Rep Buyer (R-IN) Foundation collects $800,000+ from Corporations/gives out $10,500

Corporate Money In, No Money Out: What's Going On At Rep. Buyer-Linked Foundation?
Justin Elliott | October 12, 2009, 9:57AM



A foundation closely linked to Rep. Steve Buyer (R-IN) has collected over $800,000 in donations, much of it from industry sources with stakes in legislation moving through Buyer's committees, but has given out just $10,500 in six years and spent a whopping $258,136 in operating expenses, the Lafayette Journal & Courier reported Sunday.

Buyer's daughter is the president of the Frontier Foundation, which was set up purportedly to give scholarships to Indiana students, Buyer himself was described as honorary chairman" in a 2004 solicitation letter, and the organization in June listed Buyer's district office as its office.

Despite all of that, Buyer's office told the newspaper, "It's not Congressman Buyer's foundation," and declined an interview request.

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http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2009/10/money_in_no_money_out_whats_ith_rep_steve_buyer-_l.php


Rep. Buyer-linked foundation draws attention
BY DAVID SMITH • DSMITH@JCONLINE.COM • OCTOBER 11, 2009

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But the foundation, which enjoys tax-exempt status, has yet to award its first scholarship after six years in existence.

Until this year, the operations of the Frontier Foundation operated under the public radar. People in Monticello's Twin Lakes High School, which keeps a file of scholarship resources from 55 local organizations, had not heard of it.


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Attempts to reach Buyer for comment were unsuccessful. His press secretary referred questions to Frontier Foundation and said there was no connection between Buyer and the foundation.

"It's not Congressman Buyer's foundation," press secretary Anjulen Anderson said.

Buyer has several indirect connections, however. The foundation shares an office with his district office in Monticello, or at least did as of June 8, 2009, when it filed its most recent IRS Form 990 tax report. The Form 990 is an annual report certain federally tax-exempt organizations must file.


http://www.jconline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20091011/NEWS/910110357


ANYONE ELSE HERE SMELL A RAT?

a republican.

;)

a bigger brain and can be trained.

Republicans do just what they are told w/o any pre-thought to consequences. :hi:

:dem:

-Laelth

Was he going to name his children "highest bid" and "for sale"?

Seriously, this looks like nothing more than "hire my family members" through my, err, THEIR, foundation for outrageous sums of money and I'll be sure and sit on any legislation that might regulate your business.

Or... Charity begins at home, in this case, Buyer's home.

How very honest of them! Well, in a GOP sort of way. ;-)

about the scholarship
The Frontier Foundation Inc. does not yet offer scholarships. However, each year it sends a copy of its scholarship application to the IRS as part of its 990 tax form.



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The $100,000 goal was reached in 2004 and was surpassed each year thereafter. There have been $10,500 in gifts in that time, although no scholarships. They include $2,000 that went to a fire victim and $1,700 to the American Red Cross.

But most of the foundation's contributions have nothing to do with scholarships or emergency relief. Those include $4,500 that went to the Virginia Selden Jerome Foundation and $1,450 to the NRA Foundation.

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During six years of operation, the organization has had $258,136 in operating expenses. Those included $83,150 in fundraising expenses, $48,264 for travel, and $4,499 for meals.

http://www.jconline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20091011/NEWS/910110357

My thought is to have him investigated but they protect each others' backs I do not think that will happen

PROBABLY A MINOR COINCIDENCE & NO GOP OPERATIVE @ WORK HERE:

The Frontier Foundation’s IRS filing covering the year 2007, the most recent available, listed Buyer’s daughter, Colleen, as its unpaid president. Stephanie Mattix, listed as the group’s paid secretary/treasurer, is executive director of Buyer’s political action committee, Storm Chasers, according to Federal Election Commission filings.

Mattix and Buyer told USA Today that Colleen Buyer had left the group, which provides college scholarships, and referred questions to its president, Brenda Olthoff. Olthoff did not respond to eight e-mails and calls. Colleen Buyer did not return telephone calls.

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http://www.indy.com/posts/ethics-end-run



Brenda Olthoff of Chicago, Ill., demonstrates outside of the Palm
Beach County Emergency Operations Center in West Palm Beach,
Friday, as the canvassing board continues to review questionable
ballots inside the center.

http://airwolf.lmtonline.com/news/archive/112500/pagea8.pdf

hat tip Mrs Panstreppon @ TPM Muck

Seriously, is it a mandatory criteria that requires the person to be corrupted before he can be considered for Republican office? I suspect so. That way the RNC is free to operate without worry that it's members will speak out. I think the deal is....vote our line and we'll look the other way on your opportunities to profit in office.

Buyer is a monstrous excuse for a public servant.

Yesterday, we told you about the foundation closely linked to Rep. Steve Buyer (R-IN) that's taken nearly a million dollars from companies with interest in legislation moving through his committees, but given out nothing for its stated purpose, college scholarships for Indiana students.

Here's a closer look at who has donated to the Frontier Foundation, and how some of the money has been spent.

Keep in mind that Buyer sits on the House Energy Subcommittee on Communications, Technology, and, the Internet as well as the Energy Subcommittee on Health.

According to the organization's tax filings, donors to the Frontier Foundation in 2006 included:

WellPoint - $15,000 (health care)

T-Mobile - $10,000 (telecom)

Amgen - $25,000 (biotech)

Eil Lilly - $25,000 (pharmaceutical)

Pfizer - $10,000 (pharmaceutical)

AT&T - $10,000 (telecom)

Roche Diagnostics - $10,000 (health care)

PhRMA - $50,000 (pharmaceutical)

National Association of Broadcasters - $25,000

USA Today, which first broke the Buyer foundation story, noted that the congressman "helped kill a provision in 2007 opposed by drug companies and broadcasters that would have imposed a three-year ban on advertising new drugs."

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http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2009/10/buyer-linked_foundation_who_gave_and_where_did_the.php