WASHINGTON (AP) — The chairman of the House transportation committee says he never considered recusing himself from the panel’s work on aviation legislation after he began dating a top airline industry lobbyist.
GOP Rep. Bill Shuster of Pennsylvania says he’s been “transparent” about the relationship begun last year. He pointed to rules in his office that bar the woman from lobbying him or his staff. He described those rules as going beyond what the law requires.
Shuster, appearing at a National Journal event, said people in Washington know his “integrity level.” He says he guarantees that when an aviation bill is passed, everyone involved will be content with the outcome.
Shuster, who is divorced, earlier this month confirmed his relationship with Shelley Rubino, a vice president for global government affairs at Airlines for America.
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More than likely he wasn’t concerned with what she was selling for the Airline industry, but with what she was giving away free in his bed.
I think the real problem is that Rep Shuster was concerned that if he recused himself on issues in one entire industry because he was having sex with a leading lobbyist for the industry, then he’d lose his main source of campaign financing and complementary travel, which means he’d maybe be forced into having sex with a leading lobbyist for another industry, it quickly becomes turtles all the way down, and if he can’t raise the money to ensure his continued re-election, then he won’t be able to pass this heirloom seat he received from his father onto his own son, and, tragically, a family business that’s been ongoing since WWII will come to a sudden end.
All because ethics do-gooders what him to stop having sex with this one lobbyist but it’s okay with some other lobbyist.