Feinstein sought $25 billion for agency that awarded contract to spouse

[Fireweed247]

On the day the new Congress convened this year, Sen. Dianne Feinstein introduced legislation to route $25 billion in taxpayer money to a government agency that had just awarded her husband's real estate firm a lucrative contract to sell foreclosed properties at compensation rates higher than the industry norms.

Mrs. Feinstein's intervention on behalf of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. was unusual: the California Democrat isn't a member of the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs with jurisdiction over FDIC; and the agency is supposed to operate from money it raises from bank-paid insurance payments - not direct federal dollars.

Documents reviewed by The Washington Times show Mrs. Feinstein first offered Oct. 30 to help the FDIC secure money for its effort to stem the rise of home foreclosures. Her letter was sent just days before the agency determined that CB Richard Ellis Group (CBRE) - the commercial real estate firm that her husband Richard Blum heads as board chairman - had won the competitive bidding for a contract to sell foreclosed properties that FDIC had inherited from failed banks.



http://washingtontimes.com/news/2009/apr/21/senate-husbands-firm-cashes-in-on-crisis/

[AndyA]

1. Conflict of interest. And this isn't the first time DiFi has "helped" her husband's

business interests through her office, either.

She should not be involved in these types of decisions, she should step out of the process, and explain why.

[Kansas Wyatt]

2. Term Limits is one thing that I definitely agree with the other side on.

Also, whether they are (D) or (R) makes no difference, if they did not put the people's business first, then they need to leave immediately.

[arthritisR_US]

3. I so agree!! n/t

[Phoebe Loosinhouse]

4. Project Censored #23 most ignored story of 2008 link below

http://www.projectcensored.org/top-stories/articles/23-feinsteins-conflict-of-interest-in-iraq/

[cali]

5. This is from the Moonie Times

I was tempted to post it, but didn't find it in a legitimate source. not saying it's not true, I believe it probably is, but the Moonie Times has its own nasty agenda and I don't trust them.