Has Congressman Murtha pulled off a manuever that would make “The Prince” himself envious? According to Newsmax.com *“…a June report by The Los Angeles Times that said at least 10 companies represented by a lobbying firm where Murtha’s brother is a partner received a combined $20.8 million in defense contracts. When the story broke, Murtha’s office released a statement saying every lobbying firm is given the same consideration.” *Republicans are looking into the report. However, now that Murtha has been so outspoken in his criticism of the President, he may be almost bulletproof. Republicans will be made to look as if they are retaliating if they push any ethics charges. Was his “coming out of the closet,” so to speak, a coincidence, or a planned strategem?
Gee, now there is a shock. Firms with lobbyists connected to Members of Congress get federal contracts. That was below the fold in my local paper that lead with Dog bites Man leaving scratch.
I wonder how Tom Dashle’s wife lobbying for Boeing is going now that Dashle got fired. You would need to add three zeros to those numbers.
what is the issue?
The issue is that the Republicans investigate him, he goes to the press and says they are retaliating against him, war hero, spoken from the heart, etc., etc., the press agrees with him, the Republicans look like the bad guys, the investigation gets dropped, and a possible* violation of law gets swept under the rug.
*And I stress the word possible, unlike others who assume anyone being investigated is guilty (if they are on the other side, that is.)
Let me clarify, what would the violation of law be that would warrant an investigation even starting?? Is it illegal to lobby on behalf of another company when your brother is one of the folks who approve the contract award? Are there specified procedures to be followed in such cases that were not followed?
Not sure in the case of a brother, but in the case of Dashle’s wife, she was only allowed to lobby the House.
Pretty funny actually. Talk about a distinction without a difference.