The Butte Debate: Did Burns Break the Law Again?

There’s been a lot of talk in the Montana blogs about the nature of the corporate sponsorship of the Butte debate last night. Touchstone led off the discussion, and Shane followed up with some great details about the connection between Burns and the Resodyn corporation. Apparently, in exchange for their ‘sponsorship’ of the debate, this corporation was given the ol’ first class treatment, being able to hold seats at the front of this public event, seats that were subsequently filled by Burns supporters. Just how bad was it? Jen reports that Larry Farrar himself, the corporate sponsor of the event, forced two elderly women from their seats if they refused to wear Burns stickers.

This is another violation of the law. Resodyn gave something of value (prime seats, in the center of the audience) to the Burns campaign–and that is a corporate donation, prohibited, as Chuck Denowh reminded us, by the law.

Conrad Burns acting unethically is hardly news these days, but the actions of the Standard require some serious scrutiny. Given the Standard’s frequent coverage of Burns-Resodyn connections and the ready availability of information about donations to Burns linked to Resodyn, how could it be an appropriate choice to have Resodyn sponsor the debate? Was the MT-GOP unavailable? I’ve written Gerry O’Brien ( Gerry.Obrien@lee.net) and Janet Taylor (janet.taylor@lee.net), from the Standard, as well as the generic Lee information e-mail (information@lee.net) with some questions, like:

• What was the nature of the sponsorship agreement between the Standard and Resodyn?
• Was anyone else able to purchase/reserve seats?
• Was there a previous sponsor before Resodyn, and what motivated you to change, if so?

I think the more people who ask these types of questions, the better.

A little more information below the fold–about the web of connections between Burns and Resodyn.

A search for Resodyn on Conrad Burns campaign site reveals 14 hits, including:

• Burns secures $2.6 million grant for Resodyn
• Resodyn receives a $1.99 million Army contract and $70,000 Navy Contract
• A Montana Standard article about $2.4 million for Combat Casualty Care
• $6 million to research combat wound treatment
• A form encouraging me to spam people about Conrad’s largesse to Resodyn
• In 2002, Burns attended an event to thank Larry Farrar, giving him a certificate of merit

And what does Resodyn say about Conrad?

• Thanks for the money, Conrad.
• Conrad visits the Resodyn plant
• Cindy Farrar, calling Burns one of the grandest statesmen that have served Montana, writes the Montana Standard thanking the Senator for his work to make her family wealthy

No quid pro quo, right?

• Well, Jeffrey Barrow, Director at Resodyn, gave $2,100 to Burns
• And so did his wife
• Cynthia Farrar gave Senator Burns $2,000 in 2004, Larry Farrar gave almost $19,000 to the MT GOP in the last year,

Tagged as: Senate Race 2006

Article by Don Pogreba

Don is an English/Debate teacher and debate handbook author who lives in Helena, MT, and who can't imagine living anywhere other than this glorious state. Much of his writing happens late at night and he is unlikely to respond to your comments during the day.