There is a rather serious scandal brewing in the House, where more than a hundred lawmakers secured funding for one lobbying firm, The PMA Group, which shut down PAC last week amid reports that the FBI was investigating the firm for illegal contributions to Democratic Rep. John Murtha, among others. Jonathan Allen and Alex Knott have the story:
In the spending bill managed by Murtha, the fiscal 2008 Defense appropriation, 104 House members got earmarks for projects sought by PMA clients, according to Congressional Quarterly's analysis of a database constructed by Ashdown's group.
Those House members, plus a handful of senators, combined to route nearly $300 million in public money to clients of PMA through that one law (PL 110-116).
And when the lawmakers were in need — as they all are to finance their campaigns — PMA came through for them.
According to CQ MoneyLine, the same House members who took responsibility for PMA's earmarks in that spending bill have, since 2001, accepted a cumulative $1,815,138 in campaign contributions from PMA's political action committee and employees of the firm.
During Murtha's reelection campaign, a number of liberals and Democrats questioned whether keeping the seat was even worth it, given Murtha's reputation for corruption and his potential to be a liability. I feel like this story could create other potential problems as well, Obama's high approval ratings might insulate him from taint by association, but if the Democratic party starts gaining a reputation for corruption it will be difficult for them to go against the president when they have to.
-- A. Serwer
