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Testing companies paid Thrasher's former lobbying firm: He and the companies claim no connection between him and bill
Ohanian Comment: Lots of angry comments at the newspaper site. Here's one: He left one lobbyist firm to start his own, the new very lucrative company is named "FLORIDA SENATE SEAT." Don't support anyone he supports or anyone he affiliates himself with, that is the only way you take away his power.
Southern Strategy is in 7 southern cities, and here's their claim:
We offer unparalleled access to top decision-makers throughout the Southeast. Our lobbyists...bring with them relationships cultivated over years of public service. As part of our team, they grow and strengthen these relationships within government. As a result, Southern Strategy Group can open doors to get your message heard by the right people. . . . .
The St. Petersburg Times called Southern Strategy Group's Tallahassee office "the most powerful lobbying firm in Florida." With nine seasoned advocates and an office just minutes from the Capitol, the Florida office offers unparalleled opportunity to favorably mold the formation and implementation of public policy.
Indeed.
By Matt Dixon
Two out-of-state companies that offer education testing paid a lobbying firm where state Sen. John Thrasher was a partner between $60,000 and $190,000 over a two-year period, state records indicate.
During the current legislative session, Thrasher, a St. Augustine Republican, sponsored Senate Bill 6, which, among other things, would have required school districts to develop or acquire end-of-course assessment tests.
After drawing stiff criticism from educators and teachers' unions, the bill was vetoed Thursday by Gov. Charlie Crist.
Thrasher left the lobbying firm, Southern Strategy, in 2009 and has denied personally lobbying on behalf of the testing companies.
"I never had any connection to [the testing companies]," he said. "I was bought out last May and don't even have any connection with them anymore."
The companies - Ohio-based IQ Innovations and New Jersey-based Educational Testing Service - say the lobbying Southern Strategy did on their behalf was unrelated to Thrasher's bill.
IQ Innovations paid between $60,000 and $150,000 to Southern Strategy in 2008 and 2009, and Educational Testing Service paid the firm between $4 and $40,000 over the same period, according to state compensation reports.
Lobbying firms are only required to report a range of payments received from clients.
The companies are still clients of Southern Strategy, but 2010 compensation reports are not yet filed with the state.
Southern Strategy founder Paul Bradshaw declined comment, saying it's company policy to not speak to the media about clients.
In 2009, Thrasher reported more than $1.5 million in income from Southern Strategy. Included in that amount is a $695,169 buyout, $614,613 in stock sales and $190,509 in salary, according to financial disclosure reports.
Lobbyists for Southern Strategy gave more than $7,200 to Thrasher's campaign when he ran for his Senate seat in 2009.
— Matt Dixon
Florida Times-Union
2010-04-19
http://jacksonville.com/news/metro/2010-04-19/story/testing-companies-paid-thrashers-former-lobbying-firm
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