Citizendia

Tom Feeney
Tom Feeney
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Florida's 24th district
Incumbent
Assumed office 
January 3, 2003
Preceded by First Representative (District Created After 2000 Census)
Born May 21, 1958 (1958-05-21) (age 50)
Abington, Pennsylvania
Political party Republican
Spouse Ellen Stewart Feeney
Religion Presbyterian

Thomas Charles "Tom" Feeney III, usually known as Tom Feeney (born May 21, 1958), is a Republican politician from the state of Florida. The United States House of Representatives is one of the two chambers of the United States Congress; the other is the Senate. Florida ( is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States, bordering Alabama to the northwest and Georgia to the Florida's 24rd congressional district is a Congressional district in Florida. Events 1431 - Joan of Arc is handed over to the Bishop Pierre Cauchon. Year 2003 ( MMIII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. Events 878 - Syracuse Italy is captured by the Muslim sultan of Sicily. Year 1958 ( MCMLVIII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Abington Township is a township in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, United States. Presbyterianism is a family of Christian denominations within the Reformed branch of Protestant Western Christianity Events 878 - Syracuse Italy is captured by the Muslim sultan of Sicily. Year 1958 ( MCMLVIII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Florida ( is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States, bordering Alabama to the northwest and Georgia to the Since 2003, he has represented Florida's 24th congressional district (map), which takes up several portions of the Orlando-Daytona Beach area as well as portions of the Space Coast region. Year 2003 ( MMIII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. Florida's 24rd congressional district is a Congressional district in Florida. Orlando is a major City in central Florida, USA and is the County seat of Orange County Florida. The Space Coast is a region in the US state of Florida around Kennedy Space Center, where the U

He was born in Abington, Pennsylvania, a suburb of Philadelphia. Abington Township is a township in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, United States. Philadelphia (ˌfɪləˈdɛlfiə He graduated from Penn State University in 1980, obtaining a law degree from the University of Pittsburgh School of Law in 1983. The Pennsylvania State University (commonly known as Penn State) is a state-related, land-grant, space grant public research University Year 1980 ( MCMLXXX) was a Leap year starting on Tuesday (link displays the 1980 Gregorian calendar) The University of Pittsburgh School of Law ("Pitt Law" was founded in 1895, and became a charter member of the Association of American Law Schools Year 1983 ( MCMLXXXIII) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays the 1983 Gregorian calendar) Soon afterwards, he moved to Oviedo, Florida; a suburb of Orlando where he still lives, and opened a private practice there. Oviedo is a city in Seminole County, Florida, United States. The population was 26316 at the 2000 census

Contents

Florida legislature

In 1990, Feeney was elected to the Florida House of Representatives as a Republican from Seminole County. Year 1990 ( MCMXC) was a Common year starting on Monday (link displays the 1990 Gregorian calendar) The Florida House of Representatives, one of the two Chambers of the Florida Legislature, is composed of 120 members each representing a district Seminole County is a County located in the US state of Florida and part of the Orlando-Kissimmee Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA. He served two terms there before running for lieutenant governor of Florida as Jeb Bush's running mate in 1994. A Lieutenant Governor is a high officer of state whose precise role and rank vary by jurisdiction John Ellis "Jeb" Bush (born February 11, 1953) is an American Politician and was the 43rd Governor of Florida Year 1994 ( MCMXCIV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display full 1994 Gregorian calendar) After the pair narrowly lost, Feeney joined the James Madison Institute, a conservative think tank, as a director. The James Madison Institute is a Free-market Think tank headquartered in Tallahassee Florida in the United States He returned to the Florida House in 1996 and was elected as Speaker of that body in 2000. Year 1996 ( MCMXCVI) was a Leap year starting on Monday (link will display full 1996 Gregorian calendar) 2000 ( MM) was a Leap year that started on Saturday of the Common Era, in accordance with the Gregorian calendar.

Feeney first came to national prominence in 2000, shortly after his election as Speaker, when he led efforts to certify the state's Republican presidential electors even though it was still unclear whether George W. Bush or Al Gore had won the state's electoral votes. George Walker Bush ( born July 6 1946 is the forty-third and current President of the United States. Albert Arnold Gore Jr (born March 31 1948 is an American environmental Activist, author Businessperson, former Politician, and former Feeney and his colleagues claimed that Florida's electoral votes were in imminent danger of being removed from consideration if the results of the popular vote in the state could not be determined with legal certainty. While Article 2 of the United States Constitution places this power in the legislature, many Democrats insisted that recounts needed to be completed, and that by doing so, a clear legal victor would emerge. The Constitution of the United States of America is the supreme Law of the United States. Feeney and State Senate president John McKay argued that the state Supreme Court's verdict in favor of the Democrats' position on recounts essentially "tainted" the entire process, so that there was (as Feeney stated) "a great risk" Florida's electoral votes would be disregarded altogether in the selection of the next President. John McKay may refer to John McKay (UK politician (1885&ndash1964 British Labour Party MP for Wallsend 1945&ndash1964 John Reid McKay [1] The U. S. Supreme Court's verdict in Bush v. Gore rejected the argument from uncertainty by a margin of 6-3, and halted the recount process on other grounds. Bush v Gore,, was a United States Supreme Court case decided on December 12, 2000. Bush won Florida and the election.

In 2001, Feeney was one of the lawmakers who opposed a demand by Bud Selig that the state finance a new baseball stadium for the Florida Marlins. Allan Huber "Bud" Selig Jr (born July 30, 1934 in Milwaukee Wisconsin) is the Commissioner of Major League Baseball and has The Florida Marlins are a professional baseball team based in Miami Gardens Florida. At that time, Selig had threatened that the Marlins might leave South Florida if they did not receive a tax break. [2]

U. S. House of Representatives

Florida gained two congressional district after the 2000 census. A census is the procedure of acquiring information about every member of a given population One of them was the 24th District in the Orlando area. Some have argued that Feeney drew this district for himself [3], since it included virtually all of his state House district and term limits prohibited him from running for the state House again. (The other new district, the 25th, was drawn for fellow state representative Mario Diaz-Balart). Mario Rafael Diaz-Balart (born September 25 1961) is an American politician He was handily elected in 2002, re-elected unopposed in 2004, and took 58% of the vote in 2006. See also 2002 (disambiguation Year 2002 ( MMII) was a Common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. "MMIV" redirects here For the Modest Mouse album see " Baron von Bullshit Rides Again " Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar.

Political positions

Feeney is one of the most conservative members of the House. Conservatism is a term used to describe political philosophies that favour Tradition, where tradition refers to various religious cultural or nationally defined He drafted a "Principles Card" soon after becoming state house speaker which allowed his fellow Republicans to check if legislation was consistent with conservative principles. He modified this card when he came to Congress, calling it the Conservative Check Card.

Despite his ties to the Bush family, Feeney broke with the White House and opposed the Medicare reform package of 2003 since he felt its centerpiece, a prescription drug benefit for senior citizens, was too expensive. See also Executive Office of the President of the United States The White House, formerly known as the Executive Mansion, is the Official residence This article refers to Medicare, a United States health insurance program Year 2003 ( MMIII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. He was a founding member of Washington Waste Watchers, a group that combats what it considers to be wasteful government spending.

Feeney is a cosponsor of a nonbinding resolution against the use of foreign law in federal courts. When Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia said (of the resolution) that "[i]t's none of your business", Feeney said that Scalia's comments were "like being told your favorite baseball player disagrees with your approach to hitting. (born March 11, 1936) is an American Jurist and the second most senior Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States "[4]

Committee Assignments

Awards

In 2006, Feeney was named a "Taxpayer Superhero" by the Citizens Against Government Waste. Citizens Against Government Waste ( CAGW) is 501(c(3 Non-profit organization in the United States. [5] He received a perfect score from the Grover Norquist's Americans for Tax Reform(ATR). Grover Glenn Norquist (born October 19, 1956) is president of anti- Tax Lobbying group Americans for Tax Reform. Americans for Tax Reform is an Interest group seeking to reduce the overall level of Taxation in the United States, at the federal state and local level He was named "Guardian of Small Business" by the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB). The National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB is a lobbying organization with offices in Washington D The National Taxpayers Union presented Feeney with the "Taxpayers' Friend Award" in 2004[6] and in 2006. National Taxpayers Union (NTU is a taxpayers advocacy organization in the United States, founded in 1969 by James Dale Davidson. [7]

Controversies

In 2004, Clinton Eugene Curtis--a computer programmer from Florida, testified under oath that he was instructed by Tom Feeney in 2000, to create a software program that could effectively hack and change the data in all electronic voting machines. The program would use the already cast votes and turn the election 51/49 in any partisan-direction the wielder desired. Curtis thought, at the time Congressman Feeney wanted a prototype program for defensive purposes. Four years later (2004) Curtis dropped Congressman Tom Feeney's name during the final moments of the presidential election when the results from Ohio were still coming in. However, the investigation of the ballot tampering was halted when Sen. John Kerry Conceded Defeat on Nov. 4, 2004. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DzBI33kOiKc

In September 2006, Feeney was named one of the "20 Most Corrupt Members of Congress" in a report by Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington; he was also listed in the first report by the organization in January 2006, when he was one of 13 named members. Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington ( CREW) is a watchdog group founded in 2003 The organization said "His ethics issues arise from trips he has taken in apparent violation of House travel and gift rules and from his failure to disclosure his ownership of rental property. "[8]

Trips

Korea

In 2003, Feeney visited South Korea on a trip sponsored by the Korea-U. South Korea, officially the Republic of Korea and often referred to as Korea ( Korean: 대한민국 tɛː S. Exchange Council (KORUSEC), despite the fact that the organization was registered with the Department of Justice under the Foreign Agents Registration Act; he also failed to file travel disclosure forms for the trip.

Scotland

Abramoff Scandal
Events & scandals
Plead guilty
Convicted
Named but not charged
Others
Lists
This box: view • talk • edit

In August 2003, Feeney took a trip to Scotland, apparently to golf (a violation of House rules). The Jack Abramoff Indian lobbying scandal is a United States political scandal relating to the work performed by political lobbyists Jack Abramoff, The Jack Abramoff Guam investigation involves an alleged plot by lobbyist Jack Abramoff and others to control the functions of the courts in Guam. The Jack Abramoff CNMI scandal involves the efforts of Jack Abramoff, other lobbyists, and government officials to change or prevent or both Congressional action The Internet Gambling Prohibition Act (IGPA was a 1999 bill in the US Senate to ban Internet gambling The monetary influence of Jack Abramoff ran deep in Washington as Jack Abramoff spent millions of dollars to influence and entertain Republican politicians SunCruz Casinos is one of many cruise lines that offer "cruises to nowhere" legally transporting passengers into International waters beyond the reach of Jack Abramoff (born February 28 1959 is a former Lobbyist, and a businessman who was a central figure in a series of high-profile political scandals. John Albaugh is a former Republican Congressional staffer who was the fourteenth person found guilty in the Jack Abramoff scandals. Robert Jared Carpenter was the vice president of the Council of Republicans for Environmental Advocacy beginning in 2000 Robert E Coughlin, II is an American Lawyer and was formerly the Deputy Chief of Staff Criminal Division of the United States Department of Justice. Italia Federici (born August 12, 1969) the former president of the Council of Republicans for Environmental Advocacy (CREA James Steven "Steve" Griles (born December 13, 1947) was a Coal lobbyist and the Deputy Secretary for the U William Heaton (born 1979 is the former chief of staff for former Rep Adam Kidan is a former business associate of convicted Lobbyist Jack Abramoff, who partnered with Abramoff in the purchase of SunCruz Casinos. Robert William "Freedom Bob" Ney (born July 5 1954) is an American politician from the U Tony Charles Rudy (born May 3, 1966) an American Lobbyist and an associate of Jack Abramoff. Michael Scanlon is a former communications director for Rep Tom DeLay, Lobbyist, and Public relations executive who has plead guilty to corruption charges Roger G Stillwell (born October 13, 1939) an American Lobbyist. Neil Volz was Chief of Staff to Representative Bob Ney (R-Ohio staff director of the House Administration Committee and later part of Team Abramoff, when he left Mark Zachares is a former Congressional aide to Rep Don Young (R-AK and lobbyist who pleaded guilty to accepting tens of thousands of dollars in gifts from lobbyist David Hossein Safavian (born August 4, 1967) is a former chief of staff of the United States General Services Administration (GSA and a figure in Edwin A Buckham is a former congressional staffer and lobbyist who presently is under investigation in various scandals surrounding high-profile lobbyist Jack Abramoff Thomas Dale DeLay (born April 8 1947 is a former member of the United States House of Representatives from Sugar Land, Texas. Ernest James Istook Jr (born February 11 1950, in Fort Worth Texas) was a Republican member of the United States House of Representatives Kevin A Ring was a Lobbyist and Republican Congressional staffer "Team Abramoff" is the team of lobbyists assembled by Jack Abramoff when he worked at Greenberg Traurig, primarily of former aides to prominent Congressional Konstantinos "Gus" Boulis ( 1949 - February 6 2001) was a land-developer casino operator and restaurant owner of Greek descent who was murdered Grover Glenn Norquist (born October 19, 1956) is president of anti- Tax Lobbying group Americans for Tax Reform. Susan Bonzon Ralston (born October 15 1967) is the President of SBR Enterprises LLC a government affairs public relations and business consulting firm in Ralph Eugene Reed Jr, (born June 24, 1961) is a conservative American political activist best known as the first executive director of Rev Louis P "Lou" Sheldon (born 1934 in Washington DC Robert Warren "Bob" Schaffer (born July 24, 1962) was a Republican member of the United States House of Representatives from the Jack Abramoff 's career brought him into contact with numerous organizations including lobbying firms restaurants Think tanks and charitable organizations Several Native American tribes were defrauded by Lobbyist Jack Abramoff in his namesake Indian lobbying scandal. The following is a list of trips for politicians lobbyists and staffers funded by Jack Abramoff. 1980s 1981 - Elected Chairman of the College Republican National Committee in a campaign managed by Grover Norquist, the executive director of the When Feeney reported the trip on congressional-disclosure forms, he said the National Center for Public Policy Research had paid for it, something that the Center denied. The National Center for Public Policy Research, founded in 1982, is a self-described conservative Think tank in the United States. In fact, the trip was paid for by former lobbyist (now convicted criminal) Jack Abramoff, who went with Feeney to Scotland. Jack Abramoff (born February 28 1959 is a former Lobbyist, and a businessman who was a central figure in a series of high-profile political scandals. Feeney has said "My office has never done anything for Jack Abramoff", but in March 2003, Feeney was one of ten Republican lawmakers who wrote to the Energy Department opposing changes to the Energy Star, changes also being fought by an Abramoff client. Energy Star is an international standard for energy efficient Consumer products [9]

In January 2007, Feeney agreed to pay $5,643 to the U. S. Treasury to cover the trip's cost, after the House ethics committee concluded that the trip did not comply with House rules. [10] In April 2007, Federal agents asked the St. Petersburg Times for an email sent to the newspaper by Feeney's office describing the trip. The St Petersburg Times is a daily Newspaper based in St Petersburg Florida, that serves the larger Tampa Bay area [11]

Feeney was named as "Representative #3" in the Justice Department's April 23, 2007 criminal information against Mark Zachares, a former congressional aide of Representative Don Young. Mark Zachares is a former Congressional aide to Rep Don Young (R-AK and lobbyist who pleaded guilty to accepting tens of thousands of dollars in gifts from lobbyist Donald Edwin (Don Young (born June 9, 1933) has been the sole Representative from Alaska in the United States House of Representatives [12] Zachares has pleaded guilty to accepting tens of thousands of dollars in gifts from Abramoff. [13]

Orlando, Florida

In November 2003, Feeney and his wife, Ellen, spent four days in Orlando, Florida, on a trip paid for by a registered lobbying firm.

Rental property

In May 2006, Feeney reported on his personal financial disclosure form that he was the joint owner of a condominium at the Royal Mansions resort in Cape Canaveral, Florida. Cape Canaveral is a city in Brevard County, Florida, United States. Feeney listed the purchase date as January of 2005, but online records of the Brevard County Appraiser's office show that the sale actually took place in late 2003. Brevard County is a county located in the US state of Florida, along the coast of the Atlantic Ocean. The only listed purchaser is James A. Fowler, Feeney's former law partner. Fowler said that he and Feeney purchased the condo as an investment, paying a total of $175,000.

Two identically sized units at the resort sold earlier in 2006 for $420,000 and $450,000. According to a note in the Harper's Magazine weblog "Washington Babylon," while not necessarily illegal, Feeney's failure to include the purchase as part of his 2003 financial reporting is a violation of House rules. Harper's Magazine (also Harper's) is a monthly general-interest Magazine of literature politics culture finance and the arts [14]

Voting fraud

Feeney's 2006 congressional opponent, Clint Curtis has previously provided a sworn affidavit alleging that in October 2000, Feeney asked Curtis, then a computer programmer at Yang Enterprises, to design a computer program to falsify touch-screen voting results in Palm Beach County. Clinton Eugene "Clint" Curtis (born 1958 near Salem Illinois) is a United States computer programmer ex employee of NASA, ExxonMobil Palm Beach County is located in the state of Florida. As of 2007 the county had a population of 1351236 according to the University of Florida Bureau of Economic [15][16] Although a Wired News story noted that Curtis had no direct knowledge of the vote counting being falsified,[17] Curtis subsequently passed a polygraph (lie detector) test commissioned by a Washington, D.C. private investigator. Wired News is an online technology news Website, formerly known as HotWired, that split off from Wired magazine when the A polygraph (popularly referred to as a Lie detector) is an instrument that measures and records several physiological responses such as Blood pressure Washington DC ( formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, the District, or simply D [15]

Clint Curtis, 46, claims that he built the software for Feeney in 2000 while working at a software design and engineering company in Oviedo, Florida (Feeney's home district).

Curtis, in his affidavit, says that as technical advisor and programmer at Yang Enterprises, Inc. (YEI) he was present at company meetings where Feeney was present "on at least a dozen occasions".

Feeney, who had run in 1994 as Jeb Bush's running-mate in his initial unsuccessful bid for Florida Governor, was serving as both corporate counsel and registered lobbyist for YEI during the period that Curtis worked at the company. Feeney was also concurrently serving as a Florida state congressman while performing those services for YEI. Feeney would eventually become Speaker of the Florida House before being elected to the U. S. House of Representatives in 2002. He is now a member of the U. S. House Judiciary Committee.

At an October 2000 meeting with Feeney, according to the affidavit and BRAD BLOG interviews with Curtis over three days, Feeney inquired whether the company could build a "vote fraud software prototype".

At least three YEI employees are said to have been present at that meeting; Curtis, company owner, Mrs. Li Woan Yang, and her executive secretary, Mike Cohen. Two other YEI employees may have come in and out at different points of the meeting according to Curtis.

Curtis says that Feeney "was very specific in the design and specifications required for this program. "

"He detailed, in his own words, that; (a) the program needed to be touch-screen capable (b) the user should be able to trigger the program without any additional equipment (c) the programming to accomplish this needed to stay hidden even if the source code was inspected. "

Though there was no problem with the first two requirements, Curtis explained to the Congressman that it would be "virtually impossible to hide such code written to change the voting results if anyone is able to review the source code"

Nonetheless, he was asked at the meeting by Mrs. Yang to build the prototype anyway.

Curtis, "a life-long Republican" at the time, claims that it was his initial belief that Feeney's interest was in trying to stop Democrats from using "such a program to steal an election". Curtis had assumed that Feeney, "wanted to be able to detect and prevent that if it occurred. "

Upon delivery of the software design and documentation on CD to Mrs. Yang, Curtis again explained to her that it would be impossible to hide routines created to manipulate the vote if anybody would be able to inspect the source code.

Mrs. Yang then told him, "You don't understand, in order to get the contract we have to hide the manipulation in the source code. This program is needed to control the vote in South Florida. " [emphasis in affidavit]

Mrs. Yang then took the CD containing the software from Curtis, reportedly for later delivery to Feeney.

In other meetings with Feeny prior to the 2000 elections, it became clear to Curtis that Feeney had plans to suppress the vote in strong Democratic precincts. In the affidavit, Curtis claims that in those meetings Feeney had "bragged that he had already implemented 'exclusion lists' to reduce the 'black vote'. " Feeney also mentioned that "proper placement of police patrols could further reduce the black vote by as much as 25%. "

Curtis says that he submitted his resignation to YEI effective December 2000, but stayed on until they had found someone to replace him in February of 2001. He eventually became employed by the Florida Dept. of Transportation (FDOT) after leaving YEI.

But the scandals didn't stop there.

In May of 2001, while at FDOT, Curtis and another FDOT employee, Mavis Georgalis, discovered and then reported several allegations to the Inspector General at FDOT concerning over-billing by YEI -- who had been an FDOT contractor -- and software that was never delivered by the company. Allegations also included the employment of a suspected illegal alien, Mr. Hai Lin Nee, who worked as YEI's "quality control" manager.

Both Curtis and Georgalis were reportedly harassed after filing their complaints about malfeasance at YEI and pressure mounted on the FDOT -- purportedly from the powerful Feeney who was still working with YEI -- to have them both fired.

In November 2001, after Curtis filed his complaints at FDOT, both he and Georgalis' were subsequently sued by YEI "in retaliation" for their complaints against the company. The charge was "theft of intellectual property", which Curtis has categorized as "ridiculous" in interviews, because the "intellectual property" in question was, in fact, software that FDOT had long ago paid YEI to develop for them.

YEI was represented in the lawsuit by Congressman Feeney's law firm.

When the two had sought help from FDOT in fighting YEI's suit against them, they were told that FDOT couldn't help them because FDOT had not been named in the suit.

After several rounds of court battles, Georgalis was finally successful in having FDOT added to the suit as a third co-defendant. The suit was originally filed in Seminole County, but moved to Leon County upon the addition of FDOT.

In April of 2002 -- on the very same day -- Curtis and Georgalis were both fired by FDOT without explanation.

The Daytona Beach News-Journal reported extensively in 2002 on the case. They reported at the time that Curtis had written to the Inspector General at FDOT to inquire why no investigation had yet been made into YEI. As well, Curtis had contacted the Florida Bar, since Feeney was a member, to inform them that "Feeney has used his position to promote the profits of Yang Enterprises, from whom he received compensation under the guise of lobbyist and attorney. "

According to The Orlando Sentinel in 2001, of 160 Florida congressmen, Feeney was the only known registered lobbyist. He would later be cleared of all ethics violations brought against him in the Florida house on these matters by the Ethics Committee which included four Republicans appointed to the committee by Feeney. Curtis was never interviewed by the Ethics Committee concerning his allegations.

After Curtis and Georgalis were fired by FDOT, each attempted to file "Whistleblower Suits" in the state of Florida. Georgalis' suit was successful and FDOT was eventually ordered, after lengthy court battles, to reinstate her with full back-pay by the circuit court. Curtis' suit was not successful due to having missed the filing deadline for the suit.

That suit, filed over three years ago, is still pending. The reason, explained Curtis, is that YEI has since avoided all defendants attempts to depose company employees in the case.

By May of 2002, the FDOT had finally taken up the investigation into malfeasance by YEI.

In one particularly chilling paragraph in the affidavit, Curtis explains what became of Raymond Lemme, the inspector at FDOT who was said to be pursing the allegations against YEI, Tom Feeney and the other reported matters:

"[I]n June of 2003, he told me that he had tracked the corruption 'all the way to the top' and that the story would break in the next few weeks and I would be satisfied with the results. A few weeks later, on July 1st, Mr. Lemme was found dead with his arm slashed in a hotel room in Valdosta, Georgia. "

The death was ruled a suicide by the Valdosta Police. The BRAD BLOG has obtained and is currently reviewing many official documents related to Mr. Lemme's death.

Mr. Hai Lin Nee, "the ilegal alien" who had worked at YEI and was reported by Curtis, was arrested in March of 2004 on espionage charges which included "shipping radar guidance system chips for Hellfire Anti-Tank Missiles to a company in Communist China. "

Curtis discussed in detail, during our interviews, Mr. Nee having placed "wiretapping modules" into software code created by the company. The secret "wiretapping modules", Curtis claims, were to download information from programs built by YEI for contractors, and then either copy or send that information via Email back to YEI. Such software, Curtis claims, was created for companies such as NASA with whom YEI held substantial contracts.

According to both the Curtis affidavit and email dated November 22, 2004 obtained by The BRAD BLOG, YEI is currently under investigation by the FBI.

That information was sent to Curtis after he had attempted on several occasions to notify law enforcement authorities of his seemingly remarkable story of espionage, possible vote tampering and other ethical concerns.

In July of this year, in an email we've reviewed which purports to be from a current YEI employee whose name we are withholding, Curtis was sent the following message in regard to a book that the employee had learned Curtis was working on:

Feeney has responded that he has no recollection of even meeting Curtis; that he could not have engaged in such a scheme because Palm Beach County did not even consider obtaining touch screen machines until after the 2000 election; and that although Curtis wrote a book in the summer of 2004 accusing Feeney of a wide variety of misconduct, Curtis did not even mention the alleged scheme to commit vote fraud in the edition published prior to the 2004 election. [15]

2006 re-election campaign

In 2006, Feeney faced Democrat Clint Curtis in the November general election. Clinton Eugene "Clint" Curtis (born 1958 near Salem Illinois) is a United States computer programmer ex employee of NASA, ExxonMobil

In September, Feeney's campaign launched a website that depicts Curtis as a tinfoil hat-wearing loony-bin candidate. The website is full of references to conspiracies and aluminum hats. Curtis claimed that the attention was actually helping him. [18] The website in question was created by political consultant Ralph Gonzales, who was later murdered in a bizarre double-murder/suicide. [19]

In early October, Feeney's campaign sent out flyers to 110,000 voters that showed the head of Curtis superimposed on what's supposed to be the body of Playboy magazine publisher Hugh Hefner. Hugh Marston Hefner (born April 9 1926 is an American Magazine Publisher, and best known as the editor-in-chief of Playboy magazine The flyer also mentioned Larry Flynt and Hustler magazine. Larry Claxton Flynt Jr (born November 1, 1942) is an American Publisher and the head of Larry Flynt Publications (LFP Hustler is a monthly pornographic Magazine aimed at heterosexual men and published in the United States. Feeney said he was using such tactics to inform the voters that Curtis was endorsed by Flynt. Curtis responded that he has never met Flynt or anyone at Hustler magazine. [15]

Feeney refused to debate Curtis on substantive policy issues. It would be a disservice to voters to do so, he said. Curtis countered that Feeney was ducking him. [20]

Feeney was reelected with 58% of the vote in 2006. [21]

2008 election

Presidential candidate support

In mid-January 2007, Feeney endorsed Mitt Romney's nascent campaign for United States President. "With his record of fighting for lower taxes and balanced budgets, Gov. Romney is the right kind of leader to bring fiscal sanity back to Washington," Feeney said in a statement. [22]

Feeney's chief of staff, Jason Roe (politician), is serving as deputy campaign manager for Romney. Jason Cabel Roe is managing partner of the Federal Strategy Group a government consulting firm based in Washington

Re-election

In June 2007, Feeney's district was one of five in Florida that Democrats hoped to win from the Republicans in 2008. [23] Despite the perception that Feeney drew it for himself, it is actually a fairly marginal district on paper; it gave George W. Bush 52 percent of the vote in 2000 and 56 percent in 2004. [24] It also includes most of Democratic-leaning Volusia County.

Former state representative Suzanne Kosmas has announced her candidacy, and Curtis has also sought a rematch.

See also

References

  1. ^ Fla. Legislature Announces Special Session. After the November 2, 2004 Election in the United States, concerns were raised about various aspects of the voting process including whether voting had After the November 2, 2004 Election in the United States, concerns were raised about various aspects of the voting process including whether voting had The American Presidency Project (2000-12-06). 2000 ( MM) was a Leap year that started on Saturday of the Common Era, in accordance with the Gregorian calendar. Events 1060 - Béla I of Hungary is crowned king of Hungary 1240 - Mongol invasion of Rus: Kiev Retrieved on 2007-02-25. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 138 - The Emperor Hadrian adopts Antoninus Pius, effectively making him his successor
  2. ^ "Baseball commissioner warns: No new stadium, no Marlins", Associated Press, 2001-04-17. Year 2001 ( MMI) was a Common year starting on Monday according to the Gregorian calendar. Events 69 - After the First Battle of Bedriacum, Vitellius becomes Roman Emperor. Retrieved on 2007-02-25. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 138 - The Emperor Hadrian adopts Antoninus Pius, effectively making him his successor  
  3. ^ Mercurio, John. "Between the Lines (excerpt)", Roll Call, 2002-03-11. See also 2002 (disambiguation Year 2002 ( MMII) was a Common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. Events 1425 BC - Thutmose III, Pharaoh of Egypt, dies (according to the Low Chronology of the 18th Dynasty Retrieved on 2007-02-25. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 138 - The Emperor Hadrian adopts Antoninus Pius, effectively making him his successor  
  4. ^ Lane, Charles. "Scalia Tells Congress to Minds Its Own Business", Washington Post, 2006-05-19, p. Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. Events 1535 - French explorer Jacques Cartier sets sail on his second voyage to North America with three ships 110 men and  A19. Retrieved on 2007-02-25. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 138 - The Emperor Hadrian adopts Antoninus Pius, effectively making him his successor  
  5. ^ Office of Representative Tom Feeney (2006-10-11). Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. Events 1138 - A massive earthquake struck Aleppo, Syria. 1531 - Huldrych Zwingli is killed "Tax Cuts and Spending Reform Slash Deficit". Press release. A news release, media release, press release or press statement is a written or recorded Communication directed at members of the News Retrieved on 2006-10-30. Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. Events 637 - Antioch surrenders to the Muslim forces under Rashidun Caliphate after the Battle of Iron bridge.
  6. ^ NTU's Taxpayer Friends in the House for 2004. National Taxpayers Union. National Taxpayers Union (NTU is a taxpayers advocacy organization in the United States, founded in 1969 by James Dale Davidson. Retrieved on 2006-02-26. Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. Events 747 BC - Epoch (origin of Ptolemy 's Nabonassar Era 364 - Valentinian I is proclaimed
  7. ^ NTU's Taxpayer Friends in the House for 2006. National Taxpayers Union. Retrieved on 2006-02-26. Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. Events 747 BC - Epoch (origin of Ptolemy 's Nabonassar Era 364 - Valentinian I is proclaimed
  8. ^ Rep. Tom Feeney (R-FL). Beyond Delay. Retrieved on 2007-02-25. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 138 - The Emperor Hadrian adopts Antoninus Pius, effectively making him his successor
  9. ^ Anita Kumar, "Rep. Feeney sought rule change tied to Abramoff", St. Petersburg Times, April 29, 2007
  10. ^ Tamara Lytle, ["'Duped' Feeney will pay for golf trip with lobbyist"], Sun-Sentinel, January 4, 2007
  11. ^ Anita Kumar, "FBI asks Tom Feeney about trip with Abramoff", St. Petersburg Times, April 23, 2007
  12. ^ Docket for Mark Zachares (pdf), April 23, 2007
  13. ^ Pete Yost. The St Petersburg Times is a daily Newspaper based in St Petersburg Florida, that serves the larger Tampa Bay area "Abramoff probe ensnares ex-Hill aide", Associated Press, April 24, 2007. The Associated Press ( AP) is an American News agency. The AP is a Cooperative owned by its contributing Newspapers radio  
  14. ^ "Congressman Tom Feeney: An Appreciation", Harper's Magazine, July 12, 2006
  15. ^ a b c d Morgan, Lucy. "Blogs spin tale of computers, conspiracies", St. Petersburg Times, 2005-05-09. Year 2005 ( MMV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Events 1457 BC - Battle of Megiddo (15th century BC between Thutmose III and a large Canaanite coalition under the King of Retrieved on 2006-10-24. Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. Events 69 - Second Battle of Bedriacum, forces under Antonius Primus the commander of the Danube armies loyal to Vespasian, defeat  
  16. ^ Computer Programmer testifies that Tom Feeney tried to pay him to rig election vote counts
  17. ^ Zetter, Kim. "More Questions for Florida", Wired News, 2004-12-13. "MMIV" redirects here For the Modest Mouse album see " Baron von Bullshit Rides Again " Events 1294 - Saint Celestine V abdicates the papacy after only five months Celestine hoped to return to his previous life Retrieved on 2006-10-24. Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. Events 69 - Second Battle of Bedriacum, forces under Antonius Primus the commander of the Danube armies loyal to Vespasian, defeat  
  18. ^ Emily Heil, "Feeney website dubs opponent ‘Crazy Clint’", The Hill, September 28, 2006
  19. ^ The article requested can not be found! Please refresh your browser or go back. (A9,20070827,BREAKINGNEWS,70827073,AR)
  20. ^ Robert Perez, "House race turns zanier: Candidate's claims spark Internet spoof", Orlando Sentinel, October 7, 2006
  21. ^ "STATE RACES» Florida", Elections 2006, CNN. Retrieved on 2007-02-25. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 138 - The Emperor Hadrian adopts Antoninus Pius, effectively making him his successor  
  22. ^ "Feeney's a Fan", St. Petersburg Times blog, January 19, 2007
  23. ^ Brendan Farrington, "Florida will be a congressional battleground again in 2008", Herald Tribune, June 23, 2007
  24. ^ CQ Politics | District Detail: FL-24

External links

Preceded by
District Created		 Representative of the 24th Congressional District of Florida
2003–present		 Succeeded by
Incumbent
The Biographical Directory of the United States Congress is a Biographical dictionary of all present and former members of the United States Congress as The Washington Post is the largest and most circulated Newspaper in Washington D The Federal Election Commission (or FEC) is an independent regulatory agency that was founded in 1975 by the United States Congress to regulate the The Center for Responsive Politics (CRP is a nonpartisan research group based in Washington D Project Vote Smart ( PVS) is a Non-profit, Non-partisan research organization that collects and distributes information on candidates for public office in SourceWatch (formerly Disinfopedia) is an internet site which is a "collaborative project" of the Center for Media and Democracy (CMD Congresspedia is a Wiki designed to hold information on the workings of the U Florida's 24rd congressional district is a Congressional district in Florida.
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