States Archives - Checks and Balances Project

FIU Is First University Dropped by Hotel Lobby in Pay-to-Play Academics Scheme

2017-07-24

Grant Withdrawal Raises Questions and Shifts Pressure to Penn State and University of North Carolina The New York Times and Checks and Balances Project have uncovered an extensive, secretive pay-to-play academic scheme by the American Hotel and Lodging Association (AHLA), the primary lobbying arm of the hotel lobby, engaging several universities. Last Thursday, C&BP issued… Read more »

C&BP Calls Upon Florida International University and American Hotel & Lodging Assn. to Release Grant Application Records for $68K Study

2017-07-20

Checks and Balances Project (C&BP) today called upon Florida International University (FIU) to immediately release both the initial and final grant applications to help to erase any question of the integrity of FIU research funded by the hotel lobby. The request includes all communications and documents relating to a grant proposal that resulted in a… Read more »

Realtor Lobbyist Denies Fix Is In For Bakersfield City Council Vote to Kill Homeowners Program

2017-07-19

We had the opportunity to talk with realtors lobbyist Kim Schaefer today on KERN AM Radio. Previously, Ms. Schaefer had privately claimed that her organization was promised votes by local elected officials to kill the popular home improvement financing program (PACE) in exchange for political cover. You can see her claim here: If true,… Read more »

Checks and Balances Project Demands Kern County Board of Supervisors Cure and Correct anti-PACE Program Vote

2017-07-18

Checks and Balances Project demanded answers to possible illegal contact by members of the Kern County Board of Supervisors with the realtor’s lobby before the Board killed a popular program that homeowners use to finance energy efficiency, renewable energy and seismic improvements.

Why Did California Realtors Do an About Face on PACE?

2017-07-11

Checks and Balances Project received a reader tip in May alleging the California Association of REALTORS (C.A.R.) has subjected Bakersfield, California, among other localities, to an intense anti-PACE campaign. PACE or Property Assessed Clean Energy programs provide homeowners in California, Missouri and Florida with upfront financing for energy efficient and renewable energy improvements to their… Read more »

Hotel Lobby Expands Pay-to-Play Research Campaign to Florida International University

2017-07-11

Purpose is to buttress testimonial campaign to undermine home-sharing in South Florida Last October, Checks and Balances began investigating the university-corporate partnership between Penn State University and the American Hotel and Lodging Association (AHLA), the primary lobbying arm of the hotel lobby. In April, we expanded our inquiry to three additional universities, including Florida International… Read more »

Penn State Stonewalling on Pay-to-Play Academics Hits 250-Day Mark

2017-06-28

For more than 250 days (roughly eight months), Penn State has been unable or unwilling to answer basic questions on how Professor John O’Neill’s pay-to-play research by meets University ethics guidelines.

Bakersfield CA Councilmember Bob Smith Subject of Public Records Inquiry

2017-06-14

A Local Spotlight on the National Effort to Undermine Property Assessed Clean Energy Recent reports have called our attention to what appears to be a coordinated attack on Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE). PACE allows homeowners to finance residential and commercial energy efficiency and renewable energy projects, as well as hurricane-mitigation and other improvements, through… Read more »

Will Penn State Investigate Professor John O’Neill for Pay-to-Play Research?

2017-05-15

Since October 2016, we have been reporting on how Penn State School of Hospitality Management (SHM) Professor John O’Neill is using his position at the University not only to bolster his consulting practice, but also to increase the credibility of the hotel lobby pay-to-play research he conducts on behalf of his client, the American Hotel… Read more »

Metropolitan Transit Authority Records Show Improper Use of Counter-Terrorism Trademark by Anti-Home Sharing Group

2017-05-4

ShareBetter failed to obtain permission to use “See Something, Say Something” Anyone who has ridden a bus, subway or railroad in the U.S. has probably seen a sign warning, “If You See Something, Say Something.” Trademarked by the New York City Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) and licensed to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the… Read more »