-Caveat Lector- Today's MORNING NEWS (Times Publishing Co.) has a very interesting article "Landowner Charging Politics In Tank Training Site Purchase (State buys land from longtime Gov. Ridge campaign donor): It is out of Clearfield County, and discusses the fact that Stae officials are near to finalizing the purchase of 5,000 acres near there from coal-mining businessman C. Alan Walker, a member of a prominent Republican family that has contributed more than $90,000 to Gov. Ridge since 1993. Another landowner Glyn Powell told Easton's Express-Times that the Natinal Guard officials had called his property "the best training area for our soldiers and our equipment" two years ago in a memo, but they never contacted him after that. He says he wants taxpayer money in the right place. He is the owner of the Power Operating Co., another coal-mining business in Clearfield County. The land lies in the district of State Rep. Dan Surra, D-Clearfield, who said Ridge's administration has ignored his requests for public hearings on the training facility. He said trying to get information was like pulling teeth. He says his constituents want to know what's going on. State officials have indicated that public hearings could drive up the cost of the land and would only be held after the deal has been finalized. (I love this excuse. However, I agree. If we just get our Dictator properly in place, we can save a bundle.) Walker, CEO of Bradford Coal, calls the attacks on the land deal "political." He and his father are both members of Gov. Tom Ridge's Governor's Club, an exclusive club established after Tom Ridge became governor in 1995 that required a minimum $25,000 contribution to his re-election campaign in 1998. Since 1993, the Walker family has contributed $90,064, according to Ridge's PAC, The Ridge Leadership Fund. Ray Walker 88 (the father) once had President George Bush as a housegues, and both Walkers have already contributed to Texas Gov. George W. Bush's presidential campaign (Fed Election Comm records). The Governor's Club has since been replaced by the Governor's Leadership Circle, which requires donors to contribute $10,000 to the Gov's PAC. Both Rays (father and son) are members of the Leadership Circle. Walker says his membership has nothing to do with the State choosing his land for the tank-training grounds. He says it's a coincidence. He says that may be hard for some people to believe, but that no returns for campaign donations are expected. Walker says he admires and respects Gov Ridge. Tim Reeves, a Ridge spokesman, said no one in the administration intervened on the land buying decision. He syas it's frustrating for him to have to defenc allegations that have no evidence behind them. He says they don't do business that way. A Lt. Col Cleaver said there was a lack of spaace at Indiantown Gap limiting the National Guard to using only five of the hundreds of M-1 tanks it has. They want to put the site at the western end of the state to cut down on traveling time for Guard members. He says the land deal will be finalized this year, but may take as long as a decade before the site is ready for use. Once the deal is finalized, the state would have to conduct six months of environmental tests and ensure the land, most of which has been degraded by years of deep mining could support the tanks. Isn't it odd, that they don't want to check out if the land will support the tanks before they give out all that moolah? Oh well, the people's business as usual. Prudy DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER ========== CTRL is a discussion and informational exchange list. Proselyzting propagandic screeds are not allowed. Substance—not soapboxing! These are sordid matters and 'conspiracy theory', with its many half-truths, misdirections and outright frauds is used politically by different groups with major and minor effects spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought. That being said, CTRL gives no endorsement to the validity of posts, and always suggests to readers; be wary of what you read. CTRL gives no credeence to Holocaust denial and nazi's need not apply. Let us please be civil and as always, Caveat Lector. ======================================================================== Archives Available at: http://home.ease.lsoft.com/archives/CTRL.html http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/ ======================================================================== To subscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SUBSCRIBE CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] To UNsubscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SIGNOFF CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] Om
