In 2002, Matulka had written to the Senate Ethics Committee requesting an investigation into Hagel's ownership and nondisclosure of ES&S. His complaint was dismissed (the basis for dismissal was lack of merit). The Washington publication, the Hill, confirmed that Hagel was the head of and continues to own part interest in the company that owns the company that installed, programmed and largely ran the voting machines that were used by most of the citizens of Nebraska.
After the election, Matulka asked for a recount. His request was denied by the Nebraska Secretary of State because Nebraska had just passed a law that prohibits government-employee election workers from looking at the ballots (Nebraska uses optical scan systems manufactured by ES&S and there is an auditable paper trail). Matulka told the NY Times, "This is the stealing of our democracy".
After the 2002 election, newspapers started surmising about a presidential run for Hagel in 2008. According to ES&S's web site its machines count at least 50% of the votes in U.S. elections.
8 Business Records Corp. (BRC) was a subsidiary of Cronus Industries Inc, owned by a consortium of wealthy Texas power brokers:
7/84 BRC acquired Data Management Associates of Colorado Springs a company that supplied county governments with computer software and services. BRC also acquired David G. Carney Co.- a firm that marketed records-keeping services. BRC also acquired the assets of C. Edwin Hultman Co., a company that provided county-government information services.
11/84 BRC acquired Western Data Services, Inc.- a firm that provided on-line computer services to local governments and school districts. BRC acquired Contract Microfilm Services and Business Images, Inc.
2/85 BRC acquired Roberts & Son Inc.of Birmingham, Alabama- a firm that provided voting equipment and election materials to county governments.
4/85 BRC acquired Frank Thornber Co., a firm specializing in election-related services, equipment and supplies.
11/85 BRC acquired Dayton Legal Blank Co.
12/85 BRC's parent company, Cronus Industries Inc. purchased Computer Election Systems Inc.- the nation's largest manufacturer of election machines and equipment at that time.
1/86 BRC acquired Integrated Micro Systems Inc.
3/86 BRC merged with Computer Concepts & Services Inc. BRC acquired Sun Belt Press Inc. and merged it into Roberts & Son (acquired in 2/85). BRC purchased the government operations of Miller/Davis Company which provided legal forms and election supplies.
In 1997 BRC was purchased by Elections Systems and Software.
9 Quoting from Bev Harris' book, Black Box Voting, (from which much of my information is taken).
10 Sequoia Voting Systems is the third largest electronic voting machine manufacturer. It has demonstrated dubious business and marketing strategies.
Philip Foster, Sequoia's southern regional sales manager and his brother-in-law, David Philpot were charged with counts of conspiracy, money laundering and malfeasance in office after giving $100,000 in kickbacks to Louisiana state elections chief Jerry Fowler. Philpot plead guilty and Fowler went to federal prison.
This is an incredibly complete and very readable article. I highly recommend it to anyone wanting to be brought up to date on that debacle which is HAVA.
Nice work, Andi!
Joan Brunwasser, voting integrity editor, OpEdNews
by
Joan Brunwasser (172 articles, 3587 quicklinks, 3 diaries, 674 comments)
on Tuesday, February 27, 2007 at 6:56:14 PM
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