Double Amnesia
House Speaker Jim Black was pretty vague at Kevin Geddings’ trial about his meeting with lobbyists for lottery giant Scientific Games the night before he appointed Geddings to the Lottery Commission.
But Black wasn’t vague at all about another meeting. He testified lobbyists for G-TECH (another lottery company) “brought an important visitor to his office before passage of the lottery” – Tom Shaheen, the current director of the Lottery, who “oversaw the awarding of major contracts to G-TECH.” Black added, “It didn’t surprise me when G-TECH got the contract.” (News and Observer; 10-11-06)
Shaheen’s response? He does not recall meeting Black. But he does recall meeting with an aide to Black, which seems odd. After all, if you were lobbying for the lottery who would you remember meeting: the most powerful man in the State House or his aide?
Double Amnesia
House Speaker Jim Black was pretty vague at Kevin Geddings’ trial about his meeting with lobbyists for lottery giant Scientific Games the night before he appointed Geddings to the Lottery Commission.
But Black wasn’t vague at all about another meeting. He testified lobbyists for G-TECH (another lottery company) “brought an important visitor to his office before passage of the lottery” – Tom Shaheen, the current director of the Lottery, who “oversaw the awarding of major contracts to G-TECH.” Black added, “It didn’t surprise me when G-TECH got the contract.” (News and Observer; 10-11-06)
Shaheen’s response? He does not recall meeting Black. But he does recall meeting with an aide to Black, which seems odd. After all, if you were lobbying for the lottery who would you remember meeting: the most powerful man in the State House or his aide?