Dems Seek Ridge's Lobbying Correspondence (Yahoo! & AP)

[hopein08]

Ridge isn't going out with a bang, he's going down in flames, baby:evilgrin:

here you go....

By PETE YOST, Associated Press Writer

WASHINGTON - Two Democratic congressmen on Thursday asked Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge to provide Congress written communications between his department and a lobbying firm run by a longtime friend.

The request stems from an Associated Press story that the day after President Bush (news - web sites) named him secretary, Ridge flew to Arizona and spent several days with a prominent Bush-Cheney fund-raiser, David Girard-diCarlo. It was the first of two trips Ridge made to Scottsdale, Ariz., in late 2002 and early 2003 to stay at Girard-diCarlo's home.

Two of Ridge's homeland security aides left the White House after the first trip and went to work for Girard-diCarlo lobbying Ridge's newly created department. Several of the lobbying firm's clients have been awarded contracts by the department.

"These relationships raise questions about potential conflicts of interest and preferential treatment," Reps. Henry Waxman of California and Bennie Thompson of Mississippi wrote Ridge. Waxman is the ranking Democrat on the Government Reform Committee and Thompson the ranking Democrat on the Homeland Security Committee.

more here...
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=542&e=1&u=/ap/20050113/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/ridge_lobbyists

Hope this is posted according to rules!

Edited for format...

[sally343434]

1. Big deal. He wrote a letter.

With congress firmly under the boot of the bush cabal, nothing will ever come of this. The letter will be ignored and the press will move on to a more important topic, like Barbara Walters interviewing Paris Hilton.

Waxman can't do anything besides write letters. He can't issue subpoenas, initiate hearings or compel sworn testimony. Even if he could, there's apparently no longer any punishment for the now-unenforced felony crime of lying to a congressional panel. Instead, you get a medal from the bush cabal.

Personally, I'm tired of this dance.

[princehal]

3. So...

What do you suggest?

[Supersedeas]

4. well you don't expect the MSM to 'focus' on this issue...Wax on Wax on

[NYC]

11. May the dance continue.

To be quiet would be wrong. We need more like Henry Waxman.

[Cocoa]

2. go Waxman!

keep after those republican crooks! :toast:

[Gloria]

5. Maybe the Dems should request "information" every week about

Bushco officials....just keep the steady stream coming. Maybe something will stick someday. At the very least, they'll compile a bunch of stuff they can throw at them someday, like during a midterm election, if they have the guts to do it...BIG IF, I know...

[Jane Austin]

6. Well, I guess that lets out any plans Ridge might have had

of going to work for that company.

Wasn't his stated reason for leaving the cabinet that he needed more money to put his kids through college?

Perhaps that's what Waxman, et al are aiming at.

[Liberty Belle]

7. Shows how unaffordable college has become...

When a cabinet secretary's salary isn't enough to foot the tuition bills.

[hopein08]

8. Ridge is from the same town as me...

His family was never really overly wealthy, I don't think. And then as the U.S. Rep. and Governor, the poor guy probably didn't make too much. Apparently public service don't pay!

And we wonder why there are mostly filthy rich crooks in politics...

[grumpy old fart]

9. Public Service pays big......

The only reason he left gov't was so he could safely receive all the kickbacks that accrued during his tenure....

[NYC]

12. His salary at Homeland Security

was somewhere around $175,700. College is expensive, but many people earn a lot less.

http://www.j-bradford-delong.net/movable_type/2004_archives/001248.html

Ridge, 58, has explained to colleagues that he needs to earn money to comfortably put his two children, Tommy Jr. and Lesley, through college, officials said. Both are now teenagers. Ridge earns $175,700 a year as a Cabinet secretary.

[Just Me]

10. Spectacular!!!

Keep the pressure hot, strong and persistent!!!

Back all those who turned the human race into a rat race into an inescapable corner!!!

Waxman is another one of my democrat heroes!!! He just never gives up!!!