ODOT Backs Off On Giveaway To Republican Cronies

Dayton Daily News:

The Kasich administration canceled plans to award a $1.87 million public relations consulting contract to Strategic Public Partners Group, a firm filled with a who’s who of Ohio Republican operatives.
The Ohio Department of Transportation pulled back on a request for Controlling Board approval, saying it needs to answer lawmaker questions before deciding whether to proceed with the deal. The board was scheduled to consider the deal on Monday.
The proposal called for Strategic Public Partners Group to handle public relations for highway construction projects managed by the Ohio Department of Transportation, according to state records.
Nine PR firms bid for the work and six were interviewed.
Strategic Public Partners Group’s political action committee gave a maximum contribution — $12,156 — to Gov. John Kasich’s campaign committee in May. Leaders in the company have worked to elect Republicans including George W. Bush, Herman Cain, John McCain, Rob Portman, Josh Mandel, Kasich, J. Kenneth Blackwell and Florida politicians Rick Scott, Jeb Bush and Charlie Crist, according to the SPPG website.
The firm had planned on subcontracting the majority of the work with five other firms.

I love how the bidder wasn't even going to do most of the work.  Quid pro quo.  It ain't what you know, it's who you pay.  ODOT claims road contractors have to do PR for their projects, and this was going to consolidate the work.  I call shenanigans.  I've never heard of contractors doing much any PR work.  That is part of ODOT''s work.