Quid Pro Quo? Senate Republicans Got Campaign Money, Company Got Lease

by: robert.harding

Mon Mar 02, 2009 at 09:42:07 AM EST

Dicker's piece is a good starting point, but here is what the piece is lacking.

Starting on January 1, 2003, Omni Management Group LTD received a lease totaling $7,916,534.58. The contract runs out at the end of 2011, so the length and price of the contract is quite substantial.

But Omni Development, which Omni Management Group, Ltd. is a part of, has been a gracious donor to the New York State Senate Republicans over the years.

- A search for "Omni Development" in the Board of Elections campaign finance database finds that "Omni Development Company" gave $64,375.00 to the Senate Republicans from August 2000 to December 2007. "Omni Development Company" also contributed $3,500 to Sen. Joe Bruno's campaign fund from February 1999 to January 2004.

- A search for "Omni Management" finds that Omni Management Group, Ltd. gave $51,975.00 to the Senate Republicans from 2001 to 2007. In addition, Omni Management Group also gave $583.34 to the state Republican Party and $2,000 to Sen. Bruno's campaign committee.

- A search for "Omni Housing Development" finds that Omni Housing Development made 12 contributions to the New York State Senate Republican Committee totaling $58,350.00.

- In addition to the three groups that are under Omni's name, two of Omni's top officers - David Swawite and Richard Zipes - also made contributions to the Senate Republicans. Swawite made a $30,000 contribution on Oct. 31, 2002 and Zipes made a $30,000 contribution on Oct. 31, 2002 - the same day as Swawite's. Swawite is the President and COO of Omni and  Zipes is the Chairman and CEO of Omni.

Both men making $30,000 contributions on the same day a mere two months before their $7.9 million moneymaker went into effect.

If you think this is shady, you would be correct. There is plenty wrong with this and just the appearance of impropriety can be worse than actual impropriety.