Troha’s Habits

Daniel Bice has an excellent article detailing what appears to be another instance of Dennis Troha possibly using campaign donations to buy action from government.

Under a hush-hush deal with the company he used to own, JHT Holdings Inc., Troha is to be paid annual fees until 2010 because Congress passed a measure two years ago that specifically benefits the Wisconsin trucking conglomerate by easing a federal hauling regulation.

Bank records show JHT paid Troha’s consulting firm $107,238 one month after the measure became law. One wire transfer cites the legislation as the reason for the payment.

Leading the charge to push through the provision in 2005 were several congressmen, including U.S. Rep. Paul Ryan of Wisconsin, who have been big-time beneficiaries of Troha’s campaign largess.

[...]

But Ryan and the other congressmen said last week that they had no idea that Troha had a direct monetary stake in the proposal.

“I’ve never heard of anything like that,” said Ryan, who has said he will return nearly $60,000 in donations from Troha’s family. “That’s extremely inappropriate.”

[...]

The donations, they suggested, were tied to legislation allowing 97-foot multitruck combinations on the highways. Previously, the maximum length was 75 feet.

This might sound like a technical change, but it has had a huge impact. Drivers moving trucks from manufacturers’ factories now can move four semitrailer truck cabs at once instead of three. The method - called a “saddlemount vehicle transporter combination” or, simply, a “four-way” - has the first truck fully on the ground, with each of the succeeding trucks piggybacked on the truck in front of it. Only the rear tires of the final three trucks touch the ground.

JHT will profit the most from the change because its subsidiaries have a near-monopoly on the business of hauling new heavy-duty trucks from the manufacturer. The new law means the company can move more trucks with fewer drivers, thereby cutting costs. The Federal Highway Administration recently passed rules spelling out how the new law is supposed to work.

[...]

Ryan was the most outspoken in his criticism of Troha’s side deal. The Janesville Republican signed two letters pushing the length law change, he said, because he was convinced it would help a major employer in his district while not jeopardizing safety.

In retrospect, he said, he wishes he had known what was going on behind the scenes. “It sort of frosts me,” he huffed.

First off, let’s seperate Troha’s giving of money to Ryan from the Doyle incident, because there are significant differences.

1) Ryan is not a direct decision maker over the issue. 
2) Ryan’s reason for supporting the legislation is very plausible.  If he truly believed that there was not a safety issue and that it would benefit a large local firm, he was acting correctly in supporting it. 
3) Ryan, unlike Doyle, does not have a history of questionable campaign schenanigans.
4) Ryan immediately and forcefully criticized Troha.
5) Ryan gave the money to charity after the Troha indictment. 

That being said, it does appear that Troha very clearly used large campaign donations to lubricate legislation.  Although this is a bit different than the casino project because he was one among many pushing for this legislation.  Also, in this case, it does not appear that Troha did anything illegal.  Unless one of the politicians involved put the legislation in in exchange for the campaign donation, there’s nothing illegal here.  It’s sleazy and unsettling, but not illegal.

And before you ask, no, this does not make me want to support campaign finance reform.  It makes me want to support more transparency and a lessening of the power of government, which attracts corruption. 

1. You are awfully generous with Ryan; he takes very serious money from a guy he knows to be hip deep in a huge business proposal, the casino, in Ryan’s district and that this proposal requires federal approval to go forward.

   While this stuff makes for good campaign mud, I have seen nothing to suggest that anyone broke the law taking Troha’s money.  But, Ryan not so easily distinguished from Doyle as you try and suggest.

   Posted by on March 18, 2007 at 1152 hrs




2. Talk about a partisan peeling of the onion.

   And unless you believe you are guilty until proven innocent all Troha has done at the state level is just;

   sleazy and unsettling, but not (yet) illegal.

   First Ryan says;

   had no idea that Troha had a direct monetary stake in the proposal.

   “I’ve never heard of anything like that,” said Ryan, who has said he will return nearly $60,000 in donations from Troha’s family. “That’s extremely inappropriate.”

   And then;

   The Janesville Republican signed two letters pushing the length law change, he said, because he was convinced it would help a major employer in his district while not jeopardizing safety.

   he says he will return not has as you stated Owen. Apparently the fat lady has not sung yet.

   And what “major employer” is he referring to if not Troha?

   And then anticipating my, I hope among others, thoughts;

   no, this does not make me want to support campaign finance reform.

   How about if we just made it illegal to contribute to Democratic candidates, I suppose you would consider that allowable campaign finance reform.

   Posted by on March 18, 2007 at 1251 hrs




3. "Lessening the power of government” Owen, what’s the matter with you?  Don’t you know a social totalitarian society cannot be created if the power of government is lessened.

   I agree with pjr.  We need many more laws to slap down those pesky peasant citizens who might not approve of total government control and complete submission of the population to the ruling few.

   Posted by on March 18, 2007 at 1323 hrs




4. What’s the delay in Ryan’s office?  He said he was going to give back the Troha money almost two weeks ago.  It would seem to be something that, with these headlines, ought to have high priority.

   And if ever I find myself having to follow one of those hundred-foot -long trucking monsters, with one cab hauling four semi trailers, I will curse Ryan—for what this does to our safety as well as to the roads.  But wait, then the road-builders can give more money. . . .

   Posted by on March 18, 2007 at 1649 hrs




5. In retrospect, he said, he wishes he had known what was going on behind the scenes. “It sort of frosts me,” he huffed.

   If a Dem said something like that Owen would counter with
   “ Well why are you so STUPID!!

   Owen’s Best Friend....Hypocrisy, rears his UGLY head Again!!

   Posted by on March 18, 2007 at 1657 hrs




6. Funny how people want to assume what I would say if the roles were reversed and then accuse me of hypocrisy. 

   Actually, if you will remember, I was not critical of Kathleen Falk for taking Troha’s money because I don’t see where she was in a position to directly reward his contributions. 

   And PJR, yes, I parsed the two cases because they are different.  The only thing similar is that both Ryan and Doyle received some of Troha’s money.  Everything after that is different.

   Posted by Owen on March 18, 2007 at 1702 hrs




7. The only thing similar is that both Ryan and Doyle received some of Troha’s money. Everything after that is different.

   Uh, no, Owen, they share another similarity. In both cases Troha got exactly what he wanted and the public trust got the shaft as usual.

   And how about holding Ryan to the same litmus test as Falk,

   I don’t see where she (in this case he) was in a position to directly reward his contributions. 

   Troha sold 75% of JHT in 2005, He kept 25% and wasn’t JHT the conduit for some of Doyle’s money as well?

   I don’t see how Ryan can claim he didn’t know of Troha’s involvement. He’s a bright guy who claims to have figured out an answer to the Social Security mess.

   “Frosted” indeed, he must have been referring to his piece of the cake.

   Posted by on March 18, 2007 at 1727 hrs




8. Let’s not go overboard.  Ryan signed two letters on the legislation’s behalf AND he seems to have thought that it was good legislation regardless of the donations. 

   Compare that to Doyle, who changed his position on off-reservation 180 degrees and had the absolute final decision on an issue that would have sent $80 million Troha’s way. 

   It’s OK to support people who support your views.  It is not OK to pay someone to change their position in your favor. 

   If it comes out that Ryan was previously opposed to this legislation, I’ll come to your side.  Until then, this seems to be interesting, but not corruption.

   Posted by Owen on March 18, 2007 at 1738 hrs




9. Is this a chicken or egg trick question?

   And at this point Doyle has not approved the Kenosha Casino.

   Posted by on March 18, 2007 at 1745 hrs




10. There is another big difference.  One of Doyles campaign officials called Troha in the midst of the campaign solicited campaign cash, and actually went to Troha’s office to pick up the checks.  Oh and another.  Troha hasn’t been charged with ILLEGAL contributions. That is....LAUNDERED money given under families members names.
    And I don’t believe there are any allegations of Ryan hanging at Troha’s “holiday parties”.
    One last little detail.  To my knowledge Ryan isn’t under any investigation for pay for play.
    You liberal shit heads said the Busalacchi was merely helping a constituent.  And Ryan was????  Ryan was supposed to not go to bat for a Wisconsin business in a completely normal way?  Ryan was supposed to vote against legislation that would help keep jobs and industry in Wisconsin thriving?
    Doyle is toast.  When he is indicted, I’m going to be here.
    Tick tock tick tock.

    Posted by mickey on March 18, 2007 at 1746 hrs




11. ” And I don’t believe there are any allegations of Ryan hanging at Troha’s “holiday parties”.

    Ah, mickey, exercising that little pea-brain yet again.  Has anyone asked if Ryan was at one of the Troha Christmas parties?  My guess is that he attended, if he was in town, since Troha was one of his big hitter sugar daddies.

    mickey, why don’t you think some of this shit through before you mount the typewriter?

    Posted by on March 18, 2007 at 1945 hrs




12. Also, don’t forget that Ryan intervened on Troha’s behalf wothe the Bureau of Indian Affairs on the casino issue.  It wasn’t all about the trucking with Ryan.

    Posted by folkbum on March 18, 2007 at 2043 hrs




13. Wally have you got anything??  No?  Didn’t think so.

    Could you remind us all again Wally?  What is it Troha is charged with.
    Wally dumb fucks like you are dime a dozen. 
    What’s the matter Wally, are you going to miss Diamond Jim.

    You are dismissed prick.

    Posted by mickey on March 18, 2007 at 2055 hrs




14. ” Wally dumb fucks like you are dime a dozen.”

    Thank you for the compliment, mickey.  Coming from you, this is a badge of honor for me.

    By way of comparison, I think that you qualify for the Smithsonian Institution.  You may well be the highest-functioning anerobic slug “functioning” in society.  I’m serious.  You could be on display there tomorrow.

    Posted by on March 20, 2007 at 0645 hrs