineering Operations); Jefferson Grimes
(Manager State Legislative Affairs); John Munoz (Deputy Director of
Finance); and, Jeremiah Kuntz (former policy analyst for Sen. Staples'
Senate Infrastructure Development and Security Committee, and now a TxDOT
employee).

 

And don't forget the TxDOT TTC Citizen's Advisory Committee. While most
members of the committee (including Linda Stall of CorridorWatch.org) were
apparently unaware about the all-expense-paid trip to Canada, select members
were indeed invited. Committee Chairwoman Judy Hawley and Vice Chairman Tim
Brown were among the four members invited by Cintra according to Tim Brown
when asked by Linda Stall at their Committee meeting last Wednesday. Mr.
Brown is a Bell County Commissioner and also President of the North
America's Super Corridor Coalition (NASCO). 

 

"If there were a smell test, we would all need some serious gas masks," says
David Stall, co-founder of CorridorWatch.org. 

 

News Story:

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/texassouthwest/stories/DN-l
obbyist_18tex.ART.State.Edition1.3eb7043.html

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