It’s troubling that Rep. Todd Tiahrt, R-Goddard, reportedly is under investigation by two ethics panels for steering federal funds to clients of a lobbying firm that made donations to his campaign. Tiahrt secured $5 million and helped steer another $2 million in earmarks to clients of the PMA Group between 2001 and 2008, while receiving $21,250 in campaign donations from PMA Group during that period. The Center for Public Integrity also complained this year that Tiahrt directed earmarks to a company represented by a former Tiahrt aide. It included Tiahrt among other House Appropriations Defense Subcommittee members “in circles of relationships fraught with potential conflicts of interest, involving former congressional staffers-turned lobbyists, earmarks and campaign cash.”
UPDATE: Tiahrt issued a statement this afternoon saying that the Office of Congressional Ethics asked about the process his office followed for submitting defense-related project requests to the House Appropriations Committee, and that he had fully complied with the request. But he had “no reason whatsoever to believe that we are subject to a House Ethics Committee investigation.” Tiahrt said he takes “pride in our professional and ethical process for reviewing requests made to my office — a process that we undertake to ensure the highest level of integrity is part of all our conduct.”
33 Comments
Lemme see if I’ve got this right –
Toad Tiahrt sent $7 Million taxpayers’ dollars off to pals who gave him $21,000 back?
I tip better than that at Denny’s!
Woohoo! Couldn’t happen to a nicer guy or a better Christian.
Let the subpoenas fly and the inquests begin.
Good point, MHawk.
Corporate fat cats bought Tiahrt for a mere 20 grand and got 2 million back.
That is one helluva return on their investment.
Imagine paying the cost of a used Honda Accord and getting 1000 brand new loaded Corvette Stingrays in return.
Damn, who knew that Tiahrt worked so cheap.
If I give him a thousand, I should get 350,000 dollars back.
Correction: got 7 million back
Need “edit” feature
If Kansas gives this guy another job…
Sheesh, he’s so moral that he can’t bring himself to even think BIG when it comes to his corruption.
While I’ll not defend the alleged practice, tell the whole story, Brownlee:
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Nearly half the members of a powerful House subcommittee in control of Pentagon spending are under scrutiny by ethics investigators in Congress, who have trained their lens on the relationships between seven panel members and an influential lobbying firm founded by a former Capitol Hill aide.
The investigations by two separate ethics offices include an examination of the chairman of the Appropriations subcommittee on defense, John P. Murtha (D-Pa.), as well as others who helped steer federal funds to clients of the PMA Group. The lawmakers received campaign contributions from the firm and its clients. A document obtained by The Washington Post shows that the subcommittee members under scrutiny also include Peter J. Visclosky (D-Ind.), James P. Moran Jr. (D-Va.), Norm Dicks (D-Wash.), Marcy Kaptur (D-Ohio) , C.W. Bill Young (R-Fla.) and Todd Tiahrt (R-Kan.).
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/10/29/AR2009102904699.html
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In other words, members of the House Appropriations Subcommittee are lobbied – extensively – by those seeking gov’t contracts. Shocking. Murtha’s been in the pocket of these folks for years.
Tiahrt may or may not be clean. But let’s not pretend he’s the problem. He’s not. What this really is, is a reminder that we have, once again, the best Congress money can buy. And that’s entirely bipartisan.
Power corrupts. Always.
Hell, it may be the only thing that’s entirely bipartisan.
From the article:
The chairman of the House ethics committee, Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-Calif.) stated, “No inference to any misconduct can be made from the fact that a matter is simply before the Committee,”
I think Moran is smiling.
This is one of the many problems with earmarks.
Anyone who steers earmarks to their state, and that includes every member of Congress in Kansas, probably has the same thing that could be discovered.
And absolute power corrupts absolutely.
…adjusts tin foil hat…
I’m still thinkin’ that all of these framers, put outta work by not building homes, should begin drawing up plans for a gallows…ten miles long.
What a boon for the economy…I’d hop aboard that kinda social program.
GMC Murtha isnt Wichita’s representative hence the topic being about Tiahrt who is, and as far as earmarks go out of 435 members Tiahrt is ranked somewhere in 50’s in spending, odd for a guy who campaigns on Fiscal Conservatism and dislike of government
Radiance Technologies has a little office near Town East Shopping Mall, but heir real business locations are out of state:
http://www.radiancetech.com/company/locations.htm
Tiahrt got 2.2 millions of dollars earmarked for this Alabama firm that a former aid went to work for.
I will hand it to him for delivery a lot of federal money to Kansas business:
“Todd Tiahrt sponsored or co-sponsored 60 earmarks totalling $66,804,000 in fiscal year 2008 ranking 36th out of 435 representatives. ”
http://www.opensecrets.org/politicians/earmarks.php?fy=FY08&cid=N00008144&cycle=2008
And he was often ‘thanked’
http://www.opensecrets.org/politicians/contrib.php?cycle=2008&cid=N00008144&type=I
GMC,
“Power corrupts. Always.”
Not precisely. Power merely attracts those who are already corrupt or corruptible, who are ready to do anything it takes to get it. That’s how elections tend to be won.
Tiahrt probes troubling exhilarating.
You can thank me later Phillip. We know what you really mean.
Yeah, throw the rascal out!
Bring in a new Republican.
Not precisely. Power merely attracts those who are already corrupt or corruptible, – Jed
Jed, while I understand the sentiment, the reality is that EVERYONE is corruptible. No exceptions. Some are bought cheaper, some more expensive. But ALL are buyable. Everyone has his/her price. It’s just matter of finding the right motivation.
It’s that reality of human nature that made the checks & balances system we so often cuss so important.
Well surprise surprise….we have a crooked White House and staff.
Newly disclosed emails link White House directly to NEA politicalization scandal
By: Mark Tapscott
Editorial Page Editor
10/30/09 12:02 PM EDT
http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/blogs/beltway-confidential/Newly-disclosed-emails-link-White-House-directly-to-NEA-politicalization-scandal-67617717.html
Gee, I wonder how these liberal journalists are liking the “CHANGE” the Obama administration is presiding over?
“It’s pink-slip Time
6% of workforce to be gone by Thanksgiving
Aiming to dramatically slash costs, Time Inc. will lay off roughly 540 employees starting next week, company insiders say.
The cuts will be staggered over two weeks and wrap up right before Thanksgiving so that the magazine publisher can take a charge against earnings in the fourth quarter.
Layoffs are expected to be 6 percent of the workforce, which is now estimated to have shrunk to 9,000 employees worldwide. But even that number is not finalized and could end up bigger.
Last year, the company cut 600 people (or 6 percent) from its 10,000 employees and took a charge against earnings of $176 million.”
Obama is just trying to climb out of the trash left behind by the GOP. Regarding Tihrt, the people of Wichita need to wake up and understand that Tihrt is a member of the C Street group that believes they are predestined by God to be men of power. Men of power who need money by any means to fulfill God’s will for them. Their power and money will then trickle down to us mere mortals. (maybe) Their goal is a global theocracy based on fundamentalist Christianity. Tihrt hasn’t worked for Kansans for a very long time. He has bigger plans.
With that little fantasy above I can sure tell why they call you ’skippy’
And it’s more than past time for Obama to take ownership of everything that’s going on….he sure tries to when something temporarily and by accident goes right.
The only bit you have wrong skippy is religions role in it. The religious cons are partly posers who don’t practice the tenets of their own faith in deference to big business but mostly just simple dupes too stupid to know that they are being used. The money machine ALWAYS will trump “God”.
And just who’s the dupe….the guy getting no where at all and claiming it’s his choice.
That’s a guy duping himself.
And I get a laugh out of it.
Memo to Toxic Todd: get that lobbying gig sewed up ASAP. Your Senate bid is DONE.
Politico must be inconsolable.
Daniel, yes, good point.
Paulie,
I know I speak for everyone on the WeBlog when I say that we know this must be tough on you, and that maybe it seems like the sun will never shine again. But just buck up, little camper, and know that we’re all with you, Left, Right, and Center, in this, your darkest hour.
LOL!
Little camper! classic.
I just ran across this post from “GMC70″ –
“…EVERYONE is corruptible. No exceptions.”
Kinda makes me wonder what “GMC70’s” price is.
His low kickback price is an insult to all Ks. Repubs.! Bet you can’t get Roberts for that price, but then maybe the rate for Senators is a little more dignified.
WE Blog CONs have seemed to run away from the Toad Tiahrt corruption thread.
Indeed. Seems to have taken the fight right out of them. I’d say Tiahrt’s odds just dropped precipitously.
No indication of anything on his Facebook page. But under the “write something” box, he has this:
“People are focusing their attention on the primary, they know it’s about the future of the party. It’s not based on roommates. My roommate endorsed me, I’ve been married to her for 33 years.”
What the hell does THAT mean? “Roommates?” Is that a reference to the C Street Coe Family Cult to which Tiahrt belongs? Bizarre.
Monkeyhawk
Posted October 31, 2009 at 10:34 am | Permalink
I just ran across this post from “GMC70? –
“…EVERYONE is corruptible. No exceptions.”
Kinda makes me wonder what “GMC70’s” price is.
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Too easy, MH. Substantially more than yours.
All the post reflects is that I don’t lie to myself. You do. Regularly.