Frontier Foundation

Rep. Buyer: Ethics Office Closes Review Of Foundation

Justin Elliott | March 30, 2010, 5:00PM

Rep. Steve Buyer (R-IN)

Rep. Steve Buyer (R-IN) announced today that the Office of Congressional Ethics had closed with no further action a review of his foundation, which came under scrutiny last year for collecting donations from companies seeking to curry favor with Buyer but not giving out anything for its stated purpose of providing scholarships.

The watchdog group Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics (CREW) had asked OCE, the independent House ethics office, to look at Buyer's Frontier Foundation in January, citing reporting by TPMmuckraker and other outlets.

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Steve Buyer

Watchdog Files Ethics And IRS Complaints Against GOP Rep Over Iffy Foundation

Justin Elliott | January 25, 2010, 11:23AM

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

Zeroing in on Rep. Steve Buyer's questionable charity, Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington today asked the Office of Congressional Ethics to investigate whether Buyer "violated ethics rules by abusing a charity for private purposes and by trading legislative assistance for donations to the charity and a job for his son."

The watchdog is also asking the IRS to probe whether the Indiana Republican's Frontier Foundation "violated federal tax law by failing to operate for its stated public purpose of helping needy students and by doing little more than paying for the congressman to play golf with donors with interests before his committee."

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Frontier Foundation

Rep. Buyer Flounders In CBS Interview About His Iffy Foundation

Justin Elliott | November 12, 2009, 8:50AM

Rep. Steve Buyer (R-IN) on CBS Evening News, aired 11/11/09

Rep. Steve Buyer (R-IN) sat down for an interview with CBS Evening News about his charity, but struggled to answer basic questions about the Frontier Foundation, which collects big donations from industry sources trying to influence Buyer but gives out no money for its putative mission of supporting Indiana students.

Buyer abruptly ended the interview with CBS, which aired last night, literally rushing out of his seat to make a meeting.

Among the questions he couldn't answer: why the foundation, which as recently as last month shared space with Buyer's campaign office in Monticello, Indiana, no longer has a physical address

"I was so focused on making sure that we were legal, that I probably didn't pay as close attention as I should have on, quote, appearances," the congressman said.

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Steve Buyer

Tonight: CBS Interviews Rep. Buyer On Iffy Foundation

Justin Elliott | November 11, 2009, 9:34AM

Rep. Steve Buyer (R-IN)

CBS Evening News is set to run a segment looking at the questionable foundation of Rep. Steve Buyer (R-IN), and they've got a sit-down interview with the man himself.

Last night, CBS ran a promo of the "Follow the Money" segment with reporter Sharyl Attkisson interviewing a tense-looking Buyer. She asks, "What happened to the $25,000?"

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Steve Buyer

PhRMA Gave Big To GOP Rep's Iffy Foundation, Hired His Son, Kept On Giving

Justin Elliott | October 28, 2009, 6:42PM

Ryan Buyer and his father, Rep. Steve Buyer (R-IN)

Drug industry umbrella group PhRMA, which has given $200,000 to given Rep. Steve Buyer's Frontier Foundation, in June 2008 hired a director of the foundation as its federal affairs manager, TPMmuckraker has confirmed.

The name of that director? Ryan Buyer, son of the Indiana congressman.

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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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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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Steve Buyer

Buyer-Linked Foundation: Who Gave, And Where Did The Money Go?

Justin Elliott | October 13, 2009, 12:55PM

Rep. Steve Buyer (R-IN)

Yesterday, we told you about the foundation closely linked to Rep. Steve Buyer (R-IN) that's taken nearly a million dollars from companies with interest in legislation moving through his committees, but given out nothing for its stated purpose, college scholarships for Indiana students.

Here's a closer look at who has donated to the Frontier Foundation, and how some of the money has been spent.

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Steve Buyer

Corporate Money In, No Money Out: What's Going On At Rep. Buyer-Linked Foundation?

Justin Elliott | October 12, 2009, 9:57AM

Rep. Steve Buyer (R-IN)

A foundation closely linked to Rep. Steve Buyer (R-IN) has collected over $800,000 in donations, much of it from industry sources with stakes in legislation moving through Buyer's committees, but has given out just $10,500 in six years and spent a whopping $258,136 in operating expenses, the Lafayette Journal & Courier reported Sunday.

Buyer's daughter is the president of the Frontier Foundation, which was set up purportedly to give scholarships to Indiana students, Buyer himself was described as "honorary chairman" in a 2004 solicitation letter, and the organization in June listed Buyer's district office as its office.

Despite all of that, Buyer's office told the newspaper, "It's not Congressman Buyer's foundation," and declined an interview request.

The Journal & Courier reports:

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