Hoyer Poised to Force Ethics Panel to Disclose PMA Probe

[Laura PourMeADrink]

Source: Rollcall

House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) plans to offer as early as Wednesday afternoon a privileged resolution to force the ethics committee to disclose whether it is investigating senior Democratic appropriators’ ties to the PMA Group, Democratic sources say.

Hoyer’s move follows eight attempts by Republican anti-earmark crusader Rep. Jeff Flake (Ariz.) to jump-start a probe — and aims to pre-empt Flake’s ninth stab at the issue, which was due for a vote on Thursday. It marks a sharp break from Democratic leaders’ previous approach to the burgeoning controversy involving the now-defunct lobbying firm, which amounted to them trying to keep their ranks in line opposing the Flake resolutions. In late winter, when Flake began his assault, Hoyer argued in leadership meetings that Democrats should embrace the resolution to neutralize it.

But Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) pushed back, contending that such a move would open lawmakers up to ethics witch-hunts down the line. Since then, Democrats have slowly peeled off to support Flake: While only 17 broke ranks on his first attempt, 29 supported his latest, offered just before the Memorial Day recess.

The move comes just after Rep. Peter Visclosky (D-Ind.) acknowledged his offices and some staff had been subpoenaed as part of a federal probe into PMA. Other Democratic appropriators, including Rep. John Murtha (D-Pa.), have long ties to PMA and its clients.
Hoyer squared off against Murtha in 2006 for the Majority Leader post, beating him by an overwhelming margin.


Read more: http://www.rollcall.com/news/35455-1.html?ET=rollcall:e4749:80077537a:&st=email

[Laura PourMeADrink]

1. PMA Background...

http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/states/indiana/2009-02-28-1692841856_x.htm

Visclosky's ties to troubled PMA Group run deep
Posted 2/28/2009 2:05 PM | Comment | Recommend E-mail | Save | Print |


By Henry C. Jackson, Associated Press Writer
WASHINGTON — He represents an area known for its rampant corruption, but Rep. Pete Visclosky has always had a reputation for staying above the fray.
That consensus is being challenged by revelations about the northwest Indiana Democrat's ties to a troubled defense lobbying firm.

PMA Group was once one of the biggest lobbying firms in Washington, specializing in securing defense earmarks for its clients. Now, the firm is disintegrating amid a federal investigation into allegations that its founder, Paul Magliochetti, a former top aide to Rep. John Murtha, D-Pa., steered donations to lawmakers through sham donors.

PMA Group's top beneficiaries include Murtha, chairman of the House Appropriations subcommittee that funds defense programs, and Rep. Jim Moran, D-Va., who also sits on the defense appropriations subcommittee.

But few lawmakers have stronger ties to the firm than Visclosky. His former congressional chief of staff worked as a lobbyist for the firm, and he received at least $100,000 in contributions from donors tied to PMA Group between 2006 and 2008, according to Federal Election Commission reports. PMA Group was the top donor to Visclosky's 2008 re-election campaign.

From his seat on the House Appropriations Committee and its defense funding subcommittee, Visclosky has also reciprocated -- helping to secure more than $23 million in earmarks in 2008 for clients of PMA Group.

"It's pretty clear that Visclosky has deep ties to PMA Group," said Sheila Krumholz, executive president of the Center for Responsive Politics.

"It's also clear that (campaign funds) are being delivered to him on a targeted basis, based on his committee assignments. He's been in a position to help them from his perch," she said.

PMA Group spokesman Patrick Dorton declined to comment on Visclosky's ties to the firm.

The congressman said in mid-February he would return at least $18,000 from donors who were listed as having ties to PMA Group, including $16,000 in donations from men who live in the Florida community of Amelia Island and are listed in FEC filings as members of PMA's board of directors, and $2,000 from Marvin Hoffman, of Marina del Rey, Calif., who is listed as a PMA Group lobbyist but has said he has no ties to PMA Group.

Campaign spokesman David St. John said then that if more allegations of straw donors were unearthed, Visclosky would "look at giving those back" too. He declined further comment Friday.

Krumholz and others said Visclosky's ties to PMA Group reflect a culture of pay-to-play in Washington.

"The whole pay-to-play system and concerns about it raise eyebrows," said Steve Ellis, the vice president of Taxpayers for Common Sense. "I don't want to separate Visclosky out ... but the patterns are always concerning when campaign contributions can lead to earmarks."

Until now, Visclosky has largely managed to avoid such concerns, even while representing a district that includes Indiana's Lake County -- which former Attorney General Robert Kennedy once called one of the nation's most corrupt.

Since unseating an incumbent Democrat in 1984, Visclosky has quietly carved out a 25-year career in the House. He has rarely faced significant opposition in one of the country's most Democratic congressional districts.

That's resulted in a comfort level for many constituents, said Maurice Eisenstein, an associate professor of political science at Purdue University Calumet who has written about Visclosky and his ties to PMA Group.

"He's comfortable, he's like somebody you are used to, but nobody really speaks well of his accomplishments," he said. "Nobody can really say he's developed something here. On the other hand, he's like an old granddad who's been around a long time. It's what people are used to."

Eisenstein said Visclosky operates in something of media vacuum, with the district he covers swallowed by Chicago news to the north and west, and news from Indianapolis to the south.

"There's a real disconnect between his reputation and whatever he does because there's just not that much coverage," he said.

Dan Dumezich, a former GOP state lawmaker from Schererville, said Visclosky doesn't get caught in the problems of local politics but isn't a particularly good advocate for northwest Indiana, either.

"I've noticed over the years he was getting contributions from people in Washington, California, Oregon," Dumezich said. "I think that's kind of the life story of Pete Visclosky. He's done what he needs to do to help himself politically, but he's never had a major impact on our area.

"What can I say? The appropriations haven't come our way."

It is unclear what, if any, penalties Visclosky will pay politically for his ties to PMA Group. Krumholz said Visclosky would need to be vigilant in dealing with his ties to PMA Group or his safe seat could be at risk.

"I think it depends on what more comes out and also on his response," Krumholz said. "It depends on whether it is viewed as authentic or whether it's kind of 'Who me?' type of thing. He clearly had a close relationship."