Utility Officers Gave to Bush (FirstEnergy - Big Time)

[Nambe]

The Washington Post Company

The top two executives of FirstEnergy Corp., the Ohio-based utility that is a focus of investigations into last week's cascading blackouts, are key financial supporters of President Bush, according to campaign records.

H. Peter Burg, chairman and chief executive, was one of three hosts of a $600,000 fundraiser for Bush's reelection campaign in Akron, Ohio, on June 30. Vice President Cheney was the featured speaker.

Anthony J. Alexander, FirstEnergy's president and chief operating officer, was a "Pioneer" for Bush's last campaign, meaning he raised at least $100,000. Alexander also contributed $100,000 to Bush's inaugural committee.

The Energy Department has dispatched teams of investigators to the Midwest and Northeast. Democrats have questioned whether Bush's administration coddled electric companies because of his long personal ties to the energy industry. FirstEnergy's ties could increase Capitol Hill scrutiny of the White House handling of the blackout aftermath.

Bush's campaign had no comment. -

Banish bush From Texas Too

[huckleberry]

1. Nightline

Brian Ross (Nightline senior investigator) just hammered First Energy and mentioned campaign donations mostly to Republicans.

[kainah]

2. on p. E2

Thanks, Washington Post. Not that this might actually be significant information...........

[wellst0nev0ter]

3. At Least It's Better

Than how they handled the FACT that Bush and repukes voted down a bill three times that would have prevented the blackout in the first place (in other words, they didn't).

[LauraK]

4. The Dems had better make something out of this.

It's a pretty big hint from the WP.

[zekeson]

5. Its mainstream

Even Good Morning America's reporter in the field managed to slip it in. People are getting good and pissed. Lets do something with it.

[chiburb]

6. Their whole sordid history

Was reported by Barb O'Brian on Saturday, with a follow-up today:

Snip:

Big Trouble for Big Power Company

Last Friday, as power was coming back on line, First Energy was telling the Securities and Exchange Commission its quarterly report would be late because it is still restating its 2002 and first quarter 2003 results.

This is not to say that First Energy is guilty of something. But First Energy is a company in big trouble, and not just because it (allegedly) caused the Mother of All Blackouts. First Energy has a long record of financial, safety, and pollution problems. This record, plus its ties to the Bush Administration (see August 16 Mahablog, below), suggest the company needs to be watched. Closely.
It's been a bad month for FirstEnergy. The Akron, Ohio, owner of power lines that may have triggered the largest blackout in U.S. history was found guilty of polluting in early August, warned about its $12.5 billion debt and forced to slash earnings estimates.

All this comes as the company is under close scrutiny for safety at its nuclear plant.

More here: http://www.mahablog.com/

[Bandit]

7. Love this line

"plus its ties to the Bush Administration, suggest the company needs to be watched. Closely."

[chiburb]

8. She also has this ...

"Presidential Candidate and Congressman Dennis Kucinich (D-Ohio) has been watching First Energy for a while. "This company has gotten by for years playing it fast and loose," he said. "The public interest requires that the utility be held accountable. This is not a company that should be given the benefit of the doubt."

Plus more: http://www.mahablog.com/