Another day. Another Jebbie Florida scandal.

http://www.newtimesbpb.com/issues/current/news_toc.html

All the Governor's Men
A sweetheart hospital district deal could land Jeb Bush in front of a grand jury
BY BOB NORMAN

Gov. Jeb Bush will likely be pulled into a federal grand jury investigation of the North Broward Hospital District, the $800 million-a-year, tax-subsidized public health powerhouse that serves as one of his chief political fiefdoms.

The grand jury is looking into a project by the nation's sixth-largest public hospital system, which runs four hospitals and numerous clinics, to build a $30 million medical office building in Fort Lauderdale. The deal is marked by apparent insider dealing and an estimated $100 million of inflated profits for a few well-connected businessmen, including Bush supporter Austin Forman, a scion of the county's most prominent family.

Though Bush appointed all seven NBHD commissioners who voted for the building plan and has strong political ties to some district officials and lobbyists, he's managed so far to keep clear of the scandal, which last year led to the embezzlement conviction of former district CFO Patricia Mahaney. Sources close to the probe say that is about to change: A little-noticed veto by the governor played a crucial role in the medical office building saga, paving the way for Forman's deal.

more..

and no one does them better than Jeb. His whole career as a so called "businessman" was one sweetheart deal after another.

oneself 'far out'. Like that cowboy in the pickup truck with the camper on it in Foul Play. Everytime we come to the top of another hill hitting about 60 and a Bush is anywhere in the vicinity, it's just like a ten car pile up. And you never ever know who or what you're going to be running into.

And it's not like these guys are even smart about it. They do their dirty little deeds publically, and when they're caught at it they always have this nasty, snide, stupid look on their faces that just makes you want either to laugh or scream. The only thing better than the moronic look on their faces is the stupid excuses and whoppers that they come up with to 'explain' exactly why they did what they just got caught doing. Oh, and how it was for the public good, the good of the country, economy, etc. (although maybe just a little illegal or at the very least unethical).

Far out.

Back in 1999, the district decided to put a new medical office building on SE Third Avenue, just east of Broward General Medical Center, its flagship Fort Lauderdale hospital. The only problem: The location was occupied by 14 homes and businesses. So the district set out to acquire them and by early 2000 had bought seven. The remaining landowners, however, held out for exorbitant prices -- at least $2 million more than NBHD was willing to pay. Facing a stalemate, administrators turned to Tallahassee.

Enter Scherer, who began a legislative effort to win "quick-take" rights for the district, wherein it could gain ownership of the properties and let a jury decide a fair price later. NBHD lobbyist Ron Book also played a key role in the legislation but says he obtained his orders from Scherer's office.

"Bill spoke to the governor about the quick-take," explains Nico Winningham, who was then the real estate manager for the district. "All along, he was the tie to Jeb."

The ensuing bill sailed unanimously through the House and overwhelmingly passed the Senate. Then came Bush's surprise veto on June 7, 2000.

<snip>

Bush explained in a 2000 letter to then-Secretary of State Katherine Harris that his veto came in defense of private property rights and argued that the district could use regular eminent domain to obtain the properties. He said expanding the district's power to take the properties wasn't in the "spirit of fair play."

(We all know that Jeb "Devious Plans" Bush doesn't care very much about "the people" in this state, so this statement exists as a manipulative ploy and is quite transparent.)


Back to the story...

Jeb's veto then made it possible to go to the second-ranked location to build the medical facility... and that paved the way for Austin Forman, whose family supports Bush and has contributed at least $15,000 to the GOP and the governor's campaigns. According to FBI reports, Forman's real estate partner, William Murphy, had behind-the-scenes talks with then-district CFO Mahaney about putting the medical office building on Andrews Avenue. After the veto, Forman and Murphy optioned the land and orchestrated a deal with NBHD that will pay them and downtown developer Terry Stiles $170 million over 55 years to construct the building. That represents roughly a $100 million profit for the trio. The Bush-appointed board approved the deal without taking bids in 2002.

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Let's hear it for the GRAND JURY!!!