Mississippi GOP Governor Barbour's family and friends have profited from Katrina recovery

[DeepModem Mom]

Bloomberg News: Mississippi Governor's Associates Profit From Katrina Recovery
By Timothy J. Burger

Aug. 16 (Bloomberg) -- Many Mississippians have benefited from Governor Haley Barbour's efforts to rebuild the state's devastated Gulf Coast in the two years since Hurricane Katrina. The $15 billion or more in federal aid the former Republican national chairman attracted has reopened casinos and helped residents move to new or repaired homes.

Among the beneficiaries are Barbour's own family and friends, who have earned hundreds of thousands of dollars from hurricane-related business. A nephew, one of two who are lobbyists, saw his fees more than double in the year after his uncle appointed him to a special reconstruction panel. Federal Bureau of Investigation agents in June raided a company owned by the wife of a third nephew, which maintained federal emergency- management trailers.

Meanwhile, the governor's own former lobbying firm, which he says is still making payments to him, has represented at least four clients with business linked to the recovery.

No evidence has surfaced that Barbour violated the law; at the same time, the pattern that emerges from public records and interviews raises "many red flags,'' said Ken Boehm, chairman of the National Legal and Policy Center, a watchdog group in Falls Church, Virginia, that investigates the investments of government officials. "At the minimum, the public is entitled to a full explanation of the facts,'' he said.

Barbour, 59, who is running for re-election this year, turned down an interview request. His spokesman, Pete Smith, declined in an e-mail to answer questions....

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=washingtonstory&sid=aG1fHyzJA56A

[yardwork]

1. This should be all over the news.

[JNelson6563]

2. No wonder he's been all smiles all along

Rat bastard.

[here_is_to_hope]

12. My rat has taken offense at

being used to taint Barbour!:hi:

[JNelson6563]

16. My humble apologies to your rat!

Good point. Rats are more noble animals than Barbour. :-)

Julie

[here_is_to_hope]

17. My daughter thinks its a mouse....

we went to get her a mouse but they were so small I knew she would accidentally squish it, I convinced her "Tricky" was a mouse and have harmony ever since.
Neat thing is, Tricky comes and goes as he please, an indoor/outdoor rat:hi:
Wait..."Tricky"? Barbour? Hmmm....

[Maddy McCall]

3. Unbelievable.

We've heard NONE of this in Mississippi.

I just forwarded this article to the Clarion Ledger. I hope that they'll report on this.

:grr:

[DeepModem Mom]

5. That IS unbelievable! I hope the story gets out there now. nt

[Maddy McCall]

6. DM Mom...it gets better!

I just called the Eaves campaign (Dem nominee running against Barbour) and asked if they had seen the article. They said that they just got word of it and were pouring over it right now.

I told her that I was going to be very disappointed if they didn't use that information in their campaign against Barbour, that this could destroy Barbour's campaign.

So this article is making the rounds in Mississippi politics today.

Fingers crossed that this will make a difference!

[DeepModem Mom]

10. Good news -- you go, Maddy!

:woohoo:

[zehnkatzen]

8. Gov Haley Barbour (R-But what did you expect?) K/R N/T

[Maddy McCall]

9. I'm not astonished by any facts in this article. I'm astonished that this article...

is finally appearing in print, and just might make the difference in whether my state elects GOP Barbour or Democrat Eaves this November.

[zehnkatzen]

11. Yah. Just once I'd like a R to surprise me, and not go for "what's in it for me."

I'm in Oregon, but you guys do what you can to get the Democrat in office.

They aren't perfect, but they're the best we've got.

[Harry Monroe]

20. "Democrat" Eaves is promoting teaching the bible in public schools

I'm voting for an independent in November (Or I'll write in a candidate, probably myself) Fuck both of 'em.

[Harry Monroe]

19. The Clarion-Ledger??!!

Good luck with that. This is the same paper that still runs Ann Coulter's column once a week.

[Kurovski]

4. Disasters are always a cash cow for the Repukes.

And that's why they do their best to create and maintain them.

5th K&R.

[Maddy McCall]

7. DUers, please, for my state, kick and recommend this.

It's not being reported in the state news. DUers--please rec this to the top of the Greatest page.

Thank you.

[Kool Kitty]

13. K & R.

For you, Maddy (and your wonderful frog), and for everyone. :kick:

[Bake]

14. K&R, but Maddy, you know in your heart Eaves has no chance

I don't even think he really wants to win. His pandering religious/"family values" ads are just nauseating.

The Dems pretty much punted on this election. I was shocked we couldn't find anybody better than Eaves who was willing to run.

Bake

[Maddy McCall]

15. Hi, bake.

I know you're right.

I, too, was shocked that this was the best the Dems could offer, that Moore didn't run. I had heard that John Grisham was considering running...back about two years ago.

It's almost as if our state Dem leaders didn't care to win.

:cry:

[Kurovski]

18. Kick. (nt)

[AtomicKitten]

21. A Republican profiting from a national disaster with massive loss of life.

Sounds about right.