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Lobbyists: June 2009

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Lobbyists: July 2009 »

John Murtha

Murtha, Visclosky, PMA, Kuchera: What's Going On?

Zachary Roth | June 15, 2009, 3:53PM

Rep. John Murtha has long been on good-government groups' lists of the most corrupt lawmakers in Washington. But in recent months, the veteran Pennsylvania Democratic powerbroker has been under particularly intense scrutiny for his ties to two companies that are each the targets of federal investigations.

So it's worth taking a moment to consider what's going on in each case, and what it all amounts to.

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PERMALINK | COMMENTS (7) | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (10)
Topics: John Murtha, Lobbyists, Nancy Pelosi, PMA, Pete Visclosky

Lobbyists

Riches To Rags For Abramoff Clan?

Zachary Roth | June 3, 2009, 6:07PM

Jack Abramoff's wife and five children are living "just above the poverty line" in a house with a leaky roof which they can't afford to live in but, given its depressed price, also can't afford to sell.

That's according to lawyers for the disgraced former lobbyist, who are arguing in court that Abramoff should be allowed to keep spending a tax refund of more than $520,000 to pay legal and other bills. Last month, the Justice Department moved to stop Abramoff from using the refund to pay the bills, arguing that he first must pay $23 million in restitution to the Indian tribes he swindled.

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PERMALINK | COMMENTS (19) | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (15)
Topics: Jack Abramoff, Justice Department, Lobbyists

Pete Visclosky

Ethics Committee Must Reveal Whether It's Probing Lawmakers' Ties To PMA

Zachary Roth | June 3, 2009, 4:57PM

Drip, drip.

We should soon know whether the House Ethics committee is probing any lawmakers' ties to the now-defunct PMA lobbying group. The House has passed Rep. Steny Hoyer's resolution to force the committee to disclose the issue, reports Roll Call. The vote was 270-134.

Federal investigators are looking into whether PMA gave campaign contributions in exchange for earmarks. Two powerful Democratic lawmakers, Reps. Pete Visclosky and John Murtha have received the most scrutiny for their ties to PMA. Last week, Visclosky acknowledged that he had been subpoenaed in connection with the probe.

PERMALINK | COMMENTS (2) | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (1)
Topics: John Murtha, Lobbyists, PMA, Pete Visclosky

John Murtha

Is Ethics Panel Probing Lawmakers' PMA Ties? Hoyer Wants To Know

Zachary Roth | June 3, 2009, 2:37PM

The PMA story is starting to become a major headache for congressional Democrats.

RollCall reports that Rep. Steny Hoyer, the House number 2, plans this afternoon to offer a measure designed to force the House Ethics committee to reveal whether it's investigating senior Democratic appropriators' ties to the now-defunct lobbying firm.

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PERMALINK | COMMENTS (0) | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (1)
Topics: John Murtha, Lobbyists, PMA, Pete Visclosky

Lobbyists

Visclosky's Top Aide "Retires" Amid PMA Probe

Zachary Roth | June 2, 2009, 4:41PM

Not a great day for Rep. Pete Visclosky.

First, he announces that, amid a federal probe of a lobbying firm to which he has close ties, he's handing off responsibility for a key appropriations bill. Now, the Northwest Indiana Times reports that, according to a spokesman for the Indiana Democrat, his top aide has unexpectedly "retired."

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PERMALINK | COMMENTS (2) | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (4)
Topics: Lobbyists, PMA, Pete Visclosky

Pete Visclosky

Visclosky Hands Off Key Bill, Citing PMA Probe

Zachary Roth | June 2, 2009, 2:27PM

It looks like Rep. Pete Visclosky is starting to pay a political price for his ties to the now-defunct PMA lobbying firm.

Last week, we told you that the Feds have subpoenaed the Indiana congressman for documents relating to the firm. And now Visclosky has announced that he'll hand off to a colleague responsibility for a key appropriations bill on the subcommittee he chairs.

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PERMALINK | COMMENTS (0) | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (1)
Topics: Lobbyists, Nancy Pelosi, PMA, Pete Visclosky

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