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But yet, there are those that say the UA System doesn't need any changes.

Hubbard, Bentley, & Del Marsh all benefited from some of these funds.

This is a pretty big deal considering the fact that the Feds are snooping around the Bentley camp.

If this connects to the Luv Guv's Dark Money, or if the same people are involved in both, someone's butt is in trouble.

Saw on twitter, "Nice work, Connor, but I'd let someone else start my car for a while."

(08-07-2016 02:03 PM)UAB Band Dad Wrote:  If this connects to the Luv Guv's Dark Money, or if the same people are involved in both, someone's butt is in trouble.

I'd like to see a comparison of legislative recipients of these campaign contributions from the UAT-PAC (along with dates, which I believe is part of the required reporting) with those who pledged support to #FreeUAB via Jabo and Jack, then suddenly abandoned the cause and left Roger Smitherman standing alone.

(08-07-2016 09:37 AM)BandGrad Wrote:  But yet, there are those that say the UA System doesn't need any changes.

UA System reform would do nothing about this. If UA was a standalone university they'd still be doing it, and so would UAB.

We need campaign finance reform to combat this stuff.

(08-07-2016 08:20 PM)mixduptransistor Wrote:  

(08-07-2016 09:37 AM)BandGrad Wrote:  But yet, there are those that say the UA System doesn't need any changes.

UA System reform would do nothing about this. If UA was a standalone university they'd still be doing it, and so would UAB.

We need campaign finance reform to combat this stuff.

You're right, this is a relative non-story dressed up and sensationalized to sound like the story we WISH would come out about the BOT/UA system. Any major University not doing what's described in the article would be doing themselves a disservice. Just because this money involves people UAB supporters dislike doesn't mean this is a UA-system-centric issue. It's a money in politics issue.

While some of you feel this is not a big deal and that other schools are doing this-probably true, it is the first time the press has seriously sniffed around the money trail at UAT. If they keep poking-which they will if they continue to get pushback and/or stonewalling, and it connects to the LUVGUV or kickbacks then it gets real interesting.

Of course we are already convinced of what they'll find because we know they are nefarious weasels

(08-08-2016 10:21 AM)linus Wrote:  While some of you feel this is not a big deal and that other schools are doing this-probably true, it is the first time the press has seriously sniffed around the money trail at UAT. If they keep poking-which they will if they continue to get pushback and/or stonewalling, and it connects to the LUVGUV or kickbacks then it gets real interesting.

Of course we are already convinced of what they'll find because we know they are nefarious weasels

Correct, this is a very big deal. Everyone agrees with broad statements (stop rape! stop pollution! get dark money out of politics!) but it takes specifics to rally us to action.

This is one such rallying point. Public institutions should operate in public. Without dark money PACs and massive use of non-disclosure agreements. When they fail to do so, you see them used as playthings by aging potbellied fratboys who think the III's and IV's after their names means they've actually achieved something in their Machine-determined lives beyond winning the genetic lottery.

I am an Alabama citizen and taxpayer. That makes me an owner of the University of Alabama System.

So tell me what the hell you've been doing with my money.

(08-08-2016 10:21 AM)linus Wrote:  While some of you feel this is not a big deal and that other schools are doing this-probably true, it is the first time the press has seriously sniffed around the money trail at UAT. If they keep poking-which they will if they continue to get pushback and/or stonewalling, and it connects to the LUVGUV or kickbacks then it gets real interesting.

Of course we are already convinced of what they'll find because we know they are nefarious weasels

True, but the point is that in this instance reform of the UA System would do absolutely nothing to open this up. Sniff around Auburn and I guarantee they're involved in this too

(08-08-2016 07:04 PM)mixduptransistor Wrote:  

(08-08-2016 10:21 AM)linus Wrote:  While some of you feel this is not a big deal and that other schools are doing this-probably true, it is the first time the press has seriously sniffed around the money trail at UAT. If they keep poking-which they will if they continue to get pushback and/or stonewalling, and it connects to the LUVGUV or kickbacks then it gets real interesting.

Of course we are already convinced of what they'll find because we know they are nefarious weasels

True, but the point is that in this instance reform of the UA System would do absolutely nothing to open this up. Sniff around Auburn and I guarantee they're involved in this too

One of the important distinctions that makes the UA System different from AU is that it is, along with GA Pacific, LA Pacific, USX and a couple of coal companies, one of the six or seven largest land holders in this state. They all use whatever "dark money" power there is to suppress state property taxes so it costs little to maintain many millions of acres of the state land in minimal usage for minimal taxes. Much of this land is used for pine trees which are harvested about three times per century on which they may pay some taxes in that year.

(08-10-2016 03:18 PM)BAMANBLAZERFAN Wrote:  

(08-08-2016 07:04 PM)mixduptransistor Wrote:  

(08-08-2016 10:21 AM)linus Wrote:  While some of you feel this is not a big deal and that other schools are doing this-probably true, it is the first time the press has seriously sniffed around the money trail at UAT. If they keep poking-which they will if they continue to get pushback and/or stonewalling, and it connects to the LUVGUV or kickbacks then it gets real interesting.

Of course we are already convinced of what they'll find because we know they are nefarious weasels

True, but the point is that in this instance reform of the UA System would do absolutely nothing to open this up. Sniff around Auburn and I guarantee they're involved in this too

One of the important distinctions that makes the UA System different from AU is that it is, along with GA Pacific, LA Pacific, USX and a couple of coal companies, one of the six or seven largest land holders in this state. They all use whatever "dark money" power there is to suppress state property taxes so it costs little to maintain many millions of acres of the state land in minimal usage for minimal taxes. Much of this land is used for pine trees which are harvested about three times per century on which they may pay some taxes in that year.

That is a cogent and very important point: UAT isn't like any other university. They are a major landowner on a scale you only see in the Third World and are using their political power for way more than fracking with UAB football, which collides directly with their supposed educational mission (they receive tax funds yet lobby to limit those very same tax funds).

I'm not sure yet exactly how to fight this, but we do need to fight it: they used that dark money very effectively against us last spring in Montgomery and we need that weapon knocked out of their hands. I hope for more from Conner Sheets on this.

They couldn't keep their hands off our football or Rebekah's breasts, and a century-old empire of corruption and deceit could unravel as a result.

Inside Higher Ed article posted today:

A University System's Back-Channel Way of Lobbying State Officials

(08-10-2016 03:18 PM)BAMANBLAZERFAN Wrote:  

(08-08-2016 07:04 PM)mixduptransistor Wrote:  

(08-08-2016 10:21 AM)linus Wrote:  While some of you feel this is not a big deal and that other schools are doing this-probably true, it is the first time the press has seriously sniffed around the money trail at UAT. If they keep poking-which they will if they continue to get pushback and/or stonewalling, and it connects to the LUVGUV or kickbacks then it gets real interesting.

Of course we are already convinced of what they'll find because we know they are nefarious weasels

True, but the point is that in this instance reform of the UA System would do absolutely nothing to open this up. Sniff around Auburn and I guarantee they're involved in this too

One of the important distinctions that makes the UA System different from AU is that it is, along with GA Pacific, LA Pacific, USX and a couple of coal companies, one of the six or seven largest land holders in this state. They all use whatever "dark money" power there is to suppress state property taxes so it costs little to maintain many millions of acres of the state land in minimal usage for minimal taxes. Much of this land is used for pine trees which are harvested about three times per century on which they may pay some taxes in that year.

First, UAB at has had its own dark money and was 800 million about eight years ago and used a lot of the same tricks such as pac to pac and the UAB foundation transfers.

Second UAT's property just like UAB's multi-billion plant is property tax exempt as state entity. Nothing to do with our disgraceful property tax system which you are right on.

As mixed stated the problem is much deeper than UAT's but need to remove big money from politics.

(08-11-2016 07:51 PM)uabbean Wrote:  

(08-10-2016 03:18 PM)BAMANBLAZERFAN Wrote:  

(08-08-2016 07:04 PM)mixduptransistor Wrote:  

(08-08-2016 10:21 AM)linus Wrote:  While some of you feel this is not a big deal and that other schools are doing this-probably true, it is the first time the press has seriously sniffed around the money trail at UAT. If they keep poking-which they will if they continue to get pushback and/or stonewalling, and it connects to the LUVGUV or kickbacks then it gets real interesting.

Of course we are already convinced of what they'll find because we know they are nefarious weasels

True, but the point is that in this instance reform of the UA System would do absolutely nothing to open this up. Sniff around Auburn and I guarantee they're involved in this too

One of the important distinctions that makes the UA System different from AU is that it is, along with GA Pacific, LA Pacific, USX and a couple of coal companies, one of the six or seven largest land holders in this state. They all use whatever "dark money" power there is to suppress state property taxes so it costs little to maintain many millions of acres of the state land in minimal usage for minimal taxes. Much of this land is used for pine trees which are harvested about three times per century on which they may pay some taxes in that year.

First, UAB at has had its own dark money and was 800 million about eight years ago and used a lot of the same tricks such as pac to pac and the UAB foundation transfers.

Second UAT's property just like UAB's multi-billion plant is property tax exempt as state entity. Nothing to do with our disgraceful property tax system which you are right on.

As mixed stated the problem is much deeper than UAT's but need to remove big money from politics.

You're correct re: tax exemption for a state entity, but "dark money" as usually defined in current use (and in Conner Sheet's article) only dates from Citizens United v. FEC, which was adjudicated in 2010. Earlier activities would have fallen under the Tillman Act and similar laws restricting cash flow and requiring transparency. $800 million would be a majority of UAB's total budget; I suspect somewhat less was spent on campaign contributions.

State entities should not be making campaign contributions at all; at that point it might be more efficient to just let the legislators write themselves checks on the state's account. No one's going to rally around "get dark money out of politics." This is a specific and incredibly corrupt instance that can serve as a focal point for justifiable rage.

(08-12-2016 07:01 AM)58-56 Wrote:  

(08-11-2016 07:51 PM)uabbean Wrote:  First, UAB at has had its own dark money and was 800 million about eight years ago and used a lot of the same tricks such as pac to pac and the UAB foundation transfers.

Second UAT's property just like UAB's multi-billion plant is property tax exempt as state entity. Nothing to do with our disgraceful property tax system which you are right on.

As mixed stated the problem is much deeper than UAT's but need to remove big money from politics.

You're correct re: tax exemption for a state entity, but "dark money" as usually defined in current use (and in Conner Sheet's article) only dates from Citizens United v. FEC, which was adjudicated in 2010. Earlier activities would have fallen under the Tillman Act and similar laws restricting cash flow and requiring transparency. $800 million would be a majority of UAB's total budget; I suspect somewhat less was spent on campaign contributions.

State entities should not be making campaign contributions at all; at that point it might be more efficient to just let the legislators write themselves checks on the state's account. No one's going to rally around "get dark money out of politics." This is a specific and incredibly corrupt instance that can serve as a focal point for justifiable rage.

You are right the PAC/foundation was 800 thousand (.8 million). Further the games were different then not "dark" money but similar ethically challenged tricks. Such as encouragement of donations by executives, tax effected bonus of certain HS big exes who then coincidentally then gave base amount to PAC, professional vendors donations and PAC to PAC multiple transfers. Some of these old tricks are now illegal.

Wow

Holy bringing up old threads batman.