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Earmarks
News From the Sunlight Foundation:
Moran's Earmarks
by Bill Allison
I've been so busy talking about House Speaker Dennis Hastert's land deals, reading and working on replies to a ton of wonderful responses from citizen journalists (I kind of like "Citizen Muckraker" better, but that's just me) to our request for help in investigating Congress (about which more soon) that I've missed the party on Rep. Jim Moran, D-Va., who represents me in the House. Glenn Reynolds highlights a Washington Post piece (which ran in the Business Section, which was a little odd) about Moran's securing $37 million for a company that tried to develop magnetic technology that would make submarines less easily detected. In the end, the company tried to develop magnetic technology to make the small boats Navy SEALS use (which can be dangerous in rough seas) safer; instead, the Navy chose to buy better seats to keep the SEALS safe. Sounds almost like the company, an Alexandria, Va.-based firm called Vibration & Sound Solutions Ltd., had a solution in search of a problem. The company's president and his wife donated $17,000 to Moran.
Dems, GOP together nix Murtha earmark
Written by Paul Blumenthal on May 13, 2008 - 10:09am.
Read more: Earmarks | John Murtha (see all terms)
Read more: Earmarks | John Murtha (see all terms)
Source Name
The Hill
Snippit
Democrats and Republicans joined together to strip a pet project of Rep. John Murtha’s (D-Pa.) from the 2009 intelligence authorization bill — the same project Democrats defended last year.
A futile walk down Coconut Road?
Written by Paul Blumenthal on May 1, 2008 - 9:55am.
Read more: Coconut Road | Don Young | Earmarks (see all terms)
Read more: Coconut Road | Don Young | Earmarks (see all terms)
Source Name
Politico
Snippit
The House agreed Wednesday to ask the Justice Department to investigate the now infamous Coconut Road earmark, but don’t hold your breath waiting for indictments.
Young, Jefferson quiet as Coconut Road earmark nears vote in House
Written by Paul Blumenthal on April 30, 2008 - 10:34am.
Read more: Coconut Road | Don Young | Earmarks | William Jefferson (see all terms)
Read more: Coconut Road | Don Young | Earmarks | William Jefferson (see all terms)
Source Name
The Hill
Snippit
Reps. Don Young (R-Alaska) and William Jefferson (D-La.) are keeping mum on whether they will vote for a bill that includes language calling on the Department of Justice (DoJ) to investigate the notorious Coconut Road earmark when that measure comes to the House floor Wednesday.
Friends of the Earmark Make Themselves Heard
Written by Paul Blumenthal on April 29, 2008 - 9:23am.
Read more: Earmarks | Lobbying (see all terms)
Read more: Earmarks | Lobbying (see all terms)
Source Name
Washington Post
Snippit
The hottest document on Capitol Hill is an anonymous six-page white paper that defends, of all things, earmarks -- those much-maligned home-state projects that lawmakers shoehorn into spending bills.
House Set to Consider Coconut Road Bill on Suspension Calendar
Written by Paul Blumenthal on April 29, 2008 - 9:22am.
Read more: Coconut Road | Don Young | Earmarks (see all terms)
Read more: Coconut Road | Don Young | Earmarks (see all terms)
Source Name
Roll Call
Snippit
The controversial Coconut Road earmark investigation is set for a vote in the House this week, but there likely won’t be anything contentious about it.
Gillibrand returns contributions
Written by Paul Blumenthal on April 17, 2008 - 10:17am.
Read more: campaign contributions | Earmarks | Kirsten Gillibrand (see all terms)
Read more: campaign contributions | Earmarks | Kirsten Gillibrand (see all terms)
Source Name
The Post-Star
Snippit
The $2,250 refund check that arrived in the mail at his home on Monday took David Kruczlnicki by surprise. The check came with a letter informing Kruczlnicki, president and chief executive officer of Glens Falls Hospital, that U.S. Rep. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-Greenport, was refunding his campaign contribution as part of a new policy to no longer accept contributions from executives or leaders of companies or organizations that have requested congressional earmarks.
Pork Barrel Remains Hidden in U.S. Budget
Written by Paul Blumenthal on April 7, 2008 - 10:56am.
Read more: Earmarks (see all terms)
Read more: Earmarks (see all terms)
Source Name
New York Times
Snippit
Sometimes on Capitol Hill, lawmakers find that it pays to ask nicely instead of just ordering the bureaucrats around. With great fanfare, Congress adopted strict ethics rules last year requiring members to disclose when they steered federal money to pet projects. But it turns out lawmakers can still secretly direct billions of dollars to favored organizations by making vague requests rather than issuing explicit instructions to government agencies in committee reports and spending bills.
Companies get millions from Congress in earmarks
Written by Paul Blumenthal on April 7, 2008 - 10:55am.
Read more: Earmarks (see all terms)
Read more: Earmarks (see all terms)
Source Name
St. Louis Post Dispatch
Snippit
Most of the earmarks sought last year by members of Congress from Missouri and Illinois directed the money to public or non-profit groups, but area lawmakers also snagged more than $200 million for private companies, a Post-Dispatch analysis found.
Ex-congressman's role in water project blasted
Written by Paul Blumenthal on March 27, 2008 - 10:01am.
Read more: Amo Houghton | Earmarks (see all terms)
Read more: Amo Houghton | Earmarks (see all terms)
Source Name
Boston Globe
Snippit
Opponents of a proposed $1.7 million water project in Cohasset are crying foul because the family of an out-of-state former congressman who helped secure taxpayer funds for the project owns property that would benefit from the work.
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Today's Ethics Watch
Companies Start to Lift Veil on Political Spending: Ever wonder how much companies really spend to influence government through trade associations? Well, a few corporations are coming clean, or at least cleaner. (Washington Post)
Dems, GOP together nix Murtha earmark: Democrats and Republicans joined together to strip a pet project of Rep. John Murtha’s (D-Pa.) from the 2009 intelligence authorization bill — the same project Democrats defended last year. (The Hill)
NAPA launches collaboration Web site: If you’ve ever wished your federal agency could adopt wikis, use YouTube or delve into the virtual world but feared the security, technology and political barriers were too high to overcome, take heart. You’ve got supporters, and they have success stories. (NextGov)
Jefferson lawyers cite race case in change of venue request: Rep. William Jefferson’s (D-La.) lawyers have asked a federal judge to reconsider a ruling denying a change of venue for his corruption trial. (The Hill)
Jefferson Tries New Argument: Rep. William Jefferson (D-La.) has asked a federal court to use an international criminal law treaty to force the depositions of three people in Nigeria who have been implicated in corruption charges levied against him. (Roll Call)
Foreign Gifts Test Rules: Even as new ethics restrictions have made it difficult for Members and staff to accept gifts — aside from token baseball caps or T-shirts — one area remains where lawmakers and their staffs can collect trinkets more or less guilt-free: foreign travel. (Roll Call)
K St.’s ‘Max Out’ Crowd: The 20 top K Street donors this election cycle have handed federal candidates nearly $1.8 million in personal cash. The majority of that money, $1.3 million, has gone to help Democrats as the party in charge of Capitol Hill looks to expand its majority. (Roll Call)
Senator’s Ties to Real Estate Draw Criticism: He has made millions as a title insurance executive, landlord and real estate developer in this college town, where the economy, despite trouble nationwide, is still growing nicely. Now, as a United States senator, with the mortgage mess fueling a national economic slowdown, Richard C. Shelby has more say over the revamping of housing finance laws than almost anyone else in Congress. (New York Times)
Oil Lobby Reaches Out to Citizens Peeved at the Pump: Faced with a national outcry over the high price of gasoline and soaring profits for energy companies, the oil and gas industry is waging an unusually pricey campaign to burnish its image. (Washington Post)
Lawmakers Accused of Flouting Rules on Use of Staff: Democratic Reps. Jane Harman and Neil Abercrombie spent more than $2 million on their 2006 reelection campaigns but paid only $5,000 to campaign workers, according to campaign finance reports. (Washington Post)
NAM discloses member list: The National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) disclosed certain member companies on Thursday after failing to win a reprieve from the U.S. Supreme Court. (The Hill)
[ More in the Archive ]
Dems, GOP together nix Murtha earmark: Democrats and Republicans joined together to strip a pet project of Rep. John Murtha’s (D-Pa.) from the 2009 intelligence authorization bill — the same project Democrats defended last year. (The Hill)
NAPA launches collaboration Web site: If you’ve ever wished your federal agency could adopt wikis, use YouTube or delve into the virtual world but feared the security, technology and political barriers were too high to overcome, take heart. You’ve got supporters, and they have success stories. (NextGov)
Jefferson lawyers cite race case in change of venue request: Rep. William Jefferson’s (D-La.) lawyers have asked a federal judge to reconsider a ruling denying a change of venue for his corruption trial. (The Hill)
Jefferson Tries New Argument: Rep. William Jefferson (D-La.) has asked a federal court to use an international criminal law treaty to force the depositions of three people in Nigeria who have been implicated in corruption charges levied against him. (Roll Call)
Foreign Gifts Test Rules: Even as new ethics restrictions have made it difficult for Members and staff to accept gifts — aside from token baseball caps or T-shirts — one area remains where lawmakers and their staffs can collect trinkets more or less guilt-free: foreign travel. (Roll Call)
K St.’s ‘Max Out’ Crowd: The 20 top K Street donors this election cycle have handed federal candidates nearly $1.8 million in personal cash. The majority of that money, $1.3 million, has gone to help Democrats as the party in charge of Capitol Hill looks to expand its majority. (Roll Call)
Senator’s Ties to Real Estate Draw Criticism: He has made millions as a title insurance executive, landlord and real estate developer in this college town, where the economy, despite trouble nationwide, is still growing nicely. Now, as a United States senator, with the mortgage mess fueling a national economic slowdown, Richard C. Shelby has more say over the revamping of housing finance laws than almost anyone else in Congress. (New York Times)
Oil Lobby Reaches Out to Citizens Peeved at the Pump: Faced with a national outcry over the high price of gasoline and soaring profits for energy companies, the oil and gas industry is waging an unusually pricey campaign to burnish its image. (Washington Post)
Lawmakers Accused of Flouting Rules on Use of Staff: Democratic Reps. Jane Harman and Neil Abercrombie spent more than $2 million on their 2006 reelection campaigns but paid only $5,000 to campaign workers, according to campaign finance reports. (Washington Post)
NAM discloses member list: The National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) disclosed certain member companies on Thursday after failing to win a reprieve from the U.S. Supreme Court. (The Hill)
[ More in the Archive ]