Tom DeLay Gets The Best Representation Money Can Buy
Former majority leader Rep. Tom DeLay (R-TX) has shelled out $1.3 million in legal fees in less than two years. He has four different firms helping him face money laundering charges in Texas, and federal investigators in D.C. They’ve received $400,000 from DeLay this year alone. Thankfully, he still has friends to pick up the tab, including Bob Perry, the main money man for Swift Boat Veterans for Truth, and R.J. Reynolds Tobacco. (Boston Globe, Roll Call)
Reform
If The Hill‘s vote counting is right, the GOP sham lobbying bill seems headed for passage. And that might be thanks to 10 or so Democrats likely to cross the aisle and vote for the bill, because they don’t want to have to explain to voters come November that they voted against the bill because they wanted a stronger one. Humph. (The Hill)
Former Alabama Governor Goes to Trial for Bribery Charges
Former Gov. Don Siegelman allegedly “traded state contracts, appointments and favors from his office for cash, gifts and campaign contributions – including $500,000 arranged by Scrushy for Siegelman’s campaign to create a state lottery.” (AP)
Republicans Fighting Internally Over Pork
The Iraq/Katrina emergency spending bill working its way through the Senate is larded down with earmarked projects, causing a lot of hair-pulling among the conservative ranks. But appropriators like their projects, so a showdown is inevitable. (The Hill)
Taylor Reconsiders 9/11 Memorial Opposition
Reversing perhaps the most boneheaded political decision in recent memory, Rep. Charles Taylor (R-NC) has finally agreed to insert an earmark for the purchase of land to build a memorial to the passengers and flight crew of Flight 93. (Roll Call)
Pelosi Asks for Ethics Investigation
Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), like TPMmuckraker, wants some answers on who showed up at Brent Wilkes’ parties. So she’s asked the House ethics committee to initiate an investigation. Don’t hold your breath. (Pelosi)
To Earmark or Not To Earmark
Candidates are trying to use politicians’ use of earmarks as a corruption issue against incumbents, but everywhere there is the problem of nailing politicians when those earmarks bring money home to his district or state. Voters don’t seem to mind local pork so much. (NYT)
K Street – A Model of Female Progress
The Old Boys Network days are on the wane, reports Jeffrey Birnbaum, as women increasingly populate D.C. lobbying firms. (WaPo)
Covered Yesterday
Plame Tracked Iran Nuclear Efforts…(link)
Abramoff White House Visitor Logs Forced Out…(link)
Scanlon, Like DeLay, Loved the Children…(link)
We Didn’t Party with Wilkes, Lawmakers Say…(link)
College Paper: Sweeney Was Drunk…(link)
The Mayberry Spies Among Us…(link)
