Group Lists 13 'Most Corrupt' in Congress

[dutchdemocrat]

Group Lists 13 'Most Corrupt' in Congress

By Chuck Neubauer, The Los Angeles Times

September 25, 2005

A watchdog group, naming what it calls "the 13 most corrupt members of Congress," is calling for ethics investigations of some of the most prominent leaders on Capitol Hill in a report to be released Monday.

Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington says in its report that the 13 members, among them Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-Tenn.) and House Majority Whip Roy Blunt (R-Mo.), might have violated a variety of congressional ethics rules.

The 13 members of Congress recommended for investigation by the watchdog group are:

Sen. Bill Frist: The report accuses him of violating federal campaign finance laws in how he disclosed a campaign loan. It also calls for an inquiry over his recent sale of stock in HCA Inc., his family's hospital corporation. The sale has raised questions about possible insider dealing. Frist aides confirmed Friday that the SEC was investigating. They have denied claims of campaign finance violations.

• Rep. Roy Blunt: The report criticizes him for trying to insert provisions into bills that would have benefited, in one case, a client of his lobbyist son and in another case, the employer of his lobbyist girlfriend, now his wife.


• Sen. Conrad Burns: The report says that questions arose over $3 million in appropriations he earmarked for an Indian tribe in Michigan that was a client of lobbyist Abramoff. The senator received substantial campaign contributions from Abramoff and various clients.

"Sen. Burns did nothing wrong, and any accusation to the contrary is pure politics," said James Pendleton, his director of communications. He said Burns had earmarked the appropriation at the request of the Michigan congressional delegation.

• Rep. Bob Ney: The report says the chairman of the House Administration Committee went on a golf outing to Scotland in 2002, arranged by Abramoff, at a time when the congressman was trying to insert a provision into legislation to benefit one of Abramoff's tribal clients.

Ney reported to the House that the trip was paid for entirely by the National Center for Public Policy Research, a conservative think tank, which denied paying any of the costs. Ney has said he had been duped by Abramoff.

All of them at link

http://www.citizensforethics.org/press/pressclip.php?view=672

[KoKo]

1. What bothers me about this group CFEthics is that RW has been after

Maxine Waters since she accused Reagan/Poppy of dumping drugs on African-Americans as part of CIA plan. I can't remember the details but she was convinced that it was part of a plot and there's lots of evidence that it probably was. She's a Black Caucus member the RW would really like to get rid of.

Also, where is Tom DeLay on that list? I'm sorry to see Sirota pick up on this because I really like everything he says and had grown to trust him as a great voice for us on the Progressive Left. :shrug:

[kweerwolf]

2. Gee. Why am I not surprised to find Roy Blunt ...

... father of Missouri's answer to *, Gov. Matt "Skippy" Blunt, listed in this report?

Guess the apple doesn't fall far from the tree.