Posted: June 2, 2012 at 2:46 pm
Report: Rick Hill Used Wife’s Influence to Get Plum State Contracts
Dirty Betti
The Associated Press is reporting that Rick Hill not only made a king’s ransom renting office space to the Montana state government in the 1990s and 2000s, but that his wife Betti used her job in Governor Judy Martz’s office to steer business his way. Thus did Rick and Betti Hill become very wealthy people.
E-mails from Betti Hill, obtained by the AP, show that she was using the influence of the Governor’s office to arrange meetings for Rick with high-level players in state government who dole out state rental contracts. It stinks to high heaven.
Betti and Rick put pressure on the Martz administration to kill a plan to construct a new building. Martz put the new building project in her budget. But shortly after Rick and Betti met with Lt. Governor Karl Ohs and several cabinet officials to complain about it, it got yanked from Martz’s budget. Why did Rick and Betti want to kill the project? Because a new building in Helena would have brought down the price of rent in the Helena market, and landlords, naturally, do not like that. Oops.
By the sound of it, Betti Hill was large and in charge, busting out her Helena GOP street cred, ordering people throughout state government (even the Lt. Governor) not to do anything that might compromise Rick’s business, and even going to bat for other landlords, including a “party leader” who owned a building and needed a favor. As a result, the Hills’ business stayed sweet and they kept raking in taxpayer dough, more than a million bucks worth.
Hill also appears to have used his job as Congressman and his perch as State Fund chair to get similar sweet treatment, since these jobs overlapped with his sweetheart deals. While sitting in these posts, ranting the GOP’s favorite rant about “less spending” and “less government,” he was guzzling down taxpayer money that should have saved rather than spent. Montana taxpayers got bilked because the rent was too damn high.
Betti’s conduct might well be a violation of the ethics law, which says that a state worker may not use state facilities for a personal or business interest.
At any rate, the Hills are clearly no model of fiscal restraint. Betti clearly interpreted her job in Martz’s office as nothing more than a nice opportunity to rake in some serious scratch for her and her hubby, so that they could fly first class to their posh Palm Springs crib.
These e-mails vindicate Corey Stapleton, Hill’s GOP primary opponent, who accused Hill of getting cake deals and special treatment from state government for his mega-landlord business.
But will any of this affect the outcome of Tuesday’s GOP primary? I doubt it. Sure, it is in the newspaper, but most right-wing voters do not read the newspaper. Glenn Beck is unlikely to cover this story.
Stapleton and Miller and Livingstone should have done their homework, hit the pavement, and moved this damaging story a month ago. It might have been a game changer. But they were all either too lazy or too stupid (or both, probably) to bother. Coming out on the Friday before the election, this story will have very little effect on Tuesday’s election.
However, these revelations will be center stage during the long general election battle ahead. Rick Hill is now CORRUPT LANDLORD, INSURANCE EXECUTIVE, CONGRESSMAN, LOBBYIST (and let’s not forget ADULTERER). Geez, if that isn’t a resume for success in politics, I don’t know what is. These are just about the five worst things an American political candidate can possibly be. Plus, Dems will be able to run TV ads against Hill that will simply repeat the accusations made against Hill by all of his GOP opponents. That’s a rare opportunity in a general election, and it’s a very effective play.
Yes but, it AIN’T just lil’ ricky! In fact, ALL the Seven Mental Dwarfs running on the Pubbie side see the guv’s office as a job creator……FOR THEMSELVES! I mean, there is not a LICK of difference between the seven of them! They are ALL industry toadies hoping to strike it rich one last time! Lil’ ricky simply wants to pad his retirement by allowing dirty betti one last hewMUNGUS snoutful at the hated gubmint trough!
It’s all really just a shameful display of greed. They all want to be the next marc ratco and move on up into a nice fat industry job! How sad is that???
Two items of interest for you -
First, here is the link to Populist Constitutional Republican Gubernatorial candidate Bob Fanning’s pledge to protect Montana’s medical marijuana industry, licensees and card holders. Watch the video please:
http://www.bobfanning.com/?p=1189
Secondly, Bob Fanning has just blasted out a large email send with some very damning facts about Rick Hill’s sojourn in the 106th Congress, including a little conversation Alan Greenspan had with him. This is very hot news and is bound to rock the Republican primary between now and Tuesday -
http://www.bobfanning.com/?p=2081
Thank you,
Salute!
Elias Alias,
Fanning-Boniek Revolution
Elias, only problem with wolf boy is that he’s an outta state NUTjob! Other than that, he’s very qualified.
WHats with these people and some propaganda revolution BS??? We dont need a revolution just some real people who actually do their Jobs for a change.
MM should be available to sick folks via licensing, and Pot should be decriminalized period. The Money we would save in court and police costs alone would really be a boom to this state. People die every day from overdrinking Booze, it is called alcohol Poisoning, but show me one case of anyone who has overdosed on Marijuana?
The state could save Millions by just imposing small fines and a drug free video for any one caught carrying less the 30 grams. With a promise to take the offense of their record when the Fine is paid and the video is watched.
Lets save our police and investigative forces for dealers and users of harder more known and deadly drugs.
What’s with the crackpot’s obsession with “revolution.” We have the “Fanning Boniek Revolution” the “Neil for Governor–Join the Revolution.” God knows what else. I guess these cretins hope to re-live the Revolutionary War. I supposed they’d be fine with the Civil War being refought as well. ~sigh~
They like the old Soviet Bolsheviks, but they’re the Montana Folofshitz!
I worked in the Department of Administration during Martz, and I recalled the episode well. Hill was always coming to the Governor’s office on business. And once, the state tried to cancel one of Hill’s contracts and, we were all put on notice that we must do everything possible to reverse the decision or find other ways to help the Hill’s. I also know plenty of realtors who lost out on leases, as Hill got them instead.
Just another Legislative person enriching themselves on the Governmental Dime ~sigh~ Hill certainly isn’t a public servant kind of guy!
So far the Cowgirls have offered few facts and lots of far reaching speculation. Here are some facts:
The Missoulian article on Hill is talking about the Phoenix Building located near the Airport. The reporter could have done a much better job if he just spent a few minutes on Google.
1. Rick Hill never had owner ship or any financial connection in the Phoenix Building. The reporter implied Hill did and thus needs to issue a correction.
2. It was a Democrat, Milt Datsopoulos , who was the “active party leader” referred to in the Missoulian article. The owner of the Phoenix Building that was the topic of discussion in the meeting was and is owned by Bovey Restorations Inc. whose address is 201 West Main St, Suite 201, Missoula, Mt. This is also the address for Datsopoulos McDonald & Lind, a law firm with close ties to the Democratic party. The principals of that firm are listed among Bovey Restorations officers. Milt Datsopoulos, is a prominent Democrat who is a strong supporter of Schweitzer and Steve Bullock and a key player in Democratic politics. Every Democratic politician with any common sense calls on Milt when he/she first announces a run for a state wide office. Datsopoulos recently held a large fundraiser for Bullock in his Missoula home and has hosted many fundraisers for Schweitzer.
Property Category:RP Subcategory:Real Property
Geocode:05-1888-20-4-12-01-0000 Assessment Code:0000022812
Primary Owner: PropertyAddress:2207 AIRPORT RD
BOVEY RESTORATIONS INC HELENA, MT 59601
201 W MAIN ST STE 201 COS Parcel:
MISSOULA, MT 59802-4326
http://svc.mt.gov/msl/mtcadastral/
3. Anyone in Helena with a memory knows that Bovey Restorations never got any sweet heart deals regarding the Phoenix building. The DEQ did not renew its lease on that property and moved out a few years later and relocated to the old vacant National Guard Armory.
It didn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out it was a lot cheaper for the DEQ to lease an existing state owned building rather than use tax payer money to put up a new multi-million dollar building. Friends in the DEQ tell me the Governor’s office asked the DEQ officials meet with the building’s owners at Datsopoulos’ request because Garrett Bacon, the person in charge of negotiating the lease for the state, had an agenda of his own design and refused to return calls to the owners in the 12 months before the lease was to terminate. The Phoenix Building’s owners were frustrated by the game playing and simply wanted to know at the meeting if the State planned to renew the lease so they could seek other renters if the DEQ planned on moving so they could act on a purchase offer.
If Bullock wants to claim that the meeting set up by the Martz administration between Milt Datsopoulos’s firm and the DEQ representatives resulted in a sweet heart deal, then Bullock had better be prepared to denounce a prominent Democrat’s support and turn back all the money Datsopoulos raised for him this year.
Your information only goes back to 2007 when the property was converted soooooooooo your argument and primary evidence holds no water… Judy Martz was out of office in 2004. there is nothing that proves the property didn’t undergo what the Reporter said!
NICE TRY THOUGH!
Norma, you need to look under the Summary Tab and scroll down and look at the Deed Information. That shows the last change in ownership. Bovey Restorations purchased the Phoenix Building on 9/14/1998.
The Deed Information date only changes when there is a change in deed ownership. There have been no changes in Deed since 1998. The property is owned and has been owned by the Milt Datsopoulos’ affiliated Bovey Restorations since 1998. I know facts can be difficult to accept.
Deed Information:
Deed Date Book Page Recorded Date Document Number Document Type
9/14/1998 M21 922
12/1/1994 M16 3294
8/31/1994 M16 328
Dang Fionn, you shouldn’t try to confuse ILikeWoodys with the facts.
Yeah so What! I know that my property was owned three of more times before we owned it yet it only shows 1 owner. your info is still full of shit.
It can show how many Banks and other people owned part of it or that it was converted many times for a loan. But it still doesn’t have to say who owned it before. my guess from reading this prove to me that the property was indeed owned in partnership and at least owned in part by two other people. Your argument proves the Deed change hands with BOVEY RESTORATIONS INC being part owners not full…. so what does that say about the Company? My guess is Bovey Inc. went through many hands as well. since no one has to be named on the corporate papers, or corporate owned land except a few people and an Agent of process.
So your argument again falls on its face!
Ah for the record……..we have Realtor’s and Legal personal in our family here bud. I know a little something about corporations and subsidiaries since Family members have successfully sued them and their shenanigans before!
TRY agin
Next time you want to argue bring copies of the Original documents. A Cadastral is only as good as the people filling the paperwork, and Legally a Cadastrals can’t be used in a court of law. only the true copies of the deeds can. I have already proved by viewing my own property that the Cadastral has flaws. A Judge would throw your information out of court
exactly.
Thank you!!!!!
The article is about Rick Hills buildings, not buildings he didn’t own. You think fionn that people will forget about that if you post some links about another landlords lawyer? Please.
Read it again Karen. The article is specifically talking about the Phoenix Building in Helena that was leased by the DEQ from the Datsopolous associated Bovey Restorations at the time.
If Rick Hill owned a building that got a “Sweet Heart Deal” then state the name/address of the building and the terms of the lease compared to comparable leases at that time period that prove he got a “Sweet Heart Deal.”
Can you do that?
If this is Rick Hill’s defense, he’s toast. Incredible.
Gregg Smith does a full body slam of this partisan nonsense: http://electriccityweblog.com/?p=14574
This must be part of the “political gossip and satire” that the Cowgirls spew forth here.
HEY! Reality check here, you two. No need to get all pissy on us, for you see, it was YOUR side who decided to run an adulterous, slimey retread for guv, NOT Cowgirl! I don’t blame you for being defensive, but you’all should’a thought of that before running lil’ ricky! The dude has been slimey ever since his romp at the Sip and Dip!
BTW, just WHY was his first act as congressman to bring that brewer and marquat duo to GF to speak? THEM two are as slimey as it gets! And THESE where the guests that lil’ ricky showcased!
Strange, very strange dude lil’ ricky. I seriously doubt that he’ll even make it through the primary. With this many in the race, I think that Teatard Miller could win.
Thats right Larry, Now they want to razzle dazzle us with their bull shit legal talk, and haven’t yet proved their case!
Ya know, when Marc Ratco first started running for guv, he came across as very likeable. Hell, everyone liked him personally! It wasn’t until later that we found out just how venal and sleazy the guy was.
But THESE bozos running now! They’re not even likeable!
It’s best to be sleazy AFTER one wins the office, NOT before! Guess the Pubbies didn’t get the memo!
BWHHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAAA!
Pubbies, what ya gonna do with’em besides LAFF at them? And thank them for destroying their party’s chances in November!
But HEY, I do like to see them showing UP here defending the sleaze! It provides much needed comic relief, AND puts into stark relief the differences between the Seven Pubbie Mental Dwarfs and Bullock! And you know what THAT means! It means that the Dems will have a Bullock on the guv’s office for ANOTHER eight years!
(guess that Code of the West forGOT to mention the one about giving morons enuff rope and they’ll HANG themselves every time!)
BWHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAA!
GEEZ I’m rude. But ya gotta admit that this is one of the most unusual gov races we’ve ever had. I mean, how DOES one come across as being the biggest corporate whore in the race withOUT looking sleazy?
There’s really only so many ways to do that.
More later. Gotta run.
Greg smith doesn’t even scratch the surface. Stapleton still can be very right about this. Corps dont have to name all people who own a company or Property to state agencies. Have you folks no understanding of silent partnerships???? Do you think employee owned corporations just send out for Pizza, when they have a stock meeting of 146,000, like Publix Super Markets?
Damn, How stupid do certain GOP think Democrats are… to continue spewing BS, and figure they wont get caught if they try and shove Big words and callable tools in our face. Get real!
Last sentence is Fallible instead of callable
Martz
http://mtstandard.com/news/opinion/mailbag/our-readers-speak-former-gov-martz-pens-support-for-brad/article_19ca80d0-ad17-11e1-9d28-001a4bcf887a.html
the endorsement kiss of death! i can’t believe BJ thought this was a good idea. even rick hill figured out that he shouldn’t be telling people he was martz economic advisor. what a dolt.
Again, this is about Rick Hill’s contract. The DEQ building is a red herring. The rethugs think we’ll forget about Rick Hill’s buildings if they confuse the issue enough. We won’t.
Correction: Contracts, plural. Hill got multiple cherry lease deals–and we paid him millions for them.
The whole point of private financing of campaigns is to buy private privilege, private access to the commons, to open the door for corruption.
What’s new here? You’ve suddenly gone bipartisan on us.
There is no reason to pull that crap! For god sake be a man/women of the regular folk and when you retire….. chase life, without taking folks…… how hard could that be??????
Norma do you and Richard Turner have primaries or will you automatically advance to the general?
I and Richard advance to the General! We have no Same Political Opponents. We are both for Gay Marriage and equal rights, Both for women’s reproductive rights, and both for the right to bear arms as Montanans are a little smarter are not like the rest of the nation. Be Both believe in the separation of church and state.
We both are strongly opposed to the extremist agenda of state and national Republicans. We Both believe in the separation of church and state.
Both of us have received a letter from the MEA-MFT (Montana Education Association-Montana Federation of Teachers) endorsing us for Senate District 36, and HD72
Richard Turner’s Candidate Web site is: http://www.turnerforsenatedistrict36.com/
My Candidate website is: http://www.normaduffy.com
There is no moral superiority in being a Democrat, Norma. Search elsewhere. Think, perhaps, of a life as a show girl in Vegas as a step up to a better moral grounding.
Ah the Troll speaks again.
You Wouldn’t know about Morals, That’s as foreign to you…. as your suggestion to me has been. No one in Montana has to worry or listen to a nutcase from Colorado do they?
Meanwhile, Montana’s current Governor has an op-ed in the New York Times about ending corruption. Quite a contrast:
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/04/opinion/an-invitation-to-keep-money-out-of-politics.html?_r=1
Ok time to think statigically. First I think so much mud deserved and undeserved has been thrown at Rick Hill that he will not win the Republican primary on Tuesday night. And if and key word if, and it is the middle word in life, if Rick Hill does win the primary, he will be spanked by Steve Bullock in the Fall. That means its going to come down to Miller, who has his own scandals and deamons and skelotons in his closet, Livingstone, who I dont think can connect to the average Montanana, and Corey Stapelton, who while he is guttsy is as bland as a mayonaise sandwich on white bread.
As Larry pointed out in an earlier post Bob Fanning his campaign is about one word, wolves, and Jim Lynch has a history of both running for the state senate from the Kalispel area as a Democrat, and at this time last year was serving in the Schwietzer administration as transportation director, so while I voted for him, I understand he does not have a chance. Sorry Im being realistic with myself here.
In short I can not tell the lesser of the evils or the evil of the lessers here.