Chapter 2 of 11 · Political Relationships
THE CONNECTIONS
Before the first contract was awarded, the relationships were already in place. A senator's husband held a controlling stake in the company that would win billions in federal and state work. A board member who ran the contractors' trade association would vote on their payouts. A $25,000 donation arrived during a contract renegotiation. We are not alleging corruption. These are the documented facts.
$759M
MILCON Contracts
Approved while senator's husband held stake
$25K
Newsom Donation
Tutor Perini · same month as CP1 renegotiation
4
Board Conflicts
Members with direct industry ties · none required to recuse
Disclaimer
Political contributions and lobbying are legal. Their disclosure here is for public accountability. Connections between contractors and politicians do not imply corruption. Readers draw their own conclusions.
Federal Lobbying Spend — Key Vendors (Annual, $000s)
Documented Political Contributions ($)
Lobbying Issues Filed by Vendors
⚠ Spotlight: The Feinstein–Blum–Tutor Perini Connection
U.S. Senator
Dianne Feinstein
Chaired Senate Military Construction Appropriations Subcommittee 2001–2007, approving $759M in Perini contracts. Supported CAHSR federal funding. Died 2023.
Husband & Investor
Richard C. Blum
Chairman, Blum Capital Partners. Held ~75% controlling stake in Tutor Perini 1998–2005. Sold at estimated $5–10M profit. Married Feinstein 1980. Died February 2022.
CAHSR Contractor CEO
Ronald Tutor
CEO, Tutor Perini Corporation. Partnered with Blum in 1998. CAHSR bid accepted despite lowest technical score after mid-evaluation rule change by CAHSR staff in 2013.
1998–2005: Blum holds controlling stake. Feinstein's MILCON committee approves $759M in Perini contracts. Her office denies involvement in contract decisions.
2013: CAHSR staff changes bid criteria mid-evaluation to allow Tutor Perini's lowest-technical-score bid to proceed. Congressional hearing called.
2021: Tutor Perini donates $25,000 to Newsom recall defense while CP1 renegotiation is ongoing — confirmed via CA Secretary of State filing.
Assessment: Blum's direct stake was sold 8 years before the CAHSR award. The mid-evaluation rule change and the 2021 donation to Newsom remain unexplained in public records.
2013: CAHSR staff changes bid criteria mid-evaluation to allow Tutor Perini's lowest-technical-score bid to proceed. Congressional hearing called.
2021: Tutor Perini donates $25,000 to Newsom recall defense while CP1 renegotiation is ongoing — confirmed via CA Secretary of State filing.
Assessment: Blum's direct stake was sold 8 years before the CAHSR award. The mid-evaluation rule change and the 2021 donation to Newsom remain unexplained in public records.
Vendor Profiles — Ownership, Leadership & Political Activity
Notable Political Donations — Timeline
Sources: CA SOS CAL-ACCESS · FEC.gov · OpenSecrets.org
The Revolving Door
Chapter 3 →
THE WATCHDOGS
Nine people are supposed to guard your money. All nine voted yes — in secret — on the largest single payout in the project's history. Not one recused.