Astroturf

Bonner's 'Independent' Ethics Adviser Backs Out Over Ad Flap

Zachary Roth | November 6, 2009, 1:38PM

Jack Bonner, Bonner & Associates, and James Thurber, American University

The "independent" ethics adviser that astroturf lobbyist Jack Bonner told Congress he'd retained in the wake of the flap over those forged letters to lawmakers has backed out of the role, citing the TPMmuckraker-driven fallout over an ad he placed this week praising Bonner.

James Thurber, a long-time political science professor at American University, told National Journal he'll recommend a different ethics adviser for Bonner's firm, and noted:

I teach a class on ethics and lobbying and I have never had anything like this. There have been articles about this and I have received phone calls. I never am going to do [ads] like this again, thanking people. I'll do it through personal correspondence.

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Jack Bonner

University Probing Ad Placed By Bonner's "Independent" Ethics Adviser

Zachary Roth | November 5, 2009, 9:15AM

Jack Bonner, Bonner & Associates, and James Thurber, American University

American University is investigating the ad praising astroturf lobbyist Jack Bonner that ran in Roll Call yesterday in the name of one of the school's department's.

"The university is aware of the ad and is looking into the facts of the situation," a university spokeswoman told TPMmuckraker. "The university does not endorse individuals or organizations."

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Bonner & Associates

Bonner's 'Independent' Ethics Adviser Commissions Ad Praising Him

Zachary Roth | November 4, 2009, 3:16PM

Jack Bonner, Bonner & Associates, and James Thurber, American University

When he was hauled before Congress last week for sending those forged letters to lawmakers on climate change, astroturf lobbyist Jack Bonner pledged to make sure that no similar event ever happened again. As a centerpiece of that effort, Bonner announced that his firm had retained James Thurber, an American University political science professor, to act as an "independent ethics adviser."

Bonner assured lawmakers that the new adviser "is well-regarded as maintaining the highest ethical standards and independence," and "will review our policies and work with us to continue to improve our internal quality control system to the highest standards." All in all, it sounded like a good idea.

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Global Warming

Could Coal Lobby Chief Be Probed For Perjury?

Zachary Roth | October 29, 2009, 4:49PM

CEO of ACCCE Steve Miller

Could apparently false statements made by the head of a coal-industry lobby group before Congress this morning end up being referred to the Justice Department for a criminal perjury probe? Congressional investigators aren't ruling it out.

As we reported, Steve Miller, the director of the American Coalition for Clean Coal Electricity (ACCCE), appears to have twice misled Congress while under oath during his testimony this morning over those forged letters sent on the coal lobby's behalf by Bonner and Associates.

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Ed Markey

Markey To Coal Lobby: You Should Have Told Lawmakers About Forged Letters

Zachary Roth | October 29, 2009, 12:23PM

Rep. Ed Markey is putting blame for the forged letters episode where it ultimately belongs: on the coal lobby.

"You're responsbility was to ensure that the members of Congress knew that this information was fraudulent," Markey tells ACCCE chief Steve Miller.

Miller had just said he assumed that Bonner himself would have notified the affected lawmakers. But Markey adds that Bonner was very far down the food chain.

ACCCE

Inslee: Bonner Phone Script Is "Wholly Wrong And Fraudulent"

Zachary Roth | October 29, 2009, 11:11AM

Jack Bonner

Both lawmakers and the other witnesses are now lambasting Bonner on two of his claims: that he didn't know when the vote was, and that he didn't know which members of Congress were swing votes on the issue.

One witness from a community group points out that any grassroots lobbying firm worth it's salt would know these things, and calls Bonner's claims "disingenuous."

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Astroturf

Bonner Testimony

Zachary Roth | October 29, 2009, 10:58AM

Jack Bonner

Here's Jack Bonner's complete testimony about those forged letters.

In a nutshell: we should have checked resumes closer. And we shouldn't hire liars.

Jack Bonner

Bonner: We Should Have Notified Lawmakers Right Away

Zachary Roth | October 29, 2009, 10:54AM

Jack Bonner

Perhaps Bonner's biggest problem here is that he learned about the forged letters before the vote on global warming legislation, but didn't notify the affected lawmakers until after.

Here's what Bonner said in his testimony on that point:

While our immediate focus upon learning of this fraud was to reach out and apologize to the organizations whose names were used without authorization, on July 1, 2009, we contacted the offices of two of the three Members of Congress who received fabricated letters. After numerous attempts and the intervening Congressional recess, it was not until July 13, 2009, that one of our staff finally succeeded in directly speaking with Congressional staff for Rep. Perriello and Rep. Dahlkemper about this matter although it appears that Rep. Carney's office, which received one letter, was not contacted. In retrospect, we should have immediately contacted all three offices and apologized in person.

And he's now being grilled on that point by Chairman Ed Markey. "I should have personally sat there to make sure the message got through," Bonner admits.

Bonner claims he didn't know the date of the vote. But Markey seems to find that hard to believe, given the high-profile nature of the vote.

You can read Bonner's full testimony here.

Global Warming

Bonner: "This Incident Was An Anomaly"

Zachary Roth | October 29, 2009, 10:48AM

Jack Bonner

Jack Bonner is testifying now. And he's not backing down too much.

This incident was an anomaly and the result of an individual who from his first day at work, intentionally disregarded our procedures and instructions and was determined to engage in fraudulent activity.

...

Let one thing be very clear: this improper activity was undertaken without the knowledge or permission of anyone at our firm. These were the actions of one rogue temporary employee, acting against our company's policy and without the knowledge of anyone else at Bonner & Associates.

In other words, don't blame us.

ACCCE

Coal Lobby Paid $7 Million To PR Firm That Hired Bonner

Evan McMorris-Santoro and Zachary Roth | October 29, 2009, 9:32AM

Jack Bonner

A coal industry group paid over $7 million last fiscal year to the company that hired Bonner & Associates, the astroturf lobbying firm behind those forged letters to Congress. That's according to internal documents obtained by congressional investigators and examined by TPMmuckraker.

Jack Bonner, the founder of the firm that bears his name, will go before a Congressional committee this morning to explain how those letters -- which purported to come from local community groups, and urged lawmakers to oppose climate change legislation -- got sent.
Bonner has blamed the letters on a temporary employee, since fired, and claimed that it was a "victim of fraud" itself.

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Robert Cabelly

Vet Of First Bush And Clinton Administrations Charged With Breaking Sudan Sanctions

Justin Elliott | October 27, 2009, 1:29PM

Pres. of Sudan Omar al-Bashir

Washington lobbyist Robert Cabelly was charged today with a range of violations involving work he allegedly did for the government of Sudan and that country's oil industry, as well as lying about and trying to hide the work.

Cabelly, who worked for the State Department on Africa issues during the Reagan, first Bush, and Clinton administrations, is the principal of DC consulting firm C/R International LLC.

The Justice Department press release outlines the charges in the indictment:

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Steve Buyer

Fore! Was Iffy Foundation A Vehicle To Support GOP Rep's Golf Habit?

Justin Elliott | October 22, 2009, 11:43AM

Rep. Steve Buyer (R-IN)

Rep. Steve Buyer (R-IN) has long been a passionate golfer. Last year, Golf Digest ranked the lawmaker 32nd, with a handicap of 5.6, on its list of the top 200 golfers in Washington.

Like many members of Congress, Buyer has a history of mixing business and pleasure on the golf course. Now, it looks like the financial dealings of a questionable foundation created by Buyer were even more golf-driven than previously known.

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Frontier Foundation

About Face: Buyer Admits Ties To Questionable Foundation, Posh Golf Junkets

Justin Elliott | October 19, 2009, 3:52PM

Rep. Steve Buyer (R-IN) golfing in 2006

Last we checked, Rep. Steve Buyer (R-IN) was maintaining that he had nothing more than a casual connection to the Frontier Foundation, which has collected lots of money from industry groups seeking to curry favor with Buyer, spent a lot on travel, meals, and salary, but given out nothing for its stated purpose of helping students get through college.

Now, after several media outlets questioned the legitimacy of the setup, Buyer is pushing back and he has a totally new story: the foundation is his, after all, and his selfless efforts to help poor Indiana children are now the focus of "vicious and ugly" attacks.

Oh yeah, and even though everything is on the up-and-up, Buyer has decided to review the foundation's activities and potentially change how it operates.

But wait, there's more!

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David Safavian

Former DOJ Prosecutor: Ring Case Was "Extremely Problematic" From The Start

Zachary Roth | October 16, 2009, 3:17PM

Kevin A. Ring

A former prosecutor with the Justice Department's Public Integrity unit has called the case against Kevin Ring "an extremely problematic prosecution," since the favors that Ring was accused of doing for public officials weren't in themselves illegal.

A mistrial was declared in the case yesterday, after jurors deadlocked on the charges against the former Team Abramoff lobbyist.

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David Safavian

Safavian Gets A Year In Prison For Role In Abramoff Scandal

Justin Elliott | October 16, 2009, 1:52PM

David Safavian

David Safavian, the former Bush Administration official who was convicted for the second time in December for lying and obstruction of justice in the Jack Abramoff probe, was sentenced today to a year and a day in prison, the Washington Post reports.

Safavian, who was chief of staff at the General Services Administration, was also convicted of lying on a financial disclosure form about the costs of Abramoff's famous 2002 golf junket to Scotland, which Safavian attended.

The Post reports that Safavian, whose wife is pregnant, made a plea for leniency to the judge today:

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Global Warming

Behind Chamber Controversy: What's Driving Energy Firms On Climate Change?

Zachary Roth | October 15, 2009, 3:52PM

Lately, we've been documenting the exodus of companies from the Chamber of Commerce over its opposition to serious efforts to address global warming.

But as the Senate gets set to take up climate change legislation, already passed by the House, there's a larger question behind the Chamber's woes: What's motivating energy-sector companies on both sides of the issue, and how are their positions affecting the debate on Capitol Hill?

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Kevin Ring

Judge Will Declare Mistrial In Kevin Ring Case

Justin Elliott | October 15, 2009, 2:08PM

Kevin A. Ring

A federal judge in Washington, D.C. plans to declare a mistrial on seven of eight counts in the case of top Jack Abramoff operative Kevin Ring, the Legal Times reports.

Ring was indicted last year on charges of bribing government officials and members of Congress with meals and event tickets in return for help for clients of Abramoff's lobbying firm.

The Legal Times reports:

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ACCCE

Bonner Hearing Postponed After GOP Complaints

Zachary Roth | October 15, 2009, 10:13AM

Jack Bonner

Not so fast...

This morning's hearing, at which astroturf lobbyist Jack Bonner was scheduled to testify about the forged letters sent by his firm to lawmakers, has been postponed a week.

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Steve Buyer

Despite Denials, Buyer Has Close Ties To Questionable Charity

Justin Elliott | October 13, 2009, 5:33PM

Rep. Steve Buyer (R-IN)

And the award for boldest denial in the face of evidence of financial mischief goes to ... Rep. Steve Buyer!

As we've been reporting, Buyer, Republican of Indiana, is closely affiliated with the Frontier Foundation, an organization that has taken in over $800,000 from industry groups who Buyer is in a position to help. Despite its stated mission, the foundation hasn't given out a single scholarship, but has spent $258,136 over six years on salary, meals, travel, and "fundraising expenses."

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Astroturf

Congress To Hold Hearing On Bonner's Forged Letters

Zachary Roth | October 13, 2009, 2:27PM

Jack Bonner

This should be fun...

A congressional panel will hold a hearing Thursday into those forged letters urging lawmakers to oppose climate change legislation. The letters purported to come from minority, senior, and veterans' groups, but in fact were sent by Bonner & Associates, a GOP-aligned astroturf lobbying firm, on behalf of a coal industry client.

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Gale Norton

Gale Norton Subpoenaed By Grand Jury: Report

Zachary Roth | October 9, 2009, 5:32PM

Fmr. US Secretary of the Interior Gale Norton

Gale Norton is being investigated by a federal grand jury for allegedly talking to Shell about a job, while she was Interior Secretary in 2006, reports National Journal. Both Norton and Shell are said to have received subpoenas.

The existence of the federal investigation was first reported last month by the Los Angeles Times. In a nutshell, the Feds have been looking at an episode in which Norton's Interior Department awarded three oil shale leases on federal land in Colorado -- potentially worth hundreds of billions -- to a subsidiary of Royal Dutch Shell. Two months later, Norton resigned, saying she had no job lined up. But later that year, she was hired by Shell as in-house counsel.

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John Ensign

Ensign: I Followed Ethics Laws When I Helped Clients Of Mistress's Husband

Zachary Roth | October 6, 2009, 3:18PM

Sen. John Ensign (R-NV)

The John Ensign story is back on the front-burner, thanks to last week's New York Times report that the philandering Nevada senator actively helped Doug Hampton, the husband of his former mistress, get set up as a lobbyist, then acted to benefit Hampton's new clients.

Today brought several new developments:

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Michael Duvall

California AG Won't Probe Duvall's Sex Bragging

Zachary Roth | October 6, 2009, 9:51AM

Fmr. State Rep. Michael Duvall (R-CA)

Finally, some good news for California sex braggart "Hot Mike" Duvall...

Attorney General Jerry Brown says he won't investigate Duvall's claim, captured on a hot mike, to be having an affair with a woman identified as a lobbyist for an energy company. Until he resigned in the wake of the scandal, Duvall, a Republican, had been vice chair of the state legislative committee that oversees energy issues.

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John Ensign

Ensign: I'll Cooperate With Ethics Probe Into Help For Mistress's Husband

Zachary Roth | October 5, 2009, 11:18AM

Sen. John Ensign (R-NV)

Disgraced Nevada senator John Ensign won't fight the ethics investigation into his dealings with a former staffer, in the aftermath of an affair between Ensign and the staffer's wife.

"Sen. Ensign will cooperate with any official inquiry," a spokeswoman for the senator told TPMmuckraker via email.

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Michael Duvall

FBI Probing "Hot Mike" Duvall's Sex Boasting

Zachary Roth | October 5, 2009, 9:59AM

Fmr. State Rep. Michael Duvall (R-CA)

"Hot Mike" Duvall's lascivious braggadocio wasn't just of interest to millions of blog readers. It also attracted the attention of the Feds.

The FBI is investigating the former California state lawmaker's now-legendary claim that he was having an affair with a woman later identified as a lobbyist for an energy company. "We did make contact with the two aides," a bureau spokesman confirmed to the Los Angeles Times.

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John Ensign

Flouting Lobbying Ban, Ensign Helped Hampton Clients: Report

Zachary Roth | October 1, 2009, 6:27PM

Sen. John Ensign (R-NV)

We knew there was another shoe waiting to drop in the story of Nevada GOP senator John Ensign's affair with a top aide's wife.

And now it's dropped. A lengthy investigation by the New York Times reveals that Ensign was far more involved than previously known in trying to get a job for Doug Hampton -- his mistress's husband -- after the affair had been discovered. And that Ensign then used his influence in government to try to do favors for Doug Hampton's new employers -- apparently in violation of lobbying rules.

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Alan Mendelsohn

Lobbyist's Political Fundraising Paid For Mistress's Gifts, Kids' School Fees, Say Feds

Zachary Roth | September 30, 2009, 5:01PM

Gov. Charlie Crist (R-FL) and Alan Mendelsohn

The nature of the complex fraud allegedly orchestrated by Florida lobbyist Alan Mendelsohn -- who pleaded not guilty today in court -- is getting a bit clearer.

Based on the indictment filed today -- and with help from this AP story -- here's how it worked:

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Alan Mendelsohn

Feds: Indicted Florida Lobbyist Used Political Funds For Shag Pad

Zachary Roth | September 30, 2009, 3:19PM

Alan Mendelsohn

Alan Mendelsohn, the indicted Florida lobbyist and Charlie Crist supporter, diverted some of the money he raised through political contributions to buy a love-nest for himself and his girlfriend, and a car for her, according to documents filed today by federal prosecutors.

From the indictment:

Between in or about April 2003 and continuing through February 2005, Mendelsohn caused approximately $60,000 in checks to be sent directly to his mistress on a monthly basis, and additional checks to be sent to his mistress through a corporation she created at Mendelsohn's suggestion in March 2004 to receive the funds covertly....

According to the indictment, Mendelsohn is married. In a handwritten addition, prosecutors refer to "$100,000 personal surety to be co-signed by wife, sister and brother-in-law."

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Alan Mendelsohn

Crist Wrote Recommendation Letter For Now-Indicted Lobbyist's Son

Zachary Roth | September 30, 2009, 2:35PM

Gov. Charlie Crist (R-FL) and Alan Mendelsohn

We knew that Florida governor Charlie Crist was tight with indicted lobbyist and fundraiser Alan Mendelsohn. The politically connected eye doctor has raised big bucks for Crist, a Republican, and in 2006 was named to the governor-elect's transition team as the director of healthcare issues.

But it turns out the two were so close that Crist also did a more personal favor for Mendelsohn. In February 2007, Governor Crist wrote a letter to the University of Florida's admissions office, urging it to admit Mendelsohn's son Benjamin to the university's medical school. The younger Mendelsohn was later admitted, even though he hadn't taken the MCAT and had been rejected by the university's selection committee.

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Alan Mendelsohn

Mendelsohn Hosted "Marco Rubio U.S. Senate Kickoff"

Zachary Roth | September 30, 2009, 1:00PM

Alan Mendelsohn

It's not just Charlie Crist who has ties to indicted Florida fundraiser and lobbyist Alan Mendelsohn.

In March, the Miami Herald reported (via Nexis):

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Charlie Crist

Feds: Crist Ally Falsely Claimed He Thwarted Probe Of Insurance Company

Zachary Roth | September 30, 2009, 12:25PM

Gov. Charlie Crist (R-FL) and Alan Mendelsohn

The Miami Herald runs down the back-story to the indictment of Alan Mendelsohn, the Florida doctor and lobbyist -- and close ally of Governor Charlie Crist -- who's been charged with running fraudulent lobbying and political fundraising schemes.

Mendelsohn's alleged crimes center around his ties to Mutual Benefits Corp., a Fort Lauderdale life insurance company which was being investigated by the state for defrauding investors. Mutual Benefits operates by selling the life insurance policies of people dying of AIDS and other diseases -- a line of business that, a recent New York Times report suggested, may replace sub-prime mortgages as the basis for the next investment bubble.

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Lobbyists

Close Crist Ally Indicted In Alleged Fundraising And Lobbying Scheme

Zachary Roth | September 30, 2009, 11:34AM

Alan Mendelsohn

A lobbyist who's a close ally of Florida governor Charlie Crist has been indicted for allegedly orchestrating a fraudulent fund-raising and lobbying scheme.

Federal prosecutors say that Alan Mendelsohn funneled to himself over $350,000 from contributions to political organizations he controlled. They also allege that, in order to get around lobbying disclosure rules, Mendelsohn had his lobbying clients make $274,000 in payments to third parties -- including tuition payments to his children's schools -- on his behalf.

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Jack Abramoff

Former Rep. Doolittle Named As Unindicted Co-Conspirator In Trial Of Abramoff Crony

Zachary Roth | September 29, 2009, 11:07AM

Fmr. Rep. John Doolittle (R-CA)

Former California GOP congressman John Doolittle has been named as an unindicted co-conspirator in the trial of Jack Abramoff crony Kevin Ring.

Ring, a former top aide to Doolittle, was indicted last year for allegedly bribing lawmakers and members of the executive branch, after he left Capitol Hill and went to work for Abramoff. The indictment charged that, among other crimes, Ring provided lavish meals and events tickets to members of Doolittle's staff, and that Ring provided Doolittle's wife, Julia, with a lucrative non-profit job, arranged by Abramoff. Julia Doolittle has also been named as a co-conspirator.

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David Vitter

Vitter Wants EPA To Delay Rules On Pollutant -- Mirroring Stance Of Industry That Backs Him

Zachary Roth | September 25, 2009, 4:20PM

Sen. David Vitter (R-LA)

Sen. David Vitter (R-LA) is blocking an EPA nomination because he wants the agency to delay establishing safety procedures for formaldehyde. Meanwhile, major emitters of the dangerous chemical have been generous contributors to the senator's reelection campaign.

Vitter met yesterday with EPA administrator Lisa Jackson, who sought, unsuccessfully, to convince him to remove the hold he had placed on Paul Anastas, who has been nominated to be the EPA's assistant administrator in charge of its Office of Research and Development, reports the New Orleans Times-Picayune.

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Jack Abramoff

Ashcroft Aide Pleads The Fifth In Trial Of Abramoff Crony

Zachary Roth | September 17, 2009, 5:19PM

CEO of Ashcroft Group David Ayres

We told you it was likely to happen. And now it has.

John Ashcroft's top aide from the Justice Department has pleaded the fifth in the trial of a member of Team Abramoff.

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Michael Duvall

Duvall's Listener Removed From Ethics Committee As Rumors Spread On Who Tipped Media To Comments

Zachary Roth | September 11, 2009, 12:50PM

It turns out that "Hot Mike" Duvall wasn't the only lawmaker to take a political hit from the exposure of his lewd sexual braggadocio.

Yesterday, the colleague who sat next to him and heard his raunchy tales, fellow Republican Jeff Miller, was removed from the Ethics committee which is probing the scandal. But could Miller, whose Orange County district is close to Duvall's, have been more than just a passive listener in this scandal?

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ACCCE

Yet Another Forged Climate Change Letter From Bonner

Zachary Roth | September 10, 2009, 3:20PM

Jack Bonner

Congressional investigators have found yet another forged letter to a lawmaker -- purporting to be from a local group, but really sent by the DC astroturf lobbying firm Bonner & Associates on behalf of a coal industry client -- criticizing climate change legislation. That brings the known total to fourteen, sent to at least three different members of Congress.

The new letter is on the letterhead of an American Legion post in Rocky Mount, Virginia. Like many of the others, it was sent to Rep. Tom Perriello. It asks the Democratic congressman to "make sure the Waxman-Markey bill includes provisions to promote American energy independence, while protecting already cash-strapped constituents from increases in electricity prices." It concludes, "Thank you for listening to concerns of vets in your district."

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