Brennan faces state inquiry into influence (Ohio)

[NEOBuckeye]

Brennan faces state inquiry into influence

Charter-school advocate to be asked why his private talks with legislators don't make him lobbyist under law

By Dennis J. Willard and Doug Oplinger
Beacon Journal staff writers

Ohio's legislative inspector general will ask Akron industrialist and charter-school operator David Brennan to provide details about his private meetings with state legislators in his high-rise condominium -- just blocks from the Statehouse.

Brennan has invited an unknown number of Republican legislators to visit him at Waterford Tower and at his Akron home over the years. In recent months, they met for breakfast, lunch or dinner at the condo and talked about Medicaid, charter schools and other issues. In that period, legislators were working on the $51.25 billion, two-year state budget. House and Senate members were involved in an intense debate over the breadth of new, stricter accountability standards for Ohio's $424-million-a-year charter-school program.

---snip---

Based on information from the Akron Beacon Journal, Ohio Legislative Inspector General Tony Bledsoe said he will initiate an inquiry this week into Brennan's relationship with legislators. Bledsoe will send Brennan a ``request for information or registration,'' asking him either to explain why he should not be considered a lobbyist, or to register as a lobbyist and report all contact as far back as legally required.

Bledsoe said corporate executives are allowed to have contact with lawmakers without registering, but only if the contact is ``seldom.'' If Brennan is having frequent meetings with one legislator or groups of them, and Brennan is deriving income from his business, then he should have been registered, Bledsoe said.

http://www.ohio.com/mld/ohio/12099298.htm

David Brennan, FYI, is one of the key financial backers of the Ohio Republican party and the quintessential advocate of for-profit charter schools via Vouchers in Ohio. He owns and operates the Hope Academy for-profit charter school program, which is now expanding to other states. -- NEOB

[goclark]

1. kick

[NEOBuckeye]

2. Thanks. I thought people -- even those outside of Ohio -- should see this.

It would be interesting if Brennan were in some way tied to Noe's coin-trading scandal. Or even if his excessive influence with the Ohio GOP is a scandal in and of itself.

Brennan is a lawyer and a shrewd businessman who has manipulated Ohio law and politics to his own advantage for a number of years. He has successfully made millions, but a good portion of it, particularly now with his Hope Academy for-profit schools, has come at the expense of the better interests of lower and middle class citizens.

We need to make sure he gets more exposure.

[Judi Lynn]

3. They shouldn't make their own rules, should they?

If this free-wheeling Republican creep is operating in his own law-free zone he needs to be stopped.

It would be heaven to see these people who have taken over our country's resources for personal gain at everyone else's expense finally get the legal attention their actions have surely earned.

[WhiteTara]

4. boy, corporated media needs to buy the rest

of the local newspapers! THese guys are getting to the truth!
:woohoo: