Health board member charged with shaking down hospitals

[CornField]

http://www.dailysouthtown.com/southtown/dsnews/101nd4.htm

A Chicago millionaire who funneled huge sums into Republican political campaigns was charged along with two associates Monday with misusing his seat on the powerful Illinois Health Facilities Planning Board to shake down hospitals for contracts and kickbacks.

Stuart Levine, 59, was accused of threatening to use his power on the board to force a suburban hospital to steer $113 million in contracts to a friend. He also was accused in the 28-count indictment of siphoning millions of dollars out of other hospital construction projects as part of scheme to obtain $9.5 million for himself and associates.

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Also charged were construction executive Jacob Kiferbaum, 52, and P. Nicholas Hurtgen, 42, the former managing director of the Bear Stearns & Co. investment firm's Chicago office and a onetime aide to Wisconsin Gov. Tommy Thompson.

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The planning board wields enormous power over medical construction projects in Illinois, and millions of dollars are riding on its decisions.

...

[CornField]

1. More info about Levine -- he co-hosted events for Bush*

http://www.dailysouthtown.com/southtown/dsnews/106nd1.htm

...
Indicted on allegations he accepted millions in kickbacks, Levine has been a top GOP fundraiser for more than a decade, clinking champagne glasses with the state's political elite and co-hosting fundraising dinners for President Bush. He was knighted by the king of Sweden, according to Illinois Campaign for Political Reform.

"He is up there in the top five of individual givers to campaigns — maybe in the top three," Illinois Campaign's executive director Cindi Canary said. "We're looking at about $1.6 million."
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Levine was a major donor to former Attorney General Jim Ryan, who ran for governor in 2002, writing numerous $50,000 checks and chipping in another $184,000 after the gubernatorial race to help erase Ryan's campaign debt.
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The indictment stems from Levine's service on the Illinois Health Facilities Planning Board, a post to which he was appointed by former Gov. George Ryan and reappointed by Blagojevich.
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[hue]

2. What a coincidence!

:sarcasm:

[Jose Diablo]

3. Well, well, well. Isn't this amazing?

Imagine that. Well placed wealthy acting in their capacities of planning and steering construction activities using their positions to direct public money to their 'friends'.

And these very same people also directing money into Republican campaigns. Et tu Brutus?

I guess the Republicans are just plain old variety crooks.

I am amazed that anyone would find this revelation unusual. Next question is, "who put these people in those places?". I doubt those positions are elected positions. I wonder why Tommy is not in jail?