Clipmarks | BartendingBear's 'corruption' clips

Political Sway & Dick Cheney

Sun, 24 Aug 2008 22:04:04 GMT

clipped by: BartendingBear
clipper's remarks: Highly unusual for it to push into state regs, unless it benefits...Big Oil!

Clip Source: www.newsweek.com

A two-year-old letter by that pushed a controversial Alaska natural-gas pipeline bill is getting renewed scrutiny because of recently disclosed evidence in the Justice Department's corruption case against . In a conversation secretly tape-recorded by the FBI on June 25, 2006, Stevens discussed ways to get a pipeline bill through the Alaska Legislature with Bill Allen, an oil-services executive accused of providing the senator with about $250,000 in undisclosed financial benefits. According to a Justice motion, Stevens told Allen, "I'm gonna try to see if I can get some bigwigs from back here and say, 'Look … you gotta get this done'." Two days later, Cheney wrote a letter to the Alaska Legislature urging members to "promptly enact" a bill to build the pipeline.

The former executive director of Cheney's energy task force had gone to work as a lobbyist for British Petroleum, one of three firms slated to build the pipeline.

Carl Rove Named In Plot To Dump U.S. Att. Patrick Fitzgerald

Thu, 24 Apr 2008 17:26:43 GMT

clipped by: BartendingBear
clipper's remarks: Why am I not surprised??

Clip Source: www.suntimes.com

A prosecutor told the judge in the Tony Rezko corruption trial Wednesday that a witness is prepared to testify about efforts by top Republicans to get the Bush White House to fire U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald at a time he was spearheading investigations of Gov. Blagojevich's administration.

The key players, according to Assistant U.S. Attorney Carrie E. Hamilton, were Robert Kjellander, a Republican National committeeman from Springfield, and Kjellander's old friend, Karl Rove, who, at the time was a top White House adviser.

A prosecutor said Wednesday that witness Ali D. Ata would testify that Rezko told him Robert Kjellander was working with Karl Rove to replace U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald (above).
(Brian Jackson/Sun-Times)

Rove, through Washington attorney Robert Luskin, and Kjellander denied they sought to oust Fitzgerald,

Kjellander was a college classmate of Rove and is a former treasurer of the Republican National Committee.

Change Congress - Using Tech To Give People Power

Fri, 21 Mar 2008 06:29:47 GMT

clipped by: BartendingBear
clipper's remarks: Taking the power from the PACs and putting it in the hands of the concerned citizen.

Clip Source: change-congress.org

Change Congress is a movement to build support for basic reform in how our government functions. Using our tools, both candidates and citizens can pledge their support for basic changes to reduce the distorting influence of money in Washington. Our community will link candidates committed to a reform with volunteers and contributors who support it.

Clip Source: change-congress.org

Change Congress is a national movement to end corruption in America's congress. We're organizing citizens to push candidates to make three simple commitments:

1. No money from lobbyists or PACs

2. Vote to end earmarks

3. Support publicly-financed campaigns

4. Support reform to increase Congressional transparency

It's Time To Legalize Drugs

Fri, 21 Dec 2007 06:17:22 GMT

clipped by: BartendingBear
clipper's remarks: Unless you profit from the current climate.

Clip Source: www.alternet.org

Prohibition has failed -- again. Instead of treating the demand for illegal drugs as a market, and addicts as patients, policymakers the world over have boosted the profits of drug lords and fostered narcostates that would frighten Al Capone. Finally, a smarter drug control regime that values reality over rhetoric is rising to replace the "war" on drugs.

The global war on drugs persists in part because so many people fail to distinguish between the harms of drug abuse and the harms of prohibition. Legalization forces that distinction to the forefront. The opium problem in Afghanistan is primarily a prohibition problem, not a drug problem. The same is true of the narcoviolence and corruption that has afflicted Latin America and the Caribbean for almost three decades -- and that now threatens Africa. Governments can arrest and kill drug lord after drug lord, but the ultimate solution is a structural one, not a prosecutorial one.

Ethics? Ask Rep. Don Young (R-AK)

Wed, 19 Sep 2007 06:09:26 GMT

clipped by: BartendingBear
clipper's remarks: Too many details to clip. See source.

Clip Source: www.beyonddelay.org

Rep. Don Young is an 18th-term member of the House of Representatives, representing Alaska at-large. Rep. Young served as Chairman of the House Resources Committee from 1994 to 2000 and as the Chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee from 2000-2006. Currently, Rep. Young serves as the ranking member of the House Resources Committee.

Rep. Young’s ethics violations stem from the misuse of his position to benefit family and friends and to steer millions of dollars in earmarks to corporations in exchange for contributions to his campaign committee and political action committee, Midnight Sun PAC (MSPAC). Rep. Young is currently under four separate federal investigations including an investigation into his role in securing a $10 million earmark for a road in Florida, assistance he offered to recently convicted VECO executive Bill Allen, his ties to convicted lobbyist Jack Abramoff and his financial relationship with recently indicted businessman Dennis Troha.

Tags: ethics, corruption

Ethics? Ask Rep. Heather A. Wilson (R-NM)

Wed, 19 Sep 2007 06:07:35 GMT

clipped by: BartendingBear

Clip Source: www.beyonddelay.org

Rep. Heather Wilson (R-NM) is a sixth-term member of Congress, representing the first district of New Mexico. Her ethics issues stem from improperly contacting a sitting U.S. Attorney.

Improper contact with U.S. Attorney

By contacting Mr. Iglesias about an ongoing investigation, whether to pressure him -- as he believed -- or merely to request a status report, Rep. Wilson violated House rules and her conduct does not reflect creditably on the House.

Tags: ethics, corruption

Ethics? Ask Rep. Jerry Weller (R-IL)

Wed, 19 Sep 2007 06:05:43 GMT

clipped by: BartendingBear
clipper's remarks: Too many details to clip.

Clip Source: www.beyonddelay.org

Rep. Jerry Weller (R-IL) is a seventh-term member of Congress, representing the 11th district of Illinois. He serves on the House Ways and Means Committee and until 2006, served on the House International Relations Committee. Rep. Weller’s ethics issues stem from his repeated failure to report assets he bought and sold in Nicaragua, the misuse of his position to sell foreign property, his acceptance of campaign contributions from Puerto Rican interests in apparent exchange for supporting legislation that benefitted Puerto Rico, and his acceptance of campaign contributions in return for assisting a telecommunications executive in a dispute with a foreign government. In addition, there is a question as to whether Rep. Weller qualifies for a waiver allowing him to exclude his wife’s assets and liabilities from his financial disclosure forms.

Nicaraguan Land Holdings

Support for Puerto Rican Interests

Assistance for Telecommunications Executive

Tags: ethics, corruption

Ethics? Ask Rep. David Scott (D-GA)

Wed, 19 Sep 2007 06:03:31 GMT

clipped by: BartendingBear

Clip Source: www.beyonddelay.org

Rep. David Scott (D-GA) is a third-term congressman, representing Georgia’s 13th district. Rep. Scott’s ethics issues stem from allegations of tax evasion and misuse of official resources for political campaign activity.

Tax Evasion

More than 40 tax liens have been placed against Rep. Scott’s home and business.

Personal, Business and Campaign Finances

Rep. Scott, by failing to pay taxes on his home and business and by failing to pay property taxes on his Georgia home may have violated federal and state tax laws

Misuse of official resources

By using congressional staff to engage in campaign activity on official time and with the use of official resources, Rep. Scott may have violated the prohibition on soliciting political contributions from employees, the prohibition on using appropriated funds for campaign activity, House ethics rules and the regulations of the Committee on House Administration.

Tags: ethics, corruption

Ethics? Ask Rep. Harold Rogers (R-KY)

Wed, 19 Sep 2007 05:59:48 GMT

clipped by: BartendingBear

Clip Source: www.beyonddelay.org

Rep. Harold Rogers (R-KY) is a 14th-term member of Congress representing Kentucky’s fifth congressional district. Rep. Rogers is the ranking member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security and its former chair, where he was responsible for the $41.1 billion Department of Homeland Security (DHS) budget. Rep. Rogers’ ethics issues stem from misuse of his position to steer millions of dollars in earmarks to campaign contributors, including a company that employs his son. A newspaper in his district, The Lexington Herald-Leader, has called Rep. Rogers the “Prince of Pork.”

NucSafe Inc.

Accenture and Raytheon

Identification Card Industry

Jon Rogers

If, as it appears, Rep. Rogers accepted donations to his campaign and political action committees in exchange for earmarks, he may have violated the bribery statute or received illegal gratuities.

In addition

Rep. Rogers may have dispensed special favors and violated House ethics rules.

Tags: ethics, corruption

Ethics? Ask Rep. Rick Renzi (R-AZ)

Wed, 19 Sep 2007 05:56:53 GMT

clipped by: BartendingBear

Clip Source: www.beyonddelay.org

Rep. Rick Renzi (R-AZ) is a third-term member of Congress, representing Arizona’s 1st congressional district. Rep. Renzi’s ethics issues stem from assistance he offered to a former business partner and legislation he sponsored that benefitted his father’s employer.

Suspect Land Deal

Just before Rep. Renzi’s reelection in 2006, federal authorities began investigating whether Rep. Renzi used his position as a member of Congress to promote the sale of land owned by his former business partner, James Sandlin.

On April 19, 2007, Rep. Renzi’s business offices were raided by FBI agents.

Rep. Renzi Sponsored Legislation Financially Benefitting His Father

By using his position as a member of Congress to push legislation that would benefit ManTech and therefore his father, Rep. Renzi may be depriving his constituents, the House of Representatives, and the United States of his honest services.

Tags: ethics, corruption

Ethics? Ask Rep. Steve Pearce (R-NM)

Wed, 19 Sep 2007 05:53:45 GMT

clipped by: BartendingBear

Clip Source: www.beyonddelay.org

Rep. Steve Pearce (R-NM), is a third-term member of Congress representing the second district of New Mexico. Rep. Pearce’s ethics issues stem from his failure to properly report a transaction on his financial disclosure report and from trading legislative assistance for campaign contributions.

Lea Fishing Tools, Inc.

After selling Lea Fishing Tools’ assets to Key Energy, Rep. Pearce was required to report the sale on his financial disclosure form as a transaction, but he failed to do so. By failing to list the sale, Rep. Pearce appears to have violated the Ethics in Government Act.

Otero Mesa

If Rep. Pearce advocated opening up Otero Mesa to drilling in exchange for campaign contributions, he may have violated the bribery statute or accepted illegal gratuities.

Tags: ethics, corruption

Ethics? Ask Rep. John P. Murtha (D-PA)

Wed, 19 Sep 2007 05:51:34 GMT

clipped by: BartendingBear

Clip Source: www.beyonddelay.org

Rep. John P. Murtha (D-PA) is an 18th-term member of Congress, representing Pennsylvania’s 12th congressional district. Rep. Murtha chairs the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee of the House Appropriations Committee. Rep. Murtha’s ethics violations stem from abuse of his position on the subcommittee to benefit the lobbying firm of a former long-term staffer and from threatening to block earmarks of other members for political purposes.

PMA Group

PMA’s clients have benefited significantly from Rep. Murtha’s earmarks. In the 2006 Defense appropriations bill, PMA clients received at least 60 earmarks, totaling $95.1 million.

Concurrent Technologies Corporation

Murtha may have accepted bribes or illegal gratuities, committed honest services fraud and violated House rules prohibiting members from dispensing special favors.

Threat to Deny Spending Projects

Tags: ethics, corruption

Ethics? Ask Rep. Timothy F. Murphy (R-PA)

Wed, 19 Sep 2007 05:48:30 GMT

clipped by: BartendingBear

Clip Source: www.beyonddelay.org

Rep. Timothy F. Murphy (R-PA) is a third-term member of Congress, representing Pennsylvania’s 18th congressional district. Rep. Murphy’s ethics violations involve his misuse of official resources for political campaign activity. Rep. Murphy currently is the target of a Department of Justice investigation.

Misuse of Congressional Staff

By using congressional staff to engage in campaign activity on official time and with the use of official resources, Rep. Murphy may have violated the prohibition on soliciting political contributions from employees, the prohibition on using appropriated funds for campaign activity, House ethics rules and the regulations of the Committee on House Administration.

Tags: corruption, ethics

Ethics? Ask Rep. Alan B. Mollohan (D-WV)

Wed, 19 Sep 2007 05:46:45 GMT

clipped by: BartendingBear

Clip Source: www.beyonddelay.org

Rep. Alan B. Mollohan (D-WV) is a 13th-term member of Congress, representing the first district of West Virginia. His ethics issues stem from misusing his position to benefit himself, his family and his friends and misreporting a dramatic increase in his personal assets.

Earmarking of Funds for His Personal Benefit

If Rep. Mollohan accepted campaign donations in direct exchange for earmarking federal funds to the nonprofits run by these donors he may have violated the bribery statute, the illegal gratuity statute, honest services fraud and House rules prohibiting dispensing special favors and engaging in conduct that does not reflect creditably on the House.

Financial Disclosure Forms

If Rep. Mollohan knowingly filed inaccurate financial disclosure statements he broke the law prohibiting false statements.

Department of Justice Investigation

requested a $1 million earmark to

expand a wilderness area abutting property owned by the congressman, thereby increasing the property’s value.

Tags: ethics, corruption

Ethics? Ask Rep. Gary G. Miller (R-CA)

Wed, 19 Sep 2007 05:43:47 GMT

clipped by: BartendingBear

Clip Source: www.beyonddelay.org

Rep. Gary Miller (R-CA) is a fifth-term member of Congress, representing the 42nd district of California. His ethics issues stem from his relationship with Lewis Operating Company and the sale of property.

Tax Evasion

The IRS is investigating to determine whether Rep. Miller’s 2002 and 2005 real estate transactions qualified for non-recognition of capital gains.

Relationship with Lewis Operating

Rep. Miller appears to have abused his position to financially benefit himself and Lewis Operating in violation of House rules.

Misuse of Staff Resources

By using congressional staff to engage in campaign activity on official time and with the use of official resources, Rep. Miller may have violated the prohibition on soliciting political contributions from employees, the prohibition on using appropriated funds for campaign activity, House ethics rules and the regulations of the Committee on House Administration.

Tags: ethics, corruption