Catching Up With Don Beason
Posted July 31st, 2007 at 1:55 PM by Jeff A. TaylorHere’s a quick list of Don Beason’s current and former clients. It stands to reason that these clients were the ultimate source of the $500,000 Beason gave to convicted felon Jim Black in June 2000.
Clients
* AT&T Wireless
* Albemarle Mental Health Centers
* Barr Laboratories
* BB&T Financial
* BellSouth
* Bombardier
* Canadair
* Catawba County
* Charlotte Regional Partnership
* Cingular Wireless
* CITMA
* City of Hickory
* Colonial Insurance Company
* Dale Earnhardt, Inc.
* Distilled Spirits Council of the United States
* EDS
* Ernst & Young
* Film Production Alliance
* First Union Corporation
* IBM
* League of Landscape Architects
* Maple Leaf Sports, Inc.
* Microelectronics Center (MCNC)
* National Institute for Statistical Sciences
* North Carolina Association of Health Plans
* North Carolina Motorcycle Dealers Association
* North Carolina Natural Gas Company
* North Carolina Propane Gas Association
* North Carolina Railroad Company
* North Carolina Recreational Vehicle Dealers Association
* North Carolina Restaurant Association
* Ovations
* Primary Health Care Association
* Printing Industry of NC
* Progress Energy
* RJR
* S & M Brands
* Special Olympics World Games
* Unisys Corporation
* United Health Group
* United States Corrections Corporation
Also recall that Beason was billed for Black’s “celebration dinner” after he was sworn in as speaker in 2005.
Check out Beason on Beason:
His Experience:
Don has established long term relationships with legislative and executive branch leaders in both political parties. The trust earned in these relationships enables him to approach decision makers and propose solutions to his clients’ concerns.
His Integrity:
• Businessman in financial markets
• Former N.C. Secretary of Commerce
• Former Legislative Liaison for the Governor and
Lieutenant Governor
• Former Director of Governor’s Research Office
• Former Director of the North Carolina Drug CabinetHis Hard Work:
There is no substitute for hard work when it comes to government relations. Don Beason has a thorough and detailed knowledge of the legislative and policy-making process. He invests the time and energy necessary for his clients, whether in lengthy negotiating sessions or in the sometimes tedious task of drafting very specific language for a bill.
What a hoot. Oh, and here’s Beason in August 2005 explaining that while there might be scandal in the executive branch of state government, the General Assembly was not so afflicted. And here’s Beason in March 2005 arguing against any limit on how fast ex-lawmakers can become hired lobbyists.
“I think that’s the great thing about America is people have the right to earn a living,” Jim Black’s personal piggy-bank explains.
Anyone who paid this guy a nickel should demand a refund — and that includes quite a few government agencies and bodies who forked over taxpayer money so a lobbyist could secretly route it to Jim Black.
July 31st, 2007 at 2:27 pm
Impressive list – Maybe a real nice list of companies for his competition to now go after as they start to distance themselves from his operation.
How about this client quote from his site:
“Don Beason’s in-depth knowledge of the legislative process was crucial to our strategic planning and successful passage of the very important telecommunications reform bill.” – BellSouth
I think that I’d prefer to not have that statement of mine out in the public if I were BellSouth. By “legislative process”, I don’t think they meant how they count the ballots… more likely who can be bought.
July 31st, 2007 at 8:43 pm
Papa, I’m not defending anyone, including Black, but please name one elected official that refused to take ANY lobby money? Keep the lobby money in mind when all of you quote reporst supporting your values that are…ready for this….prepared by lobby groups or take lobby money!
August 1st, 2007 at 8:20 am
An honest accessment of “pay to play” in Charlotte would reveal corruption in our public and civic leaders, as we saw the collusion in the UNCC “study” that can’t be defended!
August 1st, 2007 at 9:53 am
Q: One elected official that refused to take lobby money?
A: John Rhodes
But we all know how that ended
August 1st, 2007 at 10:41 am
Let the record show that as Jim Black was celebrating his election to Speaker literally on Don Beason’s dime, our local Uptown paper of record was writing, “Rhodes Too Ready to Rumble” (March 29, 2005).
August 1st, 2007 at 10:53 am
See also, “Don’t Kill the Messenger” from the N&O, June 19, 2005. (The article is cached here)
August 1st, 2007 at 11:26 am
DonBeason.com is now offline, but its cached here