CDR and Pennsylvania

Its the usual, in this case the only new information was the role of Alan Kesseler who was a Lobbyist fro CDR and a close friend of Ed Rendell. The biggest outrage, CDR still gets work from Philadelphia even though their dealings just recently led to an increase of home heating rates in the city of brotherly love. The connection between the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency and CDR deserves closer attention since it was they who awarded CDR a no bid contract, the question, who actualy made the decision and and were they inluenced in an improper manner?

Philadelphia Daily News---But Rubin's CDR should have set off red flags long ago. Although it was not charged with any wrongdoing, the firm did play a significant role in the 2003 city corruption probe that included the bugging of Mayor Street's office and criminal convictions for Kemp and a cast of local political wheeler-dealers. As summarized here:

In April 2001, CDR hired Ron White, a bond lawyer and chief fundraiser for Philadelphia Mayor John Street, as a consultant, paying him a $5,000 retainer to help the company win business with the city. Rubin donated $15,000 to Street between December 2000 and June 2003, according to Pennsylvania state filings.

In addition, CDR gave White three tickets to the 2003 Super Bowl in San Diego and provided a limo ride to the game. White brought along Philadelphia treasurer Corey Kemp, according to a federal criminal indictment brought against White and Kemp in 2004.

Here, too, CDR -- which seems to make money both from government contracts and the banks with which it does business -- landed a lucrative deal from City Hall without any competitive bidding. But at the same time, with less fanfare (until now), CDR was forging close ties to Pennsylvania's then-new governor, Rendell. Summing up some of the reports so far this week:

* CDR's Rubin has given $35,000 in political contributions to Rendell, including some $20,000 during his 2002 campaign. After the ex-Philadelphia mayor was elected to his first term, Rubin was given a seat on the transition committee.

* CDR's lobbyist in Harrisburg has been one of Rendell's closest political fundraisers, Philadelphia lawyer Alan Kessler.

* Also in 2003, a state agency -- the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency -- awarded CDR a no-bid contract as a bond swaps advisor, a deal that has netted the controversial company hundreds of thousands of dollars in profits. That was before news about its role in the Philadelphia corruption probe had surfaced, but amazingly (OK, maybe not so amazingly) CDR continued to receive work locally, including a 2006 arrangement with Philadelphia Gas Works.

For the full Pay For Play CDR and the Democrats including what Black Box deals are click here.