CQ reports,
And what of the Colorado delegation? CQ's database shows the following,More than 100 House members secured earmarks in a major spending bill for clients of a single lobbying firm — The PMA Group — known for its close ties to John P. Murtha , the congressman in charge of Pentagon appropriations.
....PMA’s offices have been raided, and the firm closed its political action committee last week amid reports that the FBI is investigating possibly illegal campaign contributions to Murtha and other lawmakers.
No matter what the outcome of the federal investigation, PMA’s earmark success illustrates how a well-connected lobbying firm operates on Capitol Hill. And earmark accountability rules imposed by the Democrats in 2007 make it possible to see how extensively PMA worked the Hill for its clients.
Mark Udall - secured $2 million total in earmarks for PMA clients, all with the help of other Congressmen and recieved $6,533 in campaign contributions.
Ed Perlmutter - $1.6 million total in earmarks (with the help of others as well) and $2,000 in campaign contributions
Doug Lamborn - $1 million in total earmarks (with the help of others) and $1,000 in campaign contributions
Tom Tancredo - $1.6 million in total earmarks (with the help of other) and $1,000 in campaign contributions
For comparisons sake Jack Murtha secured $31 million in earmarks and recieved $143,000 in contributions. In relative terms the Colorado delegations participation is pretty minor. Still, it's a story to keep an eye on as the investigation develops.
2 comments:
All earmarks in Congress pass through lobbyists these days. A client who wants a project pays the lobbying firm, who then pays the Congressman in the form of campaign contributions. Its a system that was perfected by Newt Gingrich, Tom Delay, and Jack Abramoff, raking in millions of dollars for lobbyists getting Congressmen to do their jobs...its is the ugly part of Washington culture that has to change.
This is why we need REAL campaign finance reform.
I would like an explanation of this from Rep. Perlmutter and Sen. Udall's offices.
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