Pittsburgh Flight to Haiti : Reporter's Notes

[UPDATE: You can read Burgher Jon's question about Monday's BRESMA coverage and my response here in the comments thread of this blog post.]

Raw notes aren't pretty... but here are my raw notes on the latest developments, followed by a statement from former US Attorney Mary Beth Buchanan (via Bram of the Pittsburgh Comet). I'll have a report on Channel 4 Action News at Five.

NOTES:

Governor's press secretary Gary Tuma confirms that Governor Ed Rendell is among the officials on the flight to Haiti. At 3:17pm he said that the plane touched down in Miami "about ten minutes ago" and should be taking off within 45 minutes of that touchdown. It's next stop: Port-au-Prince, Haiti.

If all goes smoothly, they hope to pick up 61 of the children from the BRESMA orphanage at the airport here and return to Pittsburgh at 11pm or 12 midnight, by way of Miami. Tuma says that they don't know if things will go smoothly..and that the return to Pittsburgh could come later, if they do not.

He says some of the 150 children from the orphanage will be going to the French or the Dutch.

61 will be coming to Pittsburgh.

41 have adoptions "in the pipeline".

The 61 will first go to Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh for evaluation. Catholic Charities will be involved in caring for their needs while they are here.

Tuma says that relatives of the two sisters had contacted UPMC, and that UPMC contacted the governor. Saturday and Sunday, arrangements were made. There was contact with the Haitian ambassador, the Pentagon, and Homeland Security officials to get clearance for the mission. Republic Air provided the plane, which also carries medical personnel and nurses.

Tuma says many officials -- including the Haitian ambassador in particular -- advised that it would be helpful if Governor Rendell were personally on the plane. Tuma says the Haitian ambassador believed that Governor Rendell's presence might provide strengthen their efforts, in case there was any trouble on the ground in Haiti.

Statement from Mary Beth Buchanan on the events of today:

"I had little prior knowledge of the attempted air rescue mission that departed from Pittsburgh today, though I have since been advised that some of the resources aboard the flight were collected through the efforts of myself and others. Now that it is underway I am hopeful for the best, and continue to pray for the safety of young Jamie and Ali, this group of Haitian orphans and all of the people suffering in Haiti."

--
Sent from my mobile device

Read More...

Summary only...

The Lobbyist & The Governor Respond

Local lobbyist Leslie Merrill McCombs is speaking out against what she describes as slanderous suggestions by a Republican state lawmaker that she has an inappropriate relationship with Democratic Governor Ed Rendell.

Here's a link to my Channel 4 Action News report on Governor Ed Rendell's reaction to Senator Jeffrey Piccola's plan hire a private eye to investigate McCombs' lobbying the governor for the film industry. McCombs is also a friend of Governor Rendell. The lobbying is not illegal, but was months late in being registered with the state, as required by law.

McCombs was already registered as a UPMC lobbyist at the time in question. When she asked the governor to back $75-Million in tax credits for the film industry this summer, she had not yet also registered as a lobbyist for the film company called Lionsgate.

Rendell says there should be a penalty for her failure to register, but he doesn't think it's a big deal. The governor says he was on the record as favoring film industry tax credits before the lobbying by McCombs, whom he's known for years.

Philadelphia media headlined the story as 'Guv, the blonde, and lobbying law', with a photo from a July Pirates game of them seated side by side.

Quotes from McComb:

• "My technical and brief noncompliance in amending my registration is being leveraged by some for political reasons. This is a flimsy nonissue."

• "Clearly, it is being suggested that I have an inappropriate relationship with the governor. That suggestion is disgusting and insulting, and I am appalled that an elected public official can get away with such slanderous behavior. It is deeply hurtful to me and my family."

You can read her complete response on The Pittsburgh Channel.


Quotes from Governor Rendell:

• "You know, he can do anything he wants, or his committee can. I think it's probably a waste of money. I don't know anybody who wouldn't answer questions about this."

• "She's a good friend of mine, fundraiser. I'm good friends with her family. She was one of my best fundraisers from my re-election, but she had no effect on my decision."

• "She's a friend, so's her son, so's her husband."

• "I will say this about her because she's getting a little grief. She has been probably the strongest advocate for Pittsburgh and Allegheny County of anybody in the last four and a half years. When we had the BRAC hearings. she was instrumental in putting together the presentation for Allegheny that saved the 911th. She didn't get a dime for that from anybody."

• "That baseball game that was in the newspaper-- I was there with her and five other people, and her son was there."

• "It's typical media."

Saying that Dave Malone lobbies him as much as McCombs does, Rendell observed:

• "Nobody's interested in Dave Malone because he's a tall, dark haired white guy."

.

Read More...

Summary only...