ANOTHER GRIP FINANCE FIRM INVOLVED WITH GUV PAC

Kudos to Bloomberg -- again. They've uncovered another lobbyist for a firm that was part of the GRIP finance team who played a role in Gov. Bill Richardson's political efforts.

Read the complete Bloomberg story HERE

Fred Duval of Phoenix was a lobbyist for the Swiss USB, one of four banks that split more than $5.1 million of fees for lining up buyers for the New Mexico Finance Authority’s GRIP project bonds sold in 2004. Duval also was listed as a director for Si Se Puede!, the political action committee that paid for the expenses of Richardson and his entourage in Boston at the 2004 DNC.

In the Bloomberg story, Duval denies he had a role in landing the NMFA bond deals for USB. He also said he didn't do anything but lend his name to Richardson's PAC.

Mike Stratton of Denver lobbied for JPMorgan Chase & Co as well as CDR Financial Products in 2004. He became one of Richardson's main political strategists in his presidential bid. I first met Mike in 2005 during a Richardson trip to New Hampshire -- though that was a year and half before he formally launched his campaign.