Watchdog groups say the loan shows that Obama put political expediency
above his pledge to run “the most transparent government in history,”
“It’s clear the administration is hypocritical.”
Despite Obama’s crackdown on emissions from coal-fired plants, Duke is
one of at least a dozen firms exempted by the administration so it can
pursue energy projects paid for by stimulus dollars, according to a
report by the Center for Public Integrity.
The Democratic National Committee has no intention of repaying the
country’s largest electrical power company for the unprecedented $10
million line of credit it guaranteed to help a local host committee fund
last September’s Democratic National Convention in Charlotte, N.C.
According to an article on the Washington Times web site, an official for Duke Energy said the company would claim the money as a business expense for tax purposes, meaning shareholders will foot $6 million of the cost.
The amount of the loan and the secrecy surrounding it has raised red flags for government watchdog groups.
They claim the arrangement smacks of serious conflict-of-interest issues for President Obama and disputes his claim to be committed to disclosure and transparency.
According to an article on the Washington Times web site, an official for Duke Energy said the company would claim the money as a business expense for tax purposes, meaning shareholders will foot $6 million of the cost.
The amount of the loan and the secrecy surrounding it has raised red flags for government watchdog groups.
They claim the arrangement smacks of serious conflict-of-interest issues for President Obama and disputes his claim to be committed to disclosure and transparency.
Since Duke Energy guaranteed the loan, the company had previously
refused to issue any information regarding payment terms or when it
would come due.
At the end of January, a Duke Energy spokesman referred all questions about the loan to Dan Murrey, a surgeon in Charlotte who acted as chairman of the convention host committee, which is an independent group affiliated with the DNC.
Murrey told The Washington Times only that the line of credit was with two banks — Bank of America and the Charlotte-based Mechanics & Farmers Bank.
“We are still finishing up some collections and disbursements related to the convention, and the account is still open,” Murrey said.
In 2011, The White House originally banned corporate donations to the convention, but with Democratic supporters intent on donating to what would become the most expensive presidential campaign in history, the host committee organizing the convention found itself strapped for cash and reversed the decision.
At the end of January, a Duke Energy spokesman referred all questions about the loan to Dan Murrey, a surgeon in Charlotte who acted as chairman of the convention host committee, which is an independent group affiliated with the DNC.
Murrey told The Washington Times only that the line of credit was with two banks — Bank of America and the Charlotte-based Mechanics & Farmers Bank.
“We are still finishing up some collections and disbursements related to the convention, and the account is still open,” Murrey said.
In 2011, The White House originally banned corporate donations to the convention, but with Democratic supporters intent on donating to what would become the most expensive presidential campaign in history, the host committee organizing the convention found itself strapped for cash and reversed the decision.
Read More: NewsMax
