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Sunday, January 29, 2006

Ind. Law - Legal firm donated to Daniels campaign

"Legal firm donated to Daniels campaign" is the headline to a story today by Steve Walsh in the Gary Post-Tribune. Some quotes:

As companies across the globe line up to profit from the privatization of the Indiana Toll Road, the law firm of one of Gov. Mitch Daniels’ top political donors already is making money from the state’s plans.

The Chicago law firm of Mayer Brown Rowe and Maw LLP has presented the state with $196,136 in legal bills for consulting on the state’s bid for a long-term lease.

The firm, the largest in Chicago with 500 lawyers, clearly has experience. It put together the 2004 bid to sell a 99-year concession of the Chicago Skyway for Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley — the first deal of its kind in U.S. history.

The firm also has connections. Mayer Brown is the law office of Dan Dumezich, the former state representative from Schererville, who has become a partner at the major Chicago firm. Since leaving the General Assembly in 2002, Dumezich also has become a top fund-raiser for Indiana Republicans, including Daniels.

Mayer Brown donated $10,000 to the governor’s campaign on Dec. 22, 2004. * * *

Daniels denies any connection between Dumezich’s fund-raising and the administration’s decision to sell a lease on the Toll Road. “That is not how we do business around here,” Daniels said. * * *

Schmidt [not further identified in the Post-Tribune story] and Mayer Brown are a subcontractor to Indianapolis law firm Ice Miller, which has the lead contract with the Indiana Finance Authority to compile an agreement to lease the tollway to a private investor.

According to the agreement, released by the Indiana Finance Authority, the state was required to approve all major subcontractors used by the Indianapolis-based law firm.

So far, Ice Miller, a contributor to both Democratic and Republican campaigns, has submitted three bills totaling $150,801, while Mayer Brown Rowe and Maw submitted one bill, totaling $196,136, dated Nov. 18. Office of Management and Budget Director Chuck Schalliol estimated the state’s legal bills could top $1 million.

Posted by Marcia Oddi on January 29, 2006 07:06 AM
Posted to Indiana Government | Indiana Law