PAI’s most recent report showed how companies behind major New York State natural gas infrastructure projects have been increasing lobbying expenditures and contracting with firms tied to New York Governor Andrew Cuomo’s family and administration.
This trend is not confined to the natural gas sector: at least one oil infrastructure company is employing the same tactic.
According to filings with New York’s Joint Committee on Public Ethics (JCOPE), Pilgrim Transportation of New York, the company behind the proposed Pilgrim Pipeline, spent a total of $216,250 on lobbying from 2013 through 2015. If it goes forward, the Pilgrim Pipeline will transport gasoline and other petroleum products from New York to New Jersey
Pilgrim’s annual lobbying spending has accelerated rapidly; the company spent more than twice as much in 2015 – $146,500 – as it did in 2014 – $62,250, and is on pace to spend $174,000 in 2016.
More than two thirds of Pilgrim’s total lobbying expenditures have been with the Cuomo-tied firm Bolton-St. Johns.
From PAI’s report “Natural gas infrastructure lobby ramps up spending in New York State:”
Bolton’s top lobbyist, Giorgio DeRosa, is the father of Cuomo’s Chief of Staff Melissa DeRosa and wife of one-time Cuomo patronage chief Maureen DeRosa. Giorgio DeRosa lobbied against the fracking moratorium for the Pipe Trades Association and American Petroleum Institute, and lobbied for Bluestone Gas around its Broome County pipeline. The most recent lobbying disclosure for Bolton show DeRosa was still lobbying for API. He has personally given $10,000 to Cuomo’s campaigns, and given $14,018.94 to his Bolton St. Johns political action committee, BOLT-PAC, which donated $12,000 to the governor.
Another key lobbyist at Bolton St. John’s, Emily Giske, has given $6,250 to Cuomo’s campaigns and volunteered to coordinate floor operations during Cuomo’s campaign for attorney general. She joined DeRosa on the team lobbying on behalf of API in the most recent lobbying cycle for which there are filings.
Bolton St. Johns has donated $42,500 to the governor.
Bolton-St. Johns’ ties to Governor Cuomo can be seen in the map below.