WP: Lobbying Colors GOP Contest

[kskiska]

Rivals for DeLay Post No Strangers to K St.

Wednesday, January 11, 2006; A01

In years past, when the House has recessed for its winter break, Rep. John A. Boehner (R-Ohio) has decamped for warmer climates and a sailing trip to the Caribbean with some of the city's top lobbyists, including Henry Gandy of the well-connected Duberstein Group and Timothy McKone of SBC Communications.

Over the summer, they discussed a trip for this year as well, Boehner said yesterday, but last week the lobbyists weighed anchor without him, content to communicate by telephone while the chairman of the House Education and the Workforce Committee rushed to Washington for a high-stakes run to succeed Rep. Tom DeLay (R-Tex.) as House majority leader.

The annual vacation, dubbed a "boys' trip" by detractors, points to an issue underlying the current House leadership race: Both Boehner and his rival for majority leader, Rep. Roy Blunt (R-Mo.), have extensive ties to the same K Street lobbying world that stained DeLay's reputation and spawned the Abramoff corruption scandal.

"Do I have K Street friends? Yes, I do," Boehner said. "Do I have relationships with them? Yes. And every one of them is an ethical relationship."

more…
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/01/10/AR2006011001801.html

[melbel8301]

1. outrage

I am so outraged. My local #1 news station in Houston, KTRK, just announced on their 10 pm news that they will not accept the new Tom Delay is corrupt ad. This is after they played the ad. WTH???? It's a good ad, seems to be factually correct, what's their problem? I'm gonna write them and also copy Media Matters. What else can I do?

[LiberalFighter]

2. Boehner... prove they are all ethical relationships!!

[LiberalFighter]

3. How about big tobacco?

Boehner's distribution of checks from tobacco concerns in 1995 to lawmakers on the House floor.