Monday, April 19, 2010

Mr. Blunt and buddies

New website lists some of Mr. Blunts insider buddies. nice to have buddies and this is not a full listing


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http://www.theveryworstofwashington.com/characters#roy_blunt


example of dozen or so buddies listed


Congressman Roy Blunt
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Congressman Roy Blunt, elected to the House of Representatives in 1996, quickly established himself as an influential power broker in the halls of Congress and on K Street. He rose through the ranks to become Majority Whip under Tom DeLay and briefly took his place as Majority Leader after DeLay resigned in disgrace. Named one of the 13 most corrupt members of Congress by an independent watchdog group, Blunt is known for his close ties with K Street’s lobbyist community. His wife Abigail and his three adult children are lobbyists too. According to the Washington Post, Blunt built an extensive political machine characterized by “fundraising committees, extensive favor-giving and alliances with Republican lobbyists.” For example, hours before the final vote on a Homeland Security bill, Blunt was caught trying to insert a special provision for tobacco giant Phillip Morris, for whom his son and current wife were lobbyists. Blunt also voted to weaken the ban on lobbyists’ gifts to members of Congress, and took dozens of trips on corporate jets – including trips provided by Brent Wilkes who was convicted of bribery. Congressman Blunt was a close associate of convicted lobbyist Jack Abramoff. Blunt received thousands of dollars from Abramoff and was one of only eight congressmen who were listed as a “friend of the owner” at Abramoff’s restaurant in Washington. He has taken more money from lobbyists than any other member of Congress. Now he’s running for US Senate. [Washington Post, 5/17/05, New York Times, 9/4/08, USA Today 10/04/09]
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Perlman Blunt
Abigail Perlman Blunt is Congressman Blunt’s wife and frequently cited as one of Washington, DC’s top corporate lobbyists and a fixture on the DC party circuit. Abigail lobbied for Altria Corporate Services, the parent company of tobacco giant Phillip Morris, before moving to Kraft Foods (another Altria subsidiary) in 2009. According to Roll Call in 2003, Abigail “was a central part of [Altria’s] lobbying efforts in the House. Her strong ties to the Republican leadership make her one of the most successful tobacco industry lobbyists in town.” Congressman Roy Blunt raised eyebrows in 2003, when, in the fall of 2002, Roy Blunt secretly attempted to insert a provision benefiting Philip Morris, presumably on behalf of his then-girlfriend Abigail, into a homeland security bill just hours before the legislation was scheduled for a final vote. After learning of the provision, House Speaker Dennis Hastert had it removed from the proposed language, but not before raising serious questions about Congressman Blunt’s motives. Even Republicans who learned of the incident privately express concern that Blunt pushed the provision partly because of his personal relationship with a Philip Morris lobbyist. The St. Louis Post-Dispatch later wrote that Blunt’s provision “doesn’t just look bad, it is bad. Questions of nepotism and sweetheart deals for tobacco companies aside, ethical members of Congress don’t embarrass their colleagues – and betray the public – by trying to sneak legislation under the radar screen.” [Washington Post, 6/11/03; St. Louis Post Dispatch, 6/13/03; House Lobbying Disclosure Database; Roll Call, 9/8/03; Politico]
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Do we need such a senator?

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