AP: Lawmaker to Repay Cost of Abramoff Trip

[Eugene]

Lawmaker to Repay Cost of Abramoff Trip


Wednesday January 3, 2007 5:46 PM

By LARRY MARGASAK

Associated Press Writer

WASHINGTON (AP) - Rep. Tom Feeney has agreed to pay the costs of a 2003 trip
to Scotland that apparently was paid for by convicted lobbyist Jack Abramoff,
leaders of the House ethics committee leaders announced Wednesday.

Feeney, R-Fla., contacted the committee in March 2005, after news reports said
the trip was financed by Abramoff, not the sponsor that the lawmaker reported
on a public disclosure form. The media reports also said the trip was mainly
recreational.

The expenses were reported by Feeney as $5,643, and he agreed to pay the cost
to the U.S. Treasury, said the statement by Rep. Doc Hastings, R-Wash., ethics
committee chairman, and ranking Democrat Howard Berman of California.

-snip-

In a separate announcement, Hastings and Berman announced that defeated Rep.
Curt Weldon, R-Pa., agreed to pay donors of a 2003 trip more than $23,000 for
violating the House's gift rule.

-snip-

Full article: http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,,-6319909,00.html

[maddezmom]

1. it's about time

:eyes:

[AlinPA]

2. They figure that will make them look "pure". Jerks.

[BradBlog]

Feeney Reprimanded by Ethics Commitee, Ordered to Repay Cost of Golf Trip to Scotland With Abramoff

More on Feeney, the congressional challenge to his election, and related matters likely later today... -- Brad

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------



Feeney Reprimanded by House Ethics Commitee, Ordered to Pay Back Costs of St. Andrews Golf Trip Taken With Abramoff
Committee Issues Short Statement, Slap on Wrist for One of Congress' 'Most Corrupt' Members on Last Day Before Democrats Take Over
But Troubles May Just Be Beginning for Florida Congressman...

Republican U.S. Congressman Tom Feeney of Florida's 24th District, has been ordered today by the House Ethics Committee to pay $5,643 for the cost of a "recreational" golf trip to St. Andrews, Scotland which he had taken with the now-disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff in 2003. The bill had been previously paid for by Abramoff, the committee has found.

The slap on the wrist issued today by the U.S. House Ethics Committee on the last day before the change-over to the new Congress was announced in a terse, one paragraph, bare-bones statement posted to the committee's website.

As a number of other charges and allegations still hang dangerously over the Congressman's head, Feeney's troubles may just be beginning as Democrats take control of the new Congress tomorrow.

The claimed cost of the trip, $5,643, was apparently supplied to the committee by Feeney himself in March of 2005 as the many tentacles of the Abramoff corruption scandal were beginning to reveal themselves. Feeney, who has been named for the second year running as one of the "Most Corrupt Members of Congress" by the non-partisan ethics watchdog group, the Committee for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW), had previously claimed that the trip, and several others, were pre-approved by the House Ethics Committee. As well, he had also originally claimed on his disclosure forms for the Scotland trip that it had been paid for by the National Center for Public Policy. The center has denied paying for the trip and Feeney has supplied no evidence that we're aware of that the Ethics Committee had pre-approved his vacation with Abramoff or any of the others.

No action has yet been taken on the other questionable vacations, one to Korea which was sponsored by he Korea-U.S. Exchange Council (KORUSEC), a registered foreign agent, and another to West Palm Beach, Florida which Feeney had listed as having been paid for by a lobbying firm which would also be a violation of House rules.

But that's not all. Not even close...

FULL, DETAILED STORY: http://www.bradblog.com/?p=3977


---
Brad Friedman
THE BRAD BLOG - The uprising continues...
http://www.BradBlog.com
VELVET REVOLUTION's Election Protection Strike Force!
Of the people, by the people, for the people...
http://www.VelvetRevolution.us/ElectionStrikeForce

[DoYouEverWonder]

3. Cowards waited until their last day

to even give him a slap on the wrist. Why am I not impressed?

Thank god tomorrow, will be the beginning of the end of the corrupted GOP.

[aquart]

4. Next time we slap that wrist, break it.