The following came from the office of Del. Pat McDonough:
CHOPPERGATE, TAXPAYERS EXPLOITED
DELEGATE PAT McDONOUGH CALLS FOR INVESTIGATION
SIXTY MILLION DOLLAR BID, COMPETITOR LAUNCHES PROTEST
While the media and the press were up in arms over Delegate Jon Cardin’s little scandal about love and helicopters, Delegate Pat McDonough was working on a really big potential scandal involving 60 million dollars worth of taxpayers’ money expended for luxury helicopters. Delegate McDonough is formally asking the General Assembly Joint Audit Committee to review a deal by the Department of Transportation and Augusta Westland A.W. Helicopters.
American Eurocopter has constituted a protest to the Department of Transportation claiming a request for proposals (RFP). American Eurocopter claims that the RSP is invalid and unreasonably designed to eliminate competitors except for Augusta Westland. State law under Comar 21.04.01.02 in part clearly states, “Specifications may not be drawn in such a manner as to favor a single vendor over other vendors.”
Augusta Westland Helicopter is larger and more powerful than necessary for Medivac operations. It requires two pilots, rather than one operator, which is more expensive. The taxpayers will be forced to pay higher rates for long-term maintenance, operations, and pilot staffing. The potential procurement could go as high as 250 million dollars.
“During difficult budget times, it is important to watch every penny of taxpayers’ money. This deal appears to be very questionable and perhaps, illegal. The Governor should demonstrate leadership and terminate this process immediately in order to review these serious allegations by American Eurocopter, a reputable and experienced company. I am demanding that the Governor intervene and the General Assembly Joint Audit Committee schedule a public hearing,” Delegate McDonough stated.
Del. McDonough has scheduled a news conference and provided the following information:
NEWS CONFERENCE – DELEGATE PAT McDONOUGH
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 4TH, 2009
1 P.M.
EAST COUNTY TIMES
513 EASTERN BLVD., IN THE HEART OF DOWNTOWN ESSEX
Geez, Delegate McDonough learned a great deal from his study of Joe McCarthy. It is refreshing to know that the American political traditions of selective favoritism, partisan politics, muckraking and purveying fear are still alive and well in Maryland politics.
I do have a couple of questions;
1. On what planet would it be considered a safe situation to have a single pilot in a medevac helicopter.
2. What specific portions of the allegedly rigged RFP were specific only to Augusta, other than the fact that the appropriate number of crew persons were required to operate the aircraft.
3. Why did this not come to light during the session when it could be appropriately debated by members on both sides of the aisle.
4. What might Delegate McDonough gain by raising this issue now and creating more radical, reactionary protest against the majority in power in Annapolis.
Just questions. I wonder if there will actually be any answers at teh public hearing, or just more attempt to radicalize the lunatic fringe on behalf of the forces of darkness.
The current staffing of Medevac choppers is one pilot one paramedic. So in Maryland it is considered safe.
I agree completely with J. Kevin. When he discovered a potential waste of tens of millions of our tax dollars, Del. McDonough should have just shut up and buried it so knee-jerk Democrats wouldn’t have the opportunity to cry and moan that he is playing politics with our money. Besides, who knows just whose campaign or pockets will benefit from the deal as written? Why ruin a good thing?
Besides, this gave J. Kevin a good opportunity to use really cool phrases like “political traditions of selective favoritism, partisan politics, muckraking and purveying fear”,
“On what planet would it be considered a safe situation”, and “radicalize the lunatic fringe on behalf of the forces of darkness”.
Good work!
J. Phil Dirt
If everyone had the health care benefits del Mcdonough has thru his “state job” we wouldn’t need national health care. Want a trade del Mcdonough?
A number of years ago the Northeast Maryland Solid Waste Authority tried that crap on my company. A competing vendor used my adress……the justification…when they get the no bid bid…I would go out of buisness and they would jump into the facility. Very scarey !
Go Dagger….
By the way…..later that vender was cought …along with Harford solid waste of colluding to price fix to the detriment of Harford tax payers…i found it…exposed it…and the price index was adjusted resulting in credits back to Harford tax payers.
Go Dagger !