A well-connected lobbyist for a company that had a no-bid contract for a private juvenile justice diversion program makes no apologies for using his pull with the Senate president to continue the deal despite concerns by other lawmakers.
The Miami Herald reported Wednesday that Evidence Based Associates was able to keep its arrangement with the Department of Juvenile Justice in the state budget over the objections of agency leaders and Republican lawmakers after Brevard County lobbyist Frank Tsamoutales asked outgoing Senate President Mike Haridopolos, also from Brevard County, to keep the project in the budget.
“That was our job,” Tsamoutales told the Herald.
EBA had a $9.4 million contract to help DJJ divert certain youth from prison to community programs. But after concerns arose that the company wasn’t complying with all the terms of its contract – and anger arose from other providers who wanted to compete for thework – a budget conference committee wrote language into the budget ordering DJJ to rebid the contract after eight years with EBA, the Herald reported.
But after Tsamoutales spoke to Haridopolos, the provision was taken out, leaving EBA with its arrangement in place.
Haridopolos’ spokeswoman, Lyndsey Cruley, said no improper influence was used, and argued that juvenile justice adminstrators chose not to seek competitive bids.
“The Senate in no way steered that contract toward EBA,” Cruley told the Herald.
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