DOJ Needs To Look At The Great Lakes Water Authority

Fraud increases water rates

Well, pun intended, if an executive of a corporation can scheme to substantially steal, which is far beyond any concept of financial profit, taxpayer dollars by rigging bids, kickbacks, bribes, and funding political campaigns, regarding water treatment, then, they probably do the same thing for all other public contracts, like in child welfare.

So, in essence, these were no bid, public contracts which means they are probably looking into the actions of public officials.

This is what increases water rates.

This is privatization.

I wonder if they did this in Detroit and Flint, Michigan, sarcasm intended.

Former Executive Admits Guilt in Antitrust Conspiracy Affecting Water Treatment Chemicals

A former executive pleaded guilty today in the District of New Jersey for his role in a conspiracy to eliminate competition by rigging bids, allocating customers, and fixing the price for liquid aluminum sulfate sold to municipalities and pulp and paper companies in the United States. 

Brian C. Steppig, former director of sales and marketing for a water treatment chemicals manufacturer headquartered in Lafayette, Indiana, admitted to agreeing with competitors, from approximately 2005 until February 2011, not to compete for contracts for liquid aluminum sulfate, a coagulant used by municipalities to treat drinking and waste water, and by pulp and paper companies in their manufacturing processes.  

“Today’s result reflects the Antitrust Division’s ongoing efforts to hold accountable those who seek to corrupt the competitive process and cheat customers,” said Assistant Attorney General Makan Delrahim of the Justice Department’s Antitrust Division.  “This offense was particularly egregious, counting among its victims cities and towns throughout the Southeastern United States that relied on the conspirators’ products to provide clean water to their residents.” 

“The FBI is thorough in ensuring that anyone intent on corrupting our free market system is brought to justice,” said Special Agent in Charge Timothy Gallagher of the FBI's Newark Division.  “Corruption and collusion at any level in our society is unacceptable as it has such a negative impact on the consumer.”

According to court documents, Steppig and his co-conspirators agreed not to pursue each other’s historical customers.  To carry out that agreement, Steppig and his co-conspirators discussed prices to be quoted to customers and submitted intentionally losing bids to favor the intended winner.

A violation of the Sherman Act carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $1 million fine for individuals.  The maximum fine for a Sherman Act charge may be increased to twice the gain derived from the crime or twice the loss suffered by the victims if either amount is greater than the statutory maximum fine.   

Including Steppig, two individuals and one company have pleaded guilty to charges arising out of this federal investigation of collusion in the liquid aluminum sulfate industry. 

The investigation was conducted by the Antitrust Division’s New York Office and the FBI’s New Jersey Office.  Anyone with information regarding price fixing, bid rigging or customer allocation in the liquid aluminum sulfate industry should contact the Antitrust Division’s New York Office at 212-335-8000, call the Antitrust Division’s Citizen Complaint Center at 1-888-647-3258 or visit www.justice.gov/atr/contact/newcase.htm. 

Voting is beautiful, be beautiful ~ vote.©

Rogers proves he doesn't mind lying to the 8th Congressional District

For Immediate Release:
16 February 2012
Contact: Lance Enderle
517 285-3376

Rogers proves he doesn't mind lying to the 8th Congressional District

Rogers votes with other House Republicans to allow oil drilling in the Great Lakes, after saying he was "firmly opposed" to such in October, 2010

Lance Enderle
U.S. Congressional
Candidate for
Michigan, District 8

LANSING -- Democratic candidate nominee for the 8th Congressional District Lance Enderle slammed Republican Mike Rogers (R-Brighton) Wednesday for joining with other Michigan Congressional Republicans and approving a measure to allow drilling for oil in the Great Lakes.

"I've said it from the beginning, Mike is a liar. He has no problem telling the people of the district one thing, but then voting to help his corporate cronies," Enderle said. "Here we have a clear, blatant example of Mike's lies. In October of 2010 he told the Argus Press that he was 'firmly opposed' to drilling in the lakes, and touted his alleged legislation to prevent such drilling. Today shows Mike is not 'firmly opposed,' only that he hadn't met the right corporate crony with the offer to soften his resolve."

Roger's own website re-published the entire article written by Christopher Behnan. The relevant part of the article follows:

"Enderle said Rogers was the only U.S. House or Senate member from Michigan who voted in favor of a measure to engage in oil-and-gas exploration in the United States.

He said Rogers has been lax on protection of the Great Lakes.

Rogers said he firmly opposes oil drilling in the Great Lakes and has voted in Congress to ban all drilling in the five lakes. He said he's sponsored legislation to ban new drilling permits and led bipartisan efforts to clean up toxic pollutants and fight invasive species in the lakes."

Adding to the insult, Enderle said, another Michigan community was struggling to identify and address a new pipeline oil spill. This spill occurred in Sterling, Michigan and resulted in a shut down of Enbridge Energy Partners Pipeline 5, which traverses much of the state's northern tier, as well as the upper peninsula, crossing into the lower peninsula under the straits of Mackinac. Enbridge owns Lakehead Pipeline 6B which had a catastrophic failure in July of 2010, spewing an estimated 1.1 million gallons of toxic tar sands oil into the Talmadge Creek and the Kalamazoo River. Up to 35 miles of the river and pristine natural areas were contaminated, and the company continues to work on cleaning up the spill.
The Great Lakes are not just a beautiful and important tourism attraction for Michigan.

30 Million People Depend on the Great Lakes. “More than 30 million people depend on the Great Lakes for their drinking water, and millions more benefit from the commerce and business that depends on the waters of the Great Lakes.” [Healthy Lakes, Accessed 2/15/12]

1.5 Million Jobs from the Great Lakes. “The Great Lakes provide 1.5 million jobs in the U.S., and $62 billion in wages every year, according to a study by Michigan Sea Grant at the University of Michigan. The study said Michigan has the most jobs related to the Great Lakes, with 525,886. Others are Illinois (380,786), Ohio (178,621), Wisconsin (173,969), New York (157,547), Indiana (54,397), Pennsylvania (25,479) and Minnesota (11,877).” [The Grand Rapids Press, 2/24/11]

"Mike is appalling. He needs to return what ever blood money he received for this vote, and apologizes to the state and his constituents." says Enderle. "Mike has shown today that he is nothing more than a bought and paid for crony of corporate interests and the Republican party. He has neither the interest or the desire to solve Michigan's problems. It is time for Mike to go -- voluntarily with a resignation today, or in November with an election ouster."