How Democrat David Obey’s son lobbied for porkulus earmark
Just received an interesting press release and documents from Republicans on the House Oversight Committee about the porkulus earmark for park spending. Guess we could call it the parkulus provision. Business as usual:
WASHINGTON. D.C. – A report by House Oversight and Government Reform Committee Minority Staff contradicts assertions by the House Appropriations Committee that National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA) lobbyist Craig Obey does not lobby the House Committee chaired by his father, Rep. David Obey. The House Appropriations Committee approved a $2 billion earmark for the National Parks Service lobbied for by Craig Obey and the NPCA.
“The success of NPCA and Craig Obey in doubling the National Park Service’s annual appropriation through the economic recovery legislation raises the question of whether family ties played a role,” according to the report. “The seriousness of this potential conflict should have been disclosed to all Members before the vote took place.”
The earmark for the National Parks Service, included by the House Appropriations Committee in H.R. 1, is more than twice the amount proposed by the U.S. Senate and would effectively double the budget for the National Parks Service without explaining how such a funding increase will be absorbed without creating abuse, waste, and misuse of funds.
The staff report points to lobbying disclosure documents indicating that Craig Obey does lobby on Appropriations as well as the National Park Conversation Association’s stimulus proposal for the Appropriations Committee which identifies Craig Obey as the primary point of contact.
“Two years ago, you pledged to ‘drain the swamp’ in the House of Representatives and create the most ethical Congress in history,” Oversight and Government Reform Committee Ranking Member Darrell Issa wrote in a letter to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. “The secret lobbying of the Appropriations Committee by special interest groups and false denials by the Committee itself is yet another example showing that your ethics reform proposals have done little to create a culture of ethical conduct.”
Issa requested that the House accede to the Senate’s lower proposal for the National Park Service which would save taxpayers over $1 billion.
The report and documents are here.
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Categories: fiscal stimulus,Pork
But, but, but… “He” said there were absolutely NO earmarks in the Stimulus bill. This is certainly all a fabric of the Right’s imagination. Surely we have to believe The One over what our eyes and ears are showing us!
Barf!
Come on Michelle, quit misrepresenting the truth, weren’t you listening? There is no pork or earmarks in this bill, so lobbying for one would be impossible! HE said so!
A republican bill contains ‘pork’
A democrat bill contains ‘stimlus’
Wow! Just think of all the good paying jobs that will be created to stimulate the economy by doubling the budget of the National Park Service! No need to put off buying that Elkhart, IN-made RV anylonger!
/sarc
You guys are a laugh a minute. Now you’re criticizing a Democrat for sleazy lobbying. Yeah, there are sleazy Democratic lobbyists, but have you heard of the K Street project? You’re all born again to lobbying integrity?
There is no such thing as a budget anymore.
Lgm…. just because BOTH parties have engaged in lobbying doesn’t mean we citizens abide by the process as it has, and currently does, exist.
Obama and the Democrats campaigned on changing the process to make it more transparent and eliminate the ‘bribery’ of lobbying efforts (my term).
Now that the Democrats are in power in both the Executive and legislative brances – those promises are being thrown under the bus. Yet all you can do is point to past practices as an excuse for not cleaning up the system today.
Michelle properly points out the hypocracy of this ‘Hope and Change’ rhetoric – all you can do is throw spitballs because you have no defense of their continuing disrespect for the American public.
Michelle, you must be mistaken. Dear Leader specifically said last night that there was no earmarks in this bill.
Yesterday, The Obama said he couldn’t be %100 certain that all of the stimulus money would be used efficiently. Let’s say there is %99 efficiency (extremely generous on my part). That means that in an %800 billion bill, $8 billion dollars will somehow just magically disappear, with no accounting for it. Some people are going to be able to steal a lot of money from the taxpayers.
We’re laughing at you – not with you…
Are you for sleazy?
lgm doesn’t understand the concept of principles and integrity. He only knows when the Republicans do something it’s wrong. When the Dems do the same thing the Republicans are hypocrites for pointing out that it’s wrong.
There is no right or wrong in his world, there is only partisanship.
In the most ethical Congress ever? I think Pelosi has herself botoxed to prevent hysterical laughter when she lies…
No, we are criticizing the hypocrisy of the Democrats who spent the last several years whining about the “culture of corruption” and promised the most “ethical congress evah” when they regained majority in 2006.
You of course forget that we have been just as critical of Republicans who deal in underhanded ways. But, that wouldn’t suit your pathetic sense of righteousness, then would it?
ROFL
lgm said “integrety”!
We can’t all be like you lgm. We cannot sit back and use your old; “yes we do it but your side did it worser.” How about condemning this for once? IDIOT!
Pork? Earmarks? Surely you jest!
Good for Issa. See it, call it. Repeat. (even if you think no one is listening…)
File under “Low friends in high places”.
Does Obeys son ever make it out to the woods in these parks ?? I feel a plan coming together….
I’m ashamed to say that David Obey is my representative. I’ve voted against him ever since I was old enough to vote, yet as long as there’s gullible fools on welfare, they keep re-electing this moron.