Greenlee Partners

It was founded in 1980 by Bill Greenlee as Greenlee Associates.[1] They changed their name to "Greenlee Partners" in 2000.[2] The firm has offices in Washington, D.C., Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, and Pittsburgh.[3] They are known for their connections to Pennsylvania Governor Tom Ridge's administration.[4]

The firm produces a daily report on political activities called “Harrisburg Online.”[5] In a 2002 article about the surprise resignation of Representative John E. Barley, the political analysis from "Harrisburg Online" was quoted in the Sunday News of Lancaster, Pennsylvania.[6]

In 2009, the Pennsylvania Report called Greenlee Partners "the gold-standard" of lobbying firms in Pennsylvania.[5] In a 1997 article about Pittsburgh Power & Light's lobbying presence in Harrisburg, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette called Greenlee Partners a "powerhouse firm."[7] The same description was used in another 1997 article about a charitable event hosted by members of the Harrisburg lobbying community.[8] In a 1998 article about alleged "astroturf" lobbying efforts by AlliedSignal, The Philadelphia Inquirer called Greenlee "one of the capital's most visible lobbying firms."[9] In a 1998 article about Greenlee's lobbying on behalf of the Pittsburgh Steelers and Pittsburgh Pirates, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette called Greenlee "one of the best-known firms in Harrisburg."[10]

Former Managing Director Robert Ewanco is paid $10,000 per month to lobby the Pennsylvania General Assembly on behalf of the government of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania.[11][12] The Dan Onorato administration credits him with a "20-fold" return in the form of appropriations for a widening project on Pennsylvania Route 28, as well as a footbridge and security cameras at Duquesne University.[12]

After the Pennsylvania House of Representatives was taken over by the Republicans in the 1990s, the City of Philadelphia hired Republican lobbyist Holly Kinser and the Republican-leaning Greenlee Partners to lobby the House on its behalf.[13] Under that lobbying contract, Kinser was instrumental in passing a rental-car tax that helped fund Philadelphia's new stadiums, the airport expansion funding, and the one percent hotel tax that fuels the Greater Philadelphia Tourism Marketing Corporation.[14]

Amid a 2008 lawsuit about land use issues, the Einstein Healthcare Network in Philadelphia alleged that Greenlee Partners and others "may be covertly directing and funding legal proceedings" against the hospital.[15]

In 2008, the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review questioned the necessity of the Port Authority of Allegheny County's lobbying contract with Greenlee Partners and raised questions about the propriety of Greenlee's relationship with House Transportation Committee Chairman Rick Geist.[12][16]