Lobbying Firm Under FBI Scrutiny Still Collecting Bucks For Clients
The PMA Group, the Washington defense-lobbying firm whose offices were raided by the FBI in November in connection with pay-to-play allegations, is still reaping rewards for its high-profile clientele.
Many lobbyists have left PMA in the wake of an FBI probe into how the nation's 10th-largest lobbying firm, with clients such as Lockheed Martin and General Dynamics, used its political-action committee to make campaign contributions while reaping big congressional rewards in the form of earmarks. The Hill, a Capitol Hill newspaper, noted that the firm was "rapidly disintegrating" and plans to close up shop next month.
But it appears the firm's clients are still getting some of what they pay for.
Rep. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.) and Taxpayers for Common Sense, a watchdog group, began circulating a list Monday night on Capitol Hill of roughly $7.7 million in earmarks in the spending omnibus bill connected to clients of PMA.
The list also identified the sponsors of each earmark, including Democratic Reps. Peter J. Visclosky (Ind.), Tim Ryan (Ohio), John B. Larson (Conn.), Brad Sherman and Jane Harman (both Calif.), Stephen F. Lynch (Mass.), Emanuel Cleaver (Mo.), Mike Doyle and Jason Altmire (both Pa.).
Congressional Quarterly noted that all but one of the earmarks is in the section of the bill written by the Energy and Water Appropriations Subcommittee, which is headed by Visclosky.
Visclosky is the leading recipient of campaign contributions from PMA's political action committee and its employees, according to a review by CQ MoneyLine, having received $219,000 since 2001.
By Derek Kravitz |
February 24, 2009; 12:13 PM ET
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Unfortunately I believe that we are limited in what we can focus on. I think that if we proceed with the partisan sideshow of prosecuting Bush admin. officials, healthcare will get lost in the brouhaha.
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