I believe in doing my
due diligence when choosing a candidate or voting for issues on the ballot.
I don't believe much of what I hear and only half of what I see.
The airwaves are filled with information that the Media feels will sell
& bring in ratings. I want the real information and since I can't get
on the TV I go tot he Internet. It is filled with stuff and you can type
in a request and get certain links, the next day say request different links.
So I try to go through a variety of links looking for those that are have
NO "ratings dog in the fight" like Fox Media or "Conspiracy
Theory" or "Rush Limbaugh.
In the quest to find out
more about Bernie Sanders, his background & voting record I found out
things I have not heard! I don't get it, if Hillary sneezes she is
accused of hiding something in the tissue or secretly buying up stock on Wall
St for "Kleenex." After typing in Voting Record for Bernie
Sanders, I found on the Tracker site which all the way back to 1991. I wanted
to go back as far as possible to get a good overview not just recent activity.
I found only six bills (see below) that Bernie sponsored have been
Enacted since 1991, none seem to support any of the positions that he has taken
over the years nor on the campaign trail.
But in the pursuit of
the information, links for other things came up. First off you have to
eliminate all the conspiracy junk & the anti Bernie folks. An entirely
under reported story emerged that had me totally surprised. First I came upon
the information that the media has been reporting that his net worth is a high
of about $700,000, which sounded low to me for someone who has been in Congress
for over 20 years, but some say it could be as high as 1.5 million. That seemed low to me for
someone who has been in Congress as long as he has but that was all the info I
had. Apparently the disclosures are a range within each category as to how much
they really have but it is clear the Wall St Bernie hates he has invested
heavily in. (see below)
Then I found:
Bernie's Sander's wife
Jane, got the position of President of Burlington College in 2004. During the time when many schools were tightening their budgets,
Sanders took a different tack: She convinced the board of trustees the best way
to save Burlington College was to buy 32 acres of lakefront land from the Roman
Catholic Diocese, including a large brick building and a stone cottage, and
create a real campus.
The reason this was
thought to be a "daring" move was because the small college under the
encouragement of Jane Sanders, took on $10 million in debt — $6.5 million in
tax-exempt bonds held by People's United Bank and a $3.5 million loan from the
diocese, which sold the property to pay off settlements it owed as a result of
lawsuits stemming from priest sexual abuse. The school's finances were
relatively stable at the time of the real estate transaction. Jane Sanders
predicted that a more spacious campus would attract hundreds of additional
students, and she had plans for a $6 million capital campaign called "The
Sky Is the Limit."
Tony Pomerleau, (Sander’s good friend) a 97-year-old
philanthropist & real estate developer, Burlington's most senior developer,
helped to broker the deal — and also contributed a $500,000 bridge loan.
Burlington College
offered its students a study abroad program in the Caribbean, according to tax
filings. It reported spending about $47,000 on that program in the tax year beginning
in mid-2008. Around that time, the son of Jonathan Leopold, a Burlington
College board member, purchased a small resort in the Bahamas called Andro’s
Beach Club and an accompanying hotel, Nathan’s Lodge. Leopold served with
Sanders in the Burlington city government—as mayor, Sanders appointed Leopold
city treasurer—before becoming embroiled in scandal involving millions of
dollars in payments to a Burlington telecommunications company. Sen.
Sanders has described Leopold as so close a friend as to be considered
“family.” He reportedly discouraged Sanders’ socialist impulses early in their
careers. Shortly after Leopold’s son, also named Jonathan, purchased the
resort, Burlington College began writing it large checks for all-inclusive
stays for its study abroad students. The younger Leopold later said during
a deposition related to a lawsuit filed by a student who was injured at the
rest that he conducted boat tours and snorkeling trips “on behalf of Burlington
College.”
There was growing
skepticism about whether the school had the resources to sustain the number of
new programs that have sprouted up in recent years, many of which are dependent
on individual professors, presumably to attract new students. Sanders added an
individualized master's program, new majors including events and hospitality,
international relations, integral psychology, and media activism, and various
Cuba study-abroad programs. The
college also built up a woodworking program in recent years, leasing space from
a school run by Sanders' daughter at an annual cost that was $182,000 in 2013. (Vermont
Woodworking School (VWS) in 2007 15k square foot Barn with more than half the
students being from Burlington College)
In 2010 the college borrowed $10 million to buy the property
under former president Jane Sanders. It borrowed $3.6 million from the diocese
and $6.5 million from People’s United Bank. Since then, the school has failed
to meet the fundraising and enrollment growth goals it used to borrow the
money. Burlington College is on academic probation from the
regional accrediting agency because of financial concerns, as well as concerns
about the school’s governance. Former President Christine Plunkett
resigned abruptly in September. Smith agreed to serve as interim leader through
December to stabilize the school. Without selling the land, the college
would owe $735,000 this year in debt service, he said. The sale will reduce
that amount to $300,000, Smith said. “Our debt service is bleeding us to
death,” he said.
Three months after Moore
became president, the school sold 27 acres of the campus to developer Eric
Farrell — a deal that was in the works prior to Moore becoming
president. Burlington College announces that the school has completed the
real estate transaction with Developer Eric Farrell.
Terms of Sale and Uses of Proceeds
In an outright sale to a developer, the general terms of
memorandum of understanding are for the developer to purchase the properties
for $7.5 million ($7 million for the 25 acres and $500K for the parking lot and
9 Lakeview Terrace.) At the time of the sale, the developer would assume
all of the Catholic Diocese debt (valued at $4 million) with $3.5 million in
cash remaining for the College to pay down additional debt. This
sale will provide the College with some further liquidity through the line of
credit — liquidity that the College currently does not have. In order for this
transaction to be successful, the bank and the diocese must agree to release
any claims on sold land. Bond counsel must also agree to defeasement of the
bonds for the sold property (the bank is the sole bond holder). It is
anticipated that this transaction will reduce the debt from approximately $11.4
million to approximately $4.3 million. Debt service liability is projected to
decrease from $735K in FY15 to just under $300K in future years. In addition,
property taxes could be reduced by as much as $100K. The savings generated from
the sale will also produce positive cash flow. This sale is not the magic
bullet to the College’s future salvation, Burlington College said in a statement,
but it does give it time to see if increased enrollment strategies are taking
hold and gives time to explore consortiums with other small liberal arts
colleges in Vermont. Source: Burlington
College 11.20.2014
OUTCOME OF COLLEGE PURCHASE OF
PROPERTY:
Former Burlington College president Jane Sanders overstated
donation amounts in a bank application for a $6.7 million loan that was used by
the college to purchase a prime 33-acre property on Lake Champlain in 2010. Apparently
Sanders told People’s United Bank that the college had $2.6 million in pledged
donations to support the purchase of the former Roman Catholic Diocese of
Burlington property on North Avenue. The college, however, received only
$676,000 in actual donations from 2010 through 2014, according to figures
provided by Burlington College. That’s far less than the $5 million
Sanders listed as likely pledges in the loan agreement, and less than a third
of the $2.14 million Sanders had promised People’s Bank the college would
collect in cash during the four-year period. Jane Sanders, resigned
under pressure from the Burlington College board of trustees nearly a year
after obtaining the multi-million dollar loan. After both sides lawyered up,
the board gave Sanders the title of president emeritus (one retired from professional life but
permitted to retain as an honorary title the rank of the last office
held) and a $200,000 severance package. Sanders was
president of Burlington College from 2004 to 2011.
Responding to problems
identified in Burlington College's 2012 audit, Plunkett described her first
year at the helm as "one of the most challenging in Burlington College's
recent history." The college had agreed to pay Sanders roughly $200,000 over
two years, Plunkett explained in a letter to the auditors, which depleted
resources that would have been used to hire a new CFO.
In 2014 Interim
President Mike Smith looked into the college’s finances and concluded the
school’s status quo is not financially viable. It has $11.4 million in
long-term debt and $300,000 in past-due bills, he said. Two-thirds of that is
more than 90 days late, he said.
Vermont’s U.S.
Attorney’s office has been asked by a group of Catholic worshipers to look into
Jane Sanders alleged bank fraud, coming from the land deal she made while
President of Burlington College.
According to Vermont
Republican Party Vice Chair and attorney Brandy Toensing said it looks like
Jane Sanders mispresented definite donations to attain the loan. Toensing was
retained to represent the parishioners. According to the allegations, Sanders
may have cost the Diocese up to $2 million dollars in 2010 and 2011.
Toensing said Sanders misrepresented how much money Burlington College could attain to support the Catholic Church land purchase. The People’s United Bank loan was liable on the college getting over $2 million. Toensing the bank believed the college had confirmed donations. According to documents U.S. Attorney Eric Miller attained, Sanders never could get the donations she informed the bank she got.
Former U.S. Attorney Craig Nolan said any financial institution would do due diligence to confirm the pledges. Nolan said an investigation into the matter would include attaining an explanation as to why the donations failed to materialize and come from the college. He said he’d called the FBI first to talk with them about what happened. Then, talk with the financial institute.
Toensing said Sanders misrepresented how much money Burlington College could attain to support the Catholic Church land purchase. The People’s United Bank loan was liable on the college getting over $2 million. Toensing the bank believed the college had confirmed donations. According to documents U.S. Attorney Eric Miller attained, Sanders never could get the donations she informed the bank she got.
Former U.S. Attorney Craig Nolan said any financial institution would do due diligence to confirm the pledges. Nolan said an investigation into the matter would include attaining an explanation as to why the donations failed to materialize and come from the college. He said he’d called the FBI first to talk with them about what happened. Then, talk with the financial institute.
Brady C. Toensing, a
partner with the law firm of diGenova & Toensing, has filed a legal complaint with federal authorities
requesting an investigation into apparent federal bank fraud committed by Ms.
Sanders. His complaint was sent to Eric S. Miller, the U.S. Attorney for the
District of Vermont, and Fred W. Gibson, Jr., Acting Inspector General with the
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (dated January 10, 2016).
Here is where it gets
interesting:
Bernie Sanders spends
much of his time on the campaign trail talking against millionaires and
billionaires and economic inequality. But Bernie has different
sentiments when speaking about one of the richest men in Burlington, Tony
Pomerleau (This was the guy that Brokered the Purchase by the Burlington
College for his wife Jane).
After Sanders's failed
run for governor, close friend Richard Sugarman wanted
him to be a candidate for mayor of Burlington. Sanders
won the election in February 1981. He beat the six-term mayor Gordon Paquette
by ten votes. He took office on April 6, 1981. As
mayor, Sanders wanted to fix Burlington's Lake Champlain. In 1981, Sanders was
against Tony Pomerleau. Sanders did not want Pomerleau to change the industrial lake property
owned by the Central Vermont
Railway.He did not want the waterfront to become expensive condominiums, hotels, and offices.
Sanders entered a
tribute to Pomerleau into the U.S. Congressional Record in 2012, and has
lauded many times the man who made his first million by age 45
On the Campaign Trail:
Jane
O'Meara Sanders, his wife, received $91,020 between 2002 and 2004 for
"consultation" and for negotiating the purchase of television and
radio time-slots for Sanders' advertisements, according to records and
interviews.
Approximately $61,000 of that was "pass through" money that was used to pay media outlets for advertising time, Jane O'Meara Sanders said in an interview. The rest, about $30,000, she kept as payment for her services, she said.
Carina Driscoll, daughter to Jane O'Meara Sanders and stepdaughter to the lawmaker, earned $65,002 in "wages" between 2000 and 2004, campaign records show. Driscoll, a former state legislator, served as Rep. Sanders' campaign manager in 2000, his fund-raiser and office manager in 2003 and his database manager in 2004, according to Jeff Weaver, Sanders' chief of staff. While Jane led the school, it paid six-figure sums to her daughter and the son of a family friend.
Bernie's Wall St
Investments:
Avg
Net Worth: $420,512* Min Net
Worth: $129,026 Max Net Worth:
$711,998
Average 2014 Income: $174,000** Gross Income: $174,000 Max.
Average 2014 Income: $174,000** Gross Income: $174,000 Max.
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Tiaa Cref Equities
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$50,001 - $100,000
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Tiaa Guaranteed
Traditional
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$50,001 - $100,000
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Tiaa Real Estate
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$15,001 - $50,000
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VALIC ASSET ALLOC
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$15,001 - $50,000
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VALIC SMALL CAP
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$15,001 - $50,000
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VALIC MID CAP INDEX
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VALIC SOCIALLY RESP
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$15,001 - $50,000
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VALIC AGGR GROWTH LI
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VNGRD LI FGRO
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$1,001 - $15,000
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VNGRD LI FMOD
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$1,001 - $15,000
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VALIC GOVT
SECURITIES
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$1,001 - $15,000
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VALIC STRATEGIC BOND
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$1,001 - $15,000
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VNGRD LT TRSRY
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$1,001 - $15,000
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VNGRD LT INV GRADE
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VALIC SCIENCE &
TECH
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VALIC INT'L EQUITIES
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Cref Social Choice
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Tiaa Personal
Annuity Fixed
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$1,001 - $15,000
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Tiaa Personal
Annuity Stock Acount
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Valic Core Equity
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VALIC DIV VALUE
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VALIC STOCK INDEX
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VALIC SMALL CAP
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VALIC SOCIAL
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$1,001 - $15,000
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VALIC INTL GOVT BOND
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Less Than $1,001
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VALIC MONEY MARKET
II
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Less Than $1,001
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Bernie Bills
Enacted since 1991
- H.R. 5441 (113th): To amend the Federal charter of the
Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States to reflect the service of
women in the Armed Forces of the United States
- S. 893 (113th): Veterans’ Compensation Cost-of-Living
Adjustment Act of 2013
- S. 885 (113th): A bill to designate the facility of the
United States Postal Service located at 35 Park Street in Danville,
Vermont, as the “Thaddeus Stevens Post Office”.
- H.R. 5245 (109th): To designate the facility of the
United States Postal Service located at 1 Marble Street in Fair Haven,
Vermont, as the “Matthew Lyon Post Office Building”
- H.J.Res. 129 (104th): Granting the consent of Congress
to the Vermont-New Hampshire Interstate Public Water Supply Compact
- H.R. 1353 (102nd): Entitled the “Taconic Mountains
Protection Act of 1991”
http://www.thepoliticalinsider.com/breaking-bernie-sanders-caught-funneling-money-to/
http://vermontbiz.com/news/november/burlington-college-approves-mou-sale-land-developer-eric-farrell
http://www.davemanuel.com/pols/bernie-sanders/
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