Pombo replaces PAC's lobbyist treasurer

[NVMojo]

March 9, 2006

SACRAMENTO - Rep. Richard Pombo of Tracy this week became the latest lawmaker in Congress to get a new treasurer for his political action committee, part of a growing trend in Washington that has become one side effect of the ethics scandals gripping the Capitol.

But both Pombo's old and new treasurers work for the same powerful lobby shop, a massive firm whose clients have contributed at least $10,000 to his campaigns since 2003. The new treasurer, however, is not a registered lobbyist.

At issue is Pombo's "leadership PAC," a kind of extra campaign committee that many lawmakers maintain. Pombo calls his Rich PAC. The money raised for these accounts can be used for nearly any purpose other than to directly get the lawmaker re-elected.

snip...

Pombo spokesman Brian Kennedy said she was not fired. Bonfiglio quit Williams & Jensen to pursue other interests, Kennedy said.

Kennedy said he did not know if the firm had any business before the House Resources Committee. Bonfiglio herself did not lobby the panel, he said.

Williams & Jensen is one of Washington's largest lobby shops, with clients ranging from Coca-Cola to Motorola to Pfizer.

Several of the firm's clients have contributed either to Rich PAC or to Pombo's campaign account, including: Smithfield Foods, $1,000; Florida Power & Light, $2,500; Bayer, $2,000; Brinks Co., $1,500; DuPont, $1,000; and Edison Electrical Institute, $2,000.

more...

http://www.recordnet.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060309/NEWS01/603090328/1001

[MasonJar]

1. Come on, Californians, get rid of him. He is an environmental

nightmare.