Memo: Lobbyists had special access to Don Young

[maddezmom]

Source: The Hill

Several lobbyists, including hired guns who worked on transportation, Interior and Alaska issues, had unparalleled access to Rep. Don Young’s (R-Alaska) congressional staff, according to an internal office document .


Guidelines for interns working in Young’s office designated these lobbyists, who gave thousands of dollars to Young’s campaign, the “A Team.” Interns who answered the phone were instructed to let these lobbyists speak to any staff member they requested.



“These people can talk to whomever they want, normally Mike or Sara,” stated the memo in reference to chief of staff Mike Anderson and former executive assistant Sara Parsons.


The internal memo was provided to The Hill by Taxpayers for Common Sense, which said it obtained the document from a person who interviewed for employment.


Meredith Kenny, Young’s communications director, called the memo an “outdated survival guide” that she said “several former interns” pieced together. She said Young’s paid staff did not create the memo.


“This ‘guide’ in no way reflects the official policies of Rep. Young’s office,” she said.





Read more: http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/unofficial-intern-memo-shows-lobbyists-had-special-access-to-don-young-2008-06-18.html

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Don Young Intern Initiation Memo Calls for Special Treatment of Lobbyist 'A-Team'
By Kate Klonick - June 18, 2008, 6:05PM
Rep. Don Young (R-AK) has had his share of federal investigations, scandal and legal bills, but he may now have a new problem: "The A Team."

~snip~

The A Team: Rick Alcade, Colin Chapman, Randy DeLay, Billy Lee Evans, Jack Ferguson, Mike Henry, Ducan Smith, CJ Zane or Jay Dickey. These people can talk to whomever they want, normally Mike or Sara. Tell them who it is and transfer over unless they say otherwise. I recommend looking up who they are.
Most notable on the list is Rick Alcade, the lobbyist at the center of the "Coconut Road" earmark scandal, which the Senate, in an unprecedented move, has formally asked the Justice Department to investigate.

For readers (and interns who may have fallen behind on their duties), we've done the work for you. What do these nine all have in common besides being the perfect number for a baseball team? They're all transportation lobbyists.

more:http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2008/06/don_youngs_interns_told_to_fav.php

[Arctic Dave]

1. Sure the paid staff had nothing to do with it.

Interns regularly decide who is able to have unlimited access to DY's office. If you believe that one I got a bridge I want to build for you.

[Doctor_J]

2. This is news?

He's the poster boy for CREW.