Former R.I. Sen. John Celona Sentenced for Payoffs

John Celona(D), former Senator from Rhode Island was sentenced on Wednesday to 2½ years in federal prison for taking payoffs.

    From the Associated Press:

By Eric Tucker
Associated Press Writer
February 1, 2007

John Celona admitted he abused his position as chairman of a key legislative committee to benefit the drugstore chain CVS Corp., Roger Williams Medical Center and Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Rhode Island.                                       

Prosecutors said the former state senator was paid nearly $320,000 for the favorable treatment.                           

Celona, 53, pleaded guilty in 2005 to three counts of federal mail fraud and cooperated with investigators. He testified as the star witness last fall in a trial that produced convictions of two former hospital executives.                                 

Assistant U.S. Attorney Gerard Sullivan told the judge that Celona's extensive cooperation has led the investigation to seven politicians and seven corporations. Sullivan did not identify anyone being investigated but said FBI agents from other cities have been transferred to Rhode Island to help with the probe.   The Article

  

Technorati tags: John Celona, Sentenced, CVS

 

Bush:Nation Depends on 'Almighty God'

CBN News
February 1, 2007

CBNNews.com -- President Bush today recognized the nation's dependence on "almighty God."

He made that comment at the National Prayer Breakfast in Washington.

Guest speaker, Dr. Francis Collins, the mapper of the human genetic code, said he dares to believe in God.

The chairman of the joint chiefs of staff, General Peter Pace, also spoke.

He said it's his experience that few leave battle with any doubt that God exists.

President Bush called the nation to pray for the safety of America's troops.

   With two more years before our Idiot in Chief is out of the White House, this country needs all of the help from 'Almighty God' that it can get, as do our troops over in Iraq.

   It scares me when Bush mentions God in any speech or any other statement that he makes.

 

Technorati tags: Bush, Nation, God