More than half of the contributions Delegate to Congress Donna Christensen has received in the current election cycle are linked to a Washington contractor who is the subject of a federal inquiry.
According to an article today in the Washington Post, Christensen has received at least $37,000 from contractor Jeffrey Thompson, who is suspected of using “straw” or phantom donors to evade contribution limits that are set for candidates running for office. His operations have drawn the attention of Federal authorities.
According to the article, Thompson’s accounting firm Thompson, Cobb, Brazilio and Associates, has 189 contracts with the federal government, worth $17.1 million. The company has done some business in the Virgin Islands, auditing grant funds awarded by the U.S. Department of Education and the Federal Highway Administration. TCBA recently advertised for an accounting position based in Saint Thomas, Virgin Islands.
Recently, Christensen has urged the Federal Election Commission to investigate the election system of the Virgin Islands, citing public discontent with the way the Board of Elections in operating. Perhaps this current development will hasten their acceptance of her request.
As many of you heard recently, CIF President Michael Springer, at left, delivered the first in a series of radio announcements that will target specific issues and offer analysis on our most pressing concerns.
The feedback on the comments was extremely positive, so CIF will sponsor then as often as possible, and we thank those of you who have already donated! But airtime costs money and we're seeking your help.
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My niece work for him and our family supported him overwhelmingly during the elections, however the transparency is no longer there….so therefore our family support is out the door here in Solitude.
What I want to know is this: why are the print and other online media ignoring this issue? I have not seen anything substantive in the Avis, the Daily News, or the Source about this vote. Are those news outlets becoming irrelevant? Seems so. Bravo to Crucians in Focus for keeping the Virgin Islands public informed.
ps. I did notice however, that the Daily News added 2 more pages of comics to their paper. How sad that a once, Pulitzer-prize winning paper is devolving into such a pointless rag. What’s next,celebrity news updates?
The entire majority have become a ‘bully pulpit’, ignoring their campaign promises to those who elected them.
There was also supposed to be, mandated by law, a full financial disclosure from ALL top government employees. Senators included.
No audit, no disclosure, no transparency, no adhering to the Sunshine Act. Games being played on submission of bills to block the reversal of Act 6905 salaries and added benefits.
Keep up the good work, CIF, we need to remember in November who was transparent and who was not!!!
This is quite interesting; was it not King Hill who spearheaded an audit of the hospital and took much credit for this. I still have his letter he circulated on our Democratic Chat forum where he claimed credit for the audit. Senator Hills is clearly not consistent. I spoke to my friends on St. Thomas this weekend and they are so dissatified with him. A few years ago he called for total transparency, I remember he once spoke about asking Former Senator Berry to release all contracts in the Legislature because the public has a right to know. Well, where is Senator Hill on this issue now?
I would love to see that letter! Politicians are so foolish. They forget their past too soon. LOL!
You got a point here Colette, and I am still waiting for Senator Hill to deny the issue of the employee who he is connected to that received a $15,000 salary increase. I am so disappointed with Senator Hill and what he stands for.
Colette i bet you wouldn’t make that doucument available to Crucians in focus.
What is the media afraid of? Why is this website quickly becoming the only source of real information? We all need to write the newspapers and the St. Croix Source and complain because too many people are being led astray by the total lack of media coverage.
Since King Hill ran for senator I have always had a bad feeling about him. I was right from the start, my grandmother had a saying all that glitters is not gold. Just like white and dowe, hill will soor get a big surprise. Foncie just keep the faith. Crucians in Focus keep the site going I now rely on reading each day, instead of reading the daily new with nothing in it.
viva St. Lucia, I missed the press conference that foncie had where he mentioned about some receiving $15,000 additional salary. Please give me a little synopsis of foncie’s press confrence as it relates to the money and it’s definite that the senators are hiding something. The daily News that once was so focus in giving you the so call dirt now seem to be hiding info.
They are very biased.
don”t you know why the media is not writing about these documents? well let me tell you why GOV JOHN DE WOLF has gotten control of the print media ,they will not write about his senatorial majority with the WATER CARRIER CARLTON DOWE,DUMMY PATRICK SPRAUVE,A-HOLE BASSENGER,LITTLE LOUIE HILL,AND THE REST OF HIS A–KISSERS. this is a very sad day in the VIRGIN ISLANDS OF THE UNITED STATES
I heard Craig Bassinger today on Free Speech. The comment he made that stood out most to me is his second accusition that Senator Donastorg falcified a document. I first noted it in this forum and again on the radio today. I can’t wait to see if Senator Bassinger will present some kind of evidence or is this his typical style of leadership to just blow hot air. He should be sued for such an outrageous statement. If he fails to present something, I will be one of those calling the radio station to call him out on the carpet. I actually think his reason for not suppporting an audit was quite pathetic. Craig you are really a joke; to imply you did not support an audit was in most part attributed to Senator Donastorg grandstanding was quite an insult to the people of the Virgin Islands intelligence. So are you saying that if someone else had offered it you would have supported it? I was so glad when Senator Donastorg responded to your sad and pathetic comments. And he was right to remind us of just who you are. Only in the Virgin Islands person’s which patterns of stealing can be elected. I have forgotten about this but I am so glad I was reminded. I can only wonder what patterns exist back at your home. Virgin Islands should take note of this. You sure won’t be getting my vote the next time around. I am willing to vote on even a dog catcher before I vote for you again. May you enjoy the remainder of your last term.
Barshinger also stated King Hill was ‘going to audit the legislature’ but with ‘parameters’. We need more than ‘x’ amount of cash in, ‘x’ amount of cash spent. We need to know how much money is spent on exact items and the source of the funding.
Like was a speech coache to Sprauve for $13,500 for his campaign for senator paid for out of public funds, $6,500 for Williams to go to the Inaugural paid for by whom? And why would one senator who makes $85,000 need the taxpayer to foot the bill AND who approved the advance? Was the money out of his office expense?
There should NEVER be an advance given to a senator. Only reimbursement AFTER careful approval to see if it is truly an expense that should be paid for by the public.
All offices for senators and the central staff need exact exposure of salaries by position, day to day specific expenses to include travel, hotel stays, etc. In short ALL money accounted for.
Kind of like you like the IG to do on all audits King Hill……what exactly is it you have to hide going back 10 years?
Remember next year come November all the lack of transparency we were promised but never got.
I think we need to demand better and less biased media coverage. The media is supposed to be the looking out for the public interest and not playing favorites.
I am right there with you, bb. Much of our media seems to be in the tank for the administration and the bandits of the new Senate majority. This is very worrisome; we need to stay informed with the facts and who can we count upon for an unbiased version of the facts?
I, for one, will be keeping an especially vigilant eye upon the media. They need to be called out.
Even DEM MAN SAY seems to be a watered down version of what it was. Lord send help!
I have to agree with Sojourner Truth I was a daily reader to DEM MAN SAY and lord It was full of interesting information and now i’m wondering if someone got to them simple because the teeth of the site has disappeared and they too is becoming just like the daily news. I wouldn’t give up the site all together, but put back the FIRE IN THE SITE!
Speaking about Demmansay.com
Haven’t you noticed the link to Demmamsay.com has been removed from this site?
They could not handle the “beating” they took for messing with the two senators from St. Thomas.
Their so-called “reporting” was clearly more partial and subjective than impartial and objective.
They are now licking their wounds and sharpening their blades. However, as a father and son team, they are still in the ring for 2010.
They remind me of that boxer, Hit-Man Tommy Hearns: want to throw a lot a licks but weak in the knees and can’t take a lick.
We at Demmansay can recognize who’s who in no time. The reference to the boxer tells us without reservation that you Foncie, Mr. VI Boxing, have decided to be a regular contributor to this chat room. We figured as much when everything that you promote was being posted here and then being defended by the 15-20 people that in reality happens to be 1, maybe 2 people at the most.
Truth is there is no reason for us to get into a back and forth with you Foncie because it’s obvious that Craig Barshinger can handle you all by himself. Next time be a little more as you say ,impartial and objective, needless to say indiscreet and maybe you won’t be so easy to figure out.
Come back at us with a crybaby response now Foncie. We’re waiting impatiently.