Reply #7: Chicago leased the Skyway [View All]

[AngryAmish]

This is the way it works. Company buys toll road. Puts money into the Toll road initially (Skyway is great now). Tolls are frozen for a few years then go up, more increases at the end of the lease. When people complain then, the company can say you agreed to it years ago. Who benefits? Politicians get a lump of cash right now to fix problems and look good, getting reelected. They will be out of office when the tolls get raised and everyone forgets. Taxpayers get road maintenance off the books. Company, well, they will make a killing.

Actually one of the main driving forces in these deals are private law firms and investment houses. They either resecuritize or buy back existing bonds on the roads, get paid for doing the deal and other ways. Ever wonder why so many lawyers and investment bankers give so much money to politicians? It is because they make money on the work, which is not straight graft but it smells.

Find out which law firms and investment Banks give the most money to Rendell and you will find out who is doing the bond work and legal work on this deal. G-R-A-F-T, but with private money. It stinks and it is a crooked game, but it is legal.