The new chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, Rep. Hal Rogers (R-KY), has funneled more than $236 million in federal funds to nonprofit groups he created since 2000, according to a new report by an ethics watchdog group.
Another $227 million in federal loans, grants and contracts went to a group of private firms linked to Rogers and the nonprofit companies, the report by Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) found.
“During the past few months, there have been many glowing stories about Rep. Rogers, and how he has supposedly sworn off his porkish ways,” CREW Executive Director Melanie Sloan said in a statement.
“CREW’s research shows, however, this is not an accurate portrayal of the true Hal Rogers,” Sloan said. “In reality, Rep. Rogers has built a fiefdom, where millions in federal funding can continue to be funneled to home state projects each year.”
A spokeswoman for Rogers did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Politico received an early copy of the report.
The report finds that Rogers’ family members, donors, business associates and former and current aides benefited personally from their relationship with the congressman. One example: his son John worked for a Kentucky company that received a $4 million contract from the Department of Homeland Security in 2004.
CREW’s report also included a chart of Rogers’ various relationships with the various companies and nonprofits mentioned in the report:
Ryan J. Reilly
Ryan J. Reilly is a D.C.-based reporter for TPM. Prior to joining TPM, he worked for a news website covering the Justice Department and was a researcher for Bloomberg News. His email address is ryan(at)talkingpointsmemo.com.