FL Rep. Dave Weldon linked to lobbyist by grant (Abramoff)

[seafan]

Weldon linked to lobbyist by grant

BY JOHN McCARTHY
FLORIDA TODAY
April 14, 2006

Rep. Dave Weldon helped land $1.5 million for a Florida Tech project in 2004, which in turn benefited a former top aide to Rep. Tom DeLay who is being investigated as part of the Jack Abramoff lobbying scandal.

Weldon, R-Indialantic, said he had no idea that Edwin Buckham, the DeLay aide turned lobbyist, had any stake in Map ROI, the company that partnered with Florida Tech in the university's National Center for Small Business Information.
In 2004, Weldon helped land a $1.5 million grant from the U.S. Department of Labor to set up the program, which helps Florida small businesses bid on federal government contracts. The program called for a partnership of Florida Tech and Map ROI, a Virginia firm that produced software that small businesses could use to help navigate the complex process of bidding on government businesses.

Of the $1.5 million, about $500,000 went to Map ROI. Soon after news of the deal, the company landed nearly $3 million in new investments from venture capital firms.
At about the same time, the company's founder, Chris Stahl, awarded Buckham options on 500,000 shares of the company, which later merged with another company and changed its name to Synchris Inc.

Stahl no longer is involved in the operation of the company other than as a minority shareholder, Synchris CEO William Schrader told FLORIDA TODAY on Thursday. Buckham's options remain in force until 2009, Schrader said.

snip

http://www.floridatoday.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060414/NEWS01/604140336/1006

[Ecumenist]

1. It's amazing how often these guys get all these financial

favours and gifts from people who, it turns out, (all the time, it seems once they're called on it),they know nothing about. If they're that lax in knowing the identity of the people they're receiving gifts from, why are they in charge of anything, for crying out loud?

[boobooday]

2. He had no idea

Where have we heard that before? Is that the new GOP slogan? :shrug:

[shtinkycat]

3. This is the guy we're working to unseat

He's a total Bushbot, but has a huge campaign war chest. He promised to serve only two terms, was elected in 1992 - do the math! Our guy is Dr. Bob Bowman, a combat vet and PhD with a real feel for the working guy. Wish us luck!

www.bowman2006.com

Full disclosure: I'm the campaign treasurer. :)

[seafan]

5. Good luck, absolutely! Glad to give your guy some ammunition lol. n/t

[0007]

4. Here we go again folks....

I know absolutely nothing!

[stepnw1f]

6. Buh Bye... Dropping Like Flys

Freepers are their magots.