« RINO John McCain - Wins Primary - So Now Reverts Back To Supporting Back-Door Amnesty | Main | Did Mike Castle Take Calls From Obama and Biden after the primary? »
September 15, 2010
'Interesting' Breitbart Audio: Possible Ethics Violations As Dem Congresswoman Hits Lobbyist Up For Cash
Topics: Political News and commentariesVia Nice Deb, this is the "interesting audio" Andrew Breitbart promised earlier this week. It's a copy of a voicemail message made by House Member Eleanor Holmes Norton during a fund-raising call to an unnamed lobbyist:
Capitol Confidential at Big Government points out several concerns about the call:
1. At the very beginning of the message, Holmes Norton notes that the lobbyist:More at Big Government ...ha[s] given to other colleagues of the Transportation and Infrastructure CommitteeBeyond being a bit heavy-handed, where did she get this information? Such donations are listed in FEC reports, but it is a violation to use that information to solicit campaign donations.2. More serious, however, is her frequent mention of her seniority and her Chairmanship of a subcommittee. She is attempting to solicit funds based on her past actions taken in her official capacity in Congress. She is implying to the lobbyist that, should he decline to donate, he will be turning down a senior member of Congress who Chairs a subcommittee highly relevant to his "sector."
3. Worse than that, she details her role overseeing a large economic development project in the District, funded by "stimulus" funds. It would appear that either the lobbyist has an interest in this project, or the Congresswoman thinks he does, as she states she is "frankly surprised" the lobbyist hasn't given to her. Especially, she notes, because of her
long and deep work ... in fact it has been by major work on the committee and subcommittee it's been essentially in your sector"In your sector." This raises additional concerns, and we note potentially relevant laws here:
Posted by Richard at September 15, 2010 11:41 PM
Articles Related to Political News and commentaries:
- 'Interesting' Breitbart Audio: Possible Ethics Violations As Dem Congresswoman Hits Lobbyist Up For Cash - Sep 15, 2010
