Kansas Congressman Todd Tiahrt of Goddard is one of seven members of a powerful House subcommittee under investigation for ties to an influential lobbying firm.
Ethics investigators are said to be looking at the ties between campaign contributions and earmarks that benefit clients of the lobbying firm, the PMA Group.
The subcommittee in question controls spending by the Pentagon.
The probe includes a review of the actions of the chairman of the Appropriations subcommittee on defense, John P. Murtha, a Pennsylvania Democrat long criticized for his devotion to earmarks and pork-barrel spending.
Tiahrt faces a tough 2010 U.S. Senate primary fight against fellow Republican Congressman Jerry Moran.
No word yet from Tiahrt’s office.
Here’s more from the Washington Post.
Schollenberger
TOPEKA – Democrats have a candidate for the U.S. Senate.
Long-time Kansas resident Charles Schollenberger, 57, of Prairie Village jumped in this morning.
Schollenberger said he made his decision after touring Kansas for six months meeting and speaking with hundreds of Kansas Democrats.
“Everywhere we went people have been friendly and supportive and have welcomed our efforts,” Schollenberger said. “I believe that Kansas Democrats are looking for leadership from a candidate who is not afraid to get out among the people and wage a grass-roots campaign.”
Schollenberger made his announcement in the park across the street from the famous Monroe Elementary School in Topeka, which now houses the Brown v. Board of Education National Historic Site.
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The big National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility slated for Manhattan took a step forward today with the selection of a construction manager.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security picked McCarthy/Mortenson Joint Venture for the job of overseeing the building of the state-of-the-art research lab designed to protect the food supply and agriculture economy.
“DHS is focused on keeping construction right on track because the need for new animal disease vaccines and countermeasures is too critical to delay,” Sen. Pat Roberts said.
Added Sen. Sam Brownback: Read More »