Greenlee Partners

Greenlee Partners, LLC
Limited Liability Company
Industry lobbying
Founded 1985[1]
Headquarters 230 State Street
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
Key people
 Bill Greenlee Founder (1938-2010)
Stan Rapp Partner
Matt Steck Partner
John McNichol Partner
Website http://www.greenleepartners.com/

Greenlee Partners, LLC is a lobbying firm in Pennsylvania, possibly best known as the Republican-leaning firm that represented the City of Philadelphia in the 1990s.

Firm history

It was founded in 1980 by Bill Greenlee as Greenlee Associates.[1] They changed their name to "Greenlee Partners" in 2000.[2] The firm has offices in Washington, D.C., Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, and Pittsburgh.[3] They are known for their connections to Pennsylvania Governor Tom Ridge's administration.[4]

The firm produces a daily report on political activities called “Harrisburg Online.”[5] In a 2002 article about the surprise resignation of Representative John E. Barley, the political analysis from "Harrisburg Online" was quoted in the Sunday News of Lancaster, Pennsylvania.[6]

In 2009, the Pennsylvania Report called Greenlee Partners "the gold-standard" of lobbying firms in Pennsylvania.[5] In a 1997 article about Pittsburgh Power & Light's lobbying presence in Harrisburg, the Pittsburgh Post Gazette called Greenlee Partners a "powerhouse firm."[7] The same description was used in another 1997 article about a charitable event hosted by members of the Harrisburg lobbying community.[8] In a 1998 article about alleged "astroturf" lobbying efforts by AlliedSignal, the Philadelphia Inquirer called Greenlee "one of the capital's most visible lobbying firms."[9] In a 1998 article about Greenlee's lobbying on behalf of the Pittsburgh Steelers and Pittsburgh Pirates, the Pittsburgh Post Gazette called Greenlee "one of the best-known firms in Harrisburg."[10]

Former Managing Director Robert Ewanco is paid $10,000 per month to lobby the Pennsylvania General Assembly on behalf of the government of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania.[11][12] The Dan Onorato administration credits him with a "20-fold" return in the form of appropriations for a widening project on Pennsylvania Route 28, as well as a footbridge and security cameras at Duquesne University.[12]

Lobbying activities and issues

After the Pennsylvania House of Representatives was taken over by the Republicans in the 1990s, the City of Philadelphia hired Republican lobbyist Holly Kinser and the Republican-leaning Greenlee Partners to lobby the House on its behalf.[13] Under that lobbying contract, Kinser was instrumental in passing a rental-car tax that helped fund Philadelphia's new stadiums, the airport expansion funding, and the one percent hotel tax that fuels the Greater Philadelphia Tourism Marketing Corporation.[14]

Amid a 2008 lawsuit about land use issues, the Albert Einstein Healthcare Network in Philadelphia alleged that Greenlee Partners and others "may be covertly directing and funding legal proceedings" against the hospital.[15]

In 2008, the Pittsburgh Tribune Review questioned the necessity of the Port Authority of Allegheny County's lobbying contract with Greenlee Partners and raised questions about the propriety of Greenlee's relationship with House Transportation Committee Chairman Rick Geist.[12][16]

References

  1. 1 2 "BILL GREENLEE - Founder". greenleepartners.com. Greenlee Partners.
  2. ↑ "Business News in Brief". Philadelphia Inquirer. December 5, 2000.
  3. ↑ "Our Firm". greenleepartners.com. Greenlee Partners.
  4. ↑ Neri, Al (August 2002). "Who's Got Currency at the State Capitol?". The Insider.
  5. 1 2 "PA Report 100". Pennsylvania Report. Capitol Growth. January 23, 2009. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2009-08-14.
  6. ↑ Adams, Helen Colwell (January 20, 2002). "MU pundit: Rep. Barley was indeed harassed". Sunday News. Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
  7. ↑ Shelly, Pete; Jack Torry (January 12, 1997). "PP&L lobbyist joins Catholic Conference". Pittsburgh Post Gazette. PP&L has hired the powerhouse firm of Greenlee & Associates to represent its interests on the hill.
  8. ↑ Shelly, Pete (June 8, 1997). "PA. Lawmakers and Lobbyists Meet and Golf for Good Causes". Pittsburgh Post Gazette. ...said Stanley Rapp, a lobbyist with powerhouse Greenlee Associates and an event organizer.
  9. ↑ Dilanian, Ken (October 4, 1998). "Takeover Fight Grabs Spotlight.". Philadelphia Inquirer. ...reported Harrisburg Online, a daily e-mail dispatch by Greenlee Associates, which represents AlliedSignal and is one of the capital's most visible lobbying firms.
  10. ↑ Shelly, Peter (January 16, 1999). "Lobbyists Promoting Stadium Financing Law". Pittsburgh Post Gazette. ...Greenlee Associates lobby firm representing the Steelers and Pirates. It is one of the best-known firms in Harrisburg and represents numerous clients, including the city of Philadelphia, Highmark Blue Cross-Blue Shield, the Pennsylvania Newspaper Publishers Association and the Philip Morris Management Corp.
  11. ↑ "Lobbyist Profile - Ewanco, Robert J.". Pennsylvania Lobbyist Database. Pennsylvania General Assembly. Archived from the original (database) on 2009-12-01.
  12. 1 2 3 Bumsted, Brad; Mike Wereschagin (November 29, 2009). "Lobbyist expenses wasteful, critics say". Pittsburgh Tribune Review.
  13. ↑ Baer, John; John Baer (November 29, 1999). "Roadblock with Capitol R. Street Facing Huge Obstacle With GOP In Control of House". Philadelphia Daily News.
  14. ↑ Rubin Erdely, Sabrina (March 2003). "There's Something About Holly Philadelphia Magazine March, 2003". Philadelphia. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: Metro Corp.
  15. ↑ Burling, Stacey (July 17, 2008). "Mercy admits role fighting Einstein". Philadelphia Inquirer.
  16. ↑ Heyl, Eric (June 20, 2008). "How many lobbyists does it take to drive a bus?". Pittsburgh Tribune Review.
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